Employment

To save money, most of us need to make money.

Most of those of us who need to make money, do so by working for someone else.

Corollary: Since it's better to save more money, it's better to work for someone who pays more money.

Don't take that literally - use good judgment! What I mean is that if you love what you do and where you work, it may not be a good idea to take a chance by changing jobs for fifty-cents more per hour.

Are you making as much as you should? I don't mean as much as you want, but as much as you should. If the answer is truly "no", you need to work out a plan to make more money - even if it means changing jobs. You shouldn't allow yourself to be short-changed any more than you expect your employer has allowed himself to be short-changed by his customers. You're a business person just like he is, and should be paid a fair salary.

I've got an interesting story. Once upon a time, I started working as a programmer, and was paid a meager entry-level salary. When I was up for a raise, I was told the same old story: "You've done a fantastic job, we'd like to pay you more... But unfortunately, this is all we could afford". I changed jobs. At the next company, I heard the same thing after about a year. I changed jobs, again: Only 18 months after I started working at the first company, I was paid double that meager salary. I admit, mine is a special case, and it's because of the quickly approaching dot-com boom.

Now, let's fast forward to 2001 - I was paid a decent salary, and had a substantial bit more experience. But guess what happened? Supply and demand shifted. The company I worked for went out of business. I was suddenly not worth as much, anymore. Remember when I told you how important saving money was?

But the moral of the story is supply-and-demand: If you know your value has increased, don't expect your employer to tell you "John, you're much more valuable now than you were a year ago. We just can't find anybody like you. We've looked and looked, and.. we're gonna double your salary, because you're one of a kind." Unfortunately, your employer will acknowledge when your value has decreased. Sometimes, it's key to remind your boss, professionally and diplomatically, that you know your worth.

Do the best you can. Enjoy your job. Understand your value and contribution. But always remember that we work for a paycheck, and the goal is to make the most money in the shortest period of time.