Do you want a salary increase by this time next year?

      We focus on five key areas: Financial psychology, boosting your income, investing, real estate, and entrepreneurship. This is known as double-ii FiiRE.

      Today, we will explore pillar two: boosting your income.

      Pillar II | Boosting Your Income

      Picture this: You’ve spent weeks or even months searching for a new job. You’ve updated your LinkedIn profile and revamped your resume. You’ve reached out to every professional in related fields, including old college friends you haven’t spoken to in years. You’ve explored job boards and participated in WhatsApp groups. You’ve joined professional associations and attended industry Meetup events.

      You’ve gone through networking mixers — you know how it goes. You awkwardly clutch a plastic cup filled with club soda and a lime while hovering over the stale charcuterie board. You pretend to check your phone so nobody realizes you’re too shy to initiate a conversation.

      You stand there alone for what feels like forever. When someone finally approaches, you extend a handshake but suddenly notice your hand is icy and a bit damp from the condensation on that club soda. Curse that melting ice. You awkwardly smile while reminding yourself to start holding drinks with your left hand, though you’ll probably forget — you always do.

      Once you're back home, you stay up late sending out cover letters into the void, feeling like 19 out of 20 times you simply get ignored. Then, that rare 1 in 20 times, you make it to the second or maybe even the third interview. There might be a challenging skills test involved where you meticulously double-check to ensure you followed the instructions perfectly. Perhaps you even take a flight, squished in the middle row at the back of coach, to interview in person at the company’s headquarters in InconvenientVille. You endure a 40-minute wait at security where TSA confiscates your shaving cream.

      You dedicate full workdays preparing for interview after interview, only to ultimately receive the dreaded email stating they selected another candidate. Of course they did. It’s just typical luck.

      You vent to strangers on your job hunters subreddit, as they seem to understand your struggle. This situation is frustrating.

      So when you finally get that job offer (!!) and they say, “We can start you at…,” you feel compelled to accept whatever figure they present. You don’t want to be difficult. You don’t want to jeopardize the opportunity. You don’t want to appear as though you’re not a team player. After all this, why take the risk?

      However, the truth is that you could be earning more. You might be unknowingly subscribing to certain unspoken assumptions that could be costing you tens of thousands. Despite all your efforts, you might still hold on to limiting beliefs that prevent you from earning what you truly deserve.

      Here’s the key point: You know how hard you’re working? On the employer’s side, they’re equally invested in finding you. They’re searching for someone with your skills, experience, and ideas—someone with your determination, drive, and ambition. And now that they’ve discovered you, they don’t want to complicate things. They don’t want to miss this opportunity or appear as if they aren’t team players.

      This is your chance to create a fantastic win-win scenario; a way to establish a profitable and mutually beneficial relationship. You provide value, and they acknowledge that in return.

      Yet, limiting beliefs can keep even the most skilled individuals from recognizing this. Here are eight costly myths that can restrict your earning potential.

      Myth #1: Asking for a higher salary will cause conflict.

      You envision the conversation becoming tense, perhaps with your boss becoming defensive or HR getting involved. But most salary discussions take place in regular conference rooms with people who expect these talks. It’s business, not personal drama.

      Myth #2: If you receive a raise, someone else will earn less.

      You worry that your salary increase affects a coworker’s pay or forces the company to cut expenses elsewhere. However, smart companies understand that retaining good employees is cheaper than hiring replacements. Your value does not detract from someone else’s — especially if you’re an outstanding worker who takes initiative and solves issues. You’re contributing to the overall growth.

      Myth #3: They’ll withdraw the offer if you ask for more.

      This is the primary fear, right? You’ve finally received the offer, and now you risk ruining it by appearing greedy. But the reality is that 85 percent of people who negotiate their offers are successful. Companies anticipate this and budget for it; they would be surprised if you didn’t ask.

      Myth #4: It’s solely about the base salary.

      You fixate on the salary figure mentioned in the offer letter. But what about the signing bonus, extra vacation days, flexible work arrangements, or stock options? Sometimes the most advantageous deal isn't the highest salary but the overall package that enhances your

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