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In short: Saving has a floor, income doesn't. Make your contribution visible, negotiate your pay regularly and upskill deliberately – often a job change brings the most.

Increase your income – earn more, negotiate smart

Saving has a floor; income doesn't. Often, earning more is the bigger lever.

  • Make your contribution visible and negotiate your pay regularly – know your market value.
  • Upskill deliberately: in-demand skills pay off over the long run.
  • Be willing to move: a job change often beats an internal raise.

What matters

A 5 % raise often does more than months of penny-pinching – and it repeats every year. Go in prepared: gather your wins, know typical pay for your role, and name a concrete number instead of asking for 'more'. Justify it with your contribution to the business, not personal costs. And think in years: checking your market value every few years – internally or by switching – often earns five to six figures more over a working life.

Example5 % more on €40,000 is €2,000 a year – and it carries into every future raise.
More take-home = a higher savings rate. Play out the effect in the what-if scenario in the app.

Checklist

  • Gather and document your wins
  • Research the going rate for your role
  • Bring a concrete number to the talk
  • Check your market value every few years

Common myths

Myth: Negotiating salary is rude.

Reality: It is normal and expected – well prepared, even professional.

Myth: Loyalty is rewarded automatically.

Reality: A move often brings more than years of waiting for an internal raise.

Frequently asked questions

How do I negotiate my salary?

Know your market value, gather your wins, state a concrete number and justify it with your contribution – not personal needs.

Change jobs or stay?

A move often brings a bigger jump than internal raises. Weigh pay, growth and security against each other.

Related lessons

Side incomeEntrepreneurship

All lessons · Kontoo does the math and explains – this is general education, not tax, legal or financial advice.

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