Want to negotiate a higher salary? Here's how to find out what you’re worth and how to come out on top...

On average, South African men earn 65 percent more than women do, according to a recent salary survey by www.careers24.com. One possible reason: women often don’t negotiate a high enough salary when they start a job. And we aren’t just shy about holding out for better salaries; we also fail to bargain for deals on cars, furniture and gym contracts – all of which can add up to thousands of lost rands.

Financial Fixes

Know What You’re Worth
Before accepting a job, search the Internet for salary surveys in your industry to get a benchmark on what you’re worth. The careers24 survey mentioned above is a good place to start.
If you’re planning to relocate, make sure you factor in the local cost of living – what sounds like a great salary to someone in the Northern Cape may be considered barely above the poverty line in the Western Cape. Banking websites are a useful resource here, as most of them offer current info on the average cost of houses in the various provinces. (Absa’s can be found at www.absa.co.za – click on “Economic Research”, then “Property Research”.)

Play The Game
“Women tend to believe that negotiating is confrontational and will hurt their chances of landing a job,” says Frankel. But if you don’t negotiate a decent salary upfront, you’re effectively cheating yourself out of tens of thousands of rands in potential earnings over your lifetime. Employers aren’t just okay with some back-and-forth over the salary offer; they expect it. Here’s how to come out on top: before you even go to the first interview, decide on your ideal salary, the deal that will have you pouring the bubbly. Also decide on a reserve value – the minimum amount you’ll accept – in case the boss doesn’t bite. Then play the offer/counter-offer game. For example, if you ask for R16 000 a month and she counters with R12 000, but your reserve value is R13 000, make your next bid for R14 000.

Watch Out For Bank Fees
“Too many people are paying too much in bank fees,” says Sneddon. “Banks know it’s a mission to change accounts so they don’t feel the need to offer better packages. But any savings you can make by moving to a different bank will add up over time, making it worth all the effort.” Who knows, if enough people move across to the competition, perhaps your old bank will lower its fees.

Bargain For Everything
In a struggling economy, companies are hell-bent on keeping your business. If you do decide to move banks in pursuit of lower banking fees, find out if the new institution can offer you a lower interest rate on any loans at the same time. Ask your insurance company for lower premiums for not making any claims or having multiple policies. You can even haggle with retail shops for a better deal. Cha-ching.