[Porsche-O-Phile]

I believe you're a free agent and you keep the pedal to the metal all the time. It's the only way to get ahead in this world. If you get a better offer elsewhere, you need to consider it. Weigh everything though, not just the $$$. Benefits, quality of life, potential for advancement, etc. The way I do it is to assign a "value" to each of these things (i.e. how much $$$ would I be willing to give up so I can have flex time? Have direct deposit? Have a 401K program? Have a life insurance program? A HSA program? Have an extra week of vacation? Be able to go to work in a casual/jeans environment versus a stuffy/corporate one?) Assign a number to these things - and then stick to those numbers. Use them as the basis of creating a numerical comparison of "job A" to "job B".

Don't get lazy. At the end of the day, it's all about the money, or more correctly, the "value" of your time that you're giving up in order to make someone else rich. The more you earn based on this kind of valuation, the better your life will be. They don't call it the "good life" because it's bad. They call it the "good life" because it's good. Speaking as someone who's been on both sides of this, it is much, much easier to enjoy life when you've got a job you feel good about, money in the bank, good income coming in and good prospects of future security than when you're struggling, living hand-to-mouth, paycheck-to-paycheck and miserable. It sucks.

Having been there, I'd turn down a considerable amount of free time, recreation, etc. to make more $$$ and work a job where I feel appreciated, comfortable and where I can shine and thrive. I've found that the benefit of making more way more than offsets the sacrifices it requires to make it. To a point, yes, but in almost all cases. I'm much happier when I have the $$$ to not be worrying all the time.

Something to consider.