IT'S a marketing ploy you see every day. "Buy one, get one free," or "Call for your free consultation."

The fact of the matter is that people love to get stuff for free... or feel like they've gotten something for nothing. This phenomenon doesn't end when buying shoes, either.

People all over the country take jobs that offer them less money than they're worth, with the logic that they've got great benefits–are getting "stuff" for free. And companies shove this theory down employees’ throats. "Sure, we're paying you $20,000 less than you qualify for, but we offer you 2.5 weeks of paid vacation, health insurance and a 401K!"

I'm here to tell you to do the math.

Know your worth

First, you have to know what you're worth. Sure, we'd all like to make a million dollars, but in reality what is your experience and knowledge worth to a company? Many job websites offer a salary comparison section, where you can use your experience, the area where you'll be working, and the position you'll hold to find out what the salary range is. Before you ever step foot into a salary negotiation, you’d better make sure you know what you’re capable of getting for a salary.

Trade all of the "perks" in for cash

You have to take a logical look at a job offer and weed out the fluff (benefits) from the facts. Why should you work for less than what you’re worth? Why should you go with a company that is offering you less in cash and a lot of fluff when you can go with an opportunity that allows you to grow and advance your career, even if you're getting a few less perks out of the deal?

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This feature has been sourced from David B Bohl's SlowDownFast . David is a lifestyle mentor, educator and author. He prefers the simple life, relishing his role as a coach after frenzied years in the stock exchange and as an entrepreneur.

Photographs: stock.xchng