More Vacation Time or A Raise? What Would You Prefer for Debt Relief?

The money in the form of a raise can help them pay down their debt more quickly. While it is true, there can also be another side to this.

What I actually mean by that is what if you could select benefits like more vacation time, over a raise in your salary?

Now your question might be why would one do that? Well, I believe that for keeping the process of paying off a debt at its best, one needs to stay focused and for this, one must take out time to enjoy life.  

So, would you go for it? Let’s explore some of the advantages of both the scenarios.

Taking More Benefits

When it comes to discussing an annual increase, very few people consider negotiating benefits. But is it something you should think about on a serious note?

Yes, of course, it is. Why?

Some benefits can prove to carry more value than the small or even large raise that you might be receiving.

There are many benefits to negotiate, such as health benefits, educational opportunities, retirement benefits, and my personal favorite, more vacation time.

The first reason why it is my favorite is that when I was following my debt relief plan, it was this vacation time that kept me focused on my objective of reaching financial freedom.

The second reason why I went for extra vacation time instead of a raise is because I believe you can find a plethora of ways to generate more money, but you can’t create more time.

Unlike a raise, it is vital to keep in mind that for extra vacation you don’t need to pay more in taxes. Since you’d still be taking home the same amount of salary, your taxes would likely to remain the same. Well, you won’t be taxed on the number of days or weeks of vacation you get.

The concept of benefit increases isn’t something everyone approves of. Here are some points for the raise side of compensation.

Everyone loves to have a raise and for a good reason. A raise will reflect in your paycheck every time until the next one or you find a different job. Even if you land on another job, there is a good chance that you’ll keep your raise with you.

Raises are simply amazing as they display themselves as a part of your salary. If you keep on getting big raises, your salary will hike in a short time. Did I still need to tell you that this can help you pay off your debt sooner?

Alongside this, you should also think about that some of your other benefits, including your 401(k) matching, that are based on your salary amount. On receiving a raise in your salary, you also get a raise in your 401(k) matching contribution.

It’d be a pity to miss an opportunity of taking that extra vacation.

The question is, which way would you like to go to achieve debt relief? Would you choose the road to some extra benefits like vacation time, or prefer the raise? Share your thoughts in the comments below.