Don't make a $23,000 massage mistake

I have a friend who accidentally paid $23,000 for 12 massages. She's a smart professional who works with million-dollar budgets.

When she was comparing job offers from two competing companies she made a classic mistake

One company was offering $160,000 and the other $184,000. Both roles looked perfect, and both companies were the kind of place she'd love to work.

Taking the higher paycheck should have been a no-brainer, except for one thing:

The lower salary came with a monthly massage benefit

One FREE massage. Every single month. Who wouldn't love to work for a company that cares so much about employee wellness?!?

Taking that job cost her $23,000 per year

Paying for a monthly massage out of her own pocket would have cost no more than $1,000 per year. In fact, if she'd taken the higher-salary job she could have afforded to pay for a massage every single day.

When emotion gets involved, job seekers wildly overestimate the value of benefits

That's why companies offer a long list of extras like a $50 wellness allowance or a $100 educational stipend. These benefits cost the company almost nothing, but employees wildly overvalue them emotionally.

The solution: Only consider the cash value of benefits

A $50 wellness benefit is worth … $50. A monthly massage benefit is worth $60 … or maybe $120 if you go to one of those fancy places with hot stones and incense.

There are many factors that go into choosing the right place to work, but don't let emotion get in the way when you're evaluating compensation.