Just when you think you have enough, you realize you want just a little bit more.
That saying can apply to many of life’s scenarios, especially when talking about money. At one point or another, most people have found themselves in a situation where they needed just a little more money to get what they were dying to have.
But, just how far would the average worker go to get a bigger paycheck? Would they do something drastic like breakup with their significant other? How about something a little more watered down (for some at least) like giving up watching Game of Thrones?
To gauge how far Americans would go to receive an immediate 10 percent raise in their annual wages or salaries, LendEDU asked 1,238 respondents a series of “would you rather” questions where they had to weigh making a steep sacrifice in order to get a nice pay bump.
Full Survey Results
1,238 employed Americans were proposed 16 scenarios where they would receive an immediate 10% annual raise in salary if they agreed to the respective sacrifice listed in each question…
- 40.06% would give up dental care for the next five years
- 12.2% would break up with their partner or significant other
- 53.55% would give up all social media accounts for the next five years
- 88.61% would give up watching Game of Thrones for life
- 43.86% would give up exercise for the next five years
- 34.98% would give up the right to vote in all elections for life
- 9.13% would give up their child’s or future child’s right to vote in all elections for life
- 73.42% would give up all alcoholic beverages for the next five years
- 17.93% would give up Social Security benefits for the next two years
- 18.9% would give up access to health insurance for the next five years
- 50.65% would give up watching movies for the next three years
- 55.9% would work an extra 10 hours per week for life
- 15.27% would give up all of their vacation days for the next five years
- 47.74% would give up all caffeinated products for the next two years
- 50.4% would work one day every weekend for the next year
- 5.33% would eat a single tide pod
Observations
Working Americans are willing to resort to some drastic measures in order to get an immediate 10 percent raise in their annual salary.
Right to Vote
We found that 34.98 percent of Americans are ready to part ways with their right to vote. This was interesting because sometimes who you vote for impacts how much money you will make.
While more than one-third of respondents would give up the right to vote in order to receive a 10 percent raise, a lot less (9.13 percent) would give up their child’s or future child’s right to vote for the same benefit.
Health-Related Sacrifices
Apparently, oral hygiene takes a backseat to a salary increase for nearly half of all Americans because 40.06 percent would give up dental care for five years if it meant a 10 percent raise. This goes for physical fitness as well because 43.86 percent of poll participants would eliminate exercise for five years if they received a raise. The same cannot be said about health insurance or Social Security benefits, because only 18.9 percent and 17.93 percent would forgo those benefits for a pay bump, respectively.
Work Longer Hours
U.S. employees would give a lot back to their employers if the latter decided to hand out 10 percent raises. 55.9 percent of respondents would work an extra 10 hours per week for the rest of their life it they could have their salary increased by 10 percent, while 50.4 percent would work one day every weekend for the next year.
That being said, vacation days are held sacred by workers; only 15.27 percent of poll participants would hand over five years worth of vacation days for a 10 percent raise in their salary.
Giving Up Game of Thrones & Movies
HBO’s Game of Thrones is a record-breaking television show and has become an iconic part of 21st century pop-culture. Yet still, 88.61 percent of employed Americans would never watch the series again if it mean they would receive a 10 percent salary increase. In comparison, 50.65 percent of respondents would not watch a single movie for the next three years if they received the pay bump. In a previous survey, we found that 11.33 percent of student debtorswere more stressed about Game of Thrones, vs. repaying their student loan debt.
Slashing Social Meda
On the subject of popular culture, everything is heard and processed through the realm of social media, whether it be Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, or something else. And, LendEDU’s survey found that 53.55 percent of working Americans would completely eliminate social media from their lives for the next five years if they received a 10 percent increase in their annual salary.
Take the Tide Pod Challenge
If you have been on social media in the past few months, you have likely heard of or saw the “tide pod challenge,” in which a person consumes a tide pod for….nothing, actually. Well, if respondents were getting something, say a 10 percent salary increase, 5.33 percent of them would in fact eat a tide pod.
Cut the Caffeine or Alcohol
Speaking of consumption of things, 47.74 percent of poll participants stated they would give up all caffeinated products for the next two years for a 10 percent raise. Even more U.S. employees, 73.42 percent, would abstain from all alcoholic beverages for the next five years for the same reward.
Break Up With Your Significant Other
Finally, a good number of those who participated in this survey were ready to take extremely drastic measures to get that 10 percent raise: break up with their partner or significant other. 12.2 percent of respondents said they would go through with this for the money because apparently love does cost a thing.
Methodology
All data found within this report derives from an online poll commissioned by LendEDU and conducted online by online polling company Pollfish. In total, 1,238 employed U.S. residents were surveyed on each of the 16 questions. The desired group of respondents was found via screener question; respondents had to be employed and residing in the U.S.. The survey ran over a four day span, starting on Mar. 26, 2018 and ending on Mar. 29, 2018. All respondents were asked to answer all questions truthfully and to the best of their ability.
See more of LendEDU’s Research