INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This seems obvious, but the first step is knowing exactly how much money you make. Also make note of the last time you received a pay increase. You can then compare this information to the other data you'll find as you further investigate your field. If you're unaware of what your exact compensation is, collect your past pay stubs. If you don't have these, ask at the company payroll department for your financial history at the job. The key to getting a salary increase is proving that you're an asset to your company. Good performance reviews, customer feedback, or any other information that attests to your value will help your case. Keep these records close at hand so you can cite them when you write your proposal. Not all companies do regular performance reviews. In this case, there are a few things you could do to gather information to help your case. For example, if you have team or planning meetings for your area or department, then these could be good opportunities to check in with your boss and assess your performance on a regular basis. You could periodically schedule a meeting with your boss and ask how you're doing at your job. Make note of the feedback you receive. If your boss says you're doing a great job, use this as your positive feedback. If your boss tells you a few things you could improve upon, take that feedback seriously and work on those areas. Then when you write your letter, you can say how you've taken your boss's advice and improved. If you have a direct supervisor who's not your boss, see if he or she will give you some feedback. If you get good feedback, you can ask your supervisor to write a letter to your boss about your good performance. You may also consider looking for a mentor at work. If your company has a mentorship program, then indicate your interest to your supervisor. Or, if there is not mentorship program, then try talking with a more experienced, successful employee and see if they would be willing to be your mentor. Take all feedback you receive without getting defensive. If you get some negative feedback, don't argue. Instead, take the advice and use it when you write your letter. You can demonstrate that you've taken feedback to heart and improved your performance. Keep in mind that businesses are results-driven, so it is important to put your emotions aside during this process. When asking for increased compensation, you have to be familiar with typical pay rates within the industry. This will show you whether it would be reasonable to ask for a raise or not. Use sites like PayScale or Glassdoor to research salaries within your industry. For example, you might find that the average worker in your field earns between $45,000 and $50,000. If you're earning $44,000, you're below the average, and it would certainly be reasonable to ask for more money. You can use this as leverage when you write your proposal. If, however, you're making $52,000, you might have trouble getting an increase. You boss could counter your request by saying that you make an above-average salary. If you're earning above the industry average, you could still ask for a raise, but you'll need a lot of evidence that you're a true asset to the company. Financial figures would help most, because it would show your boss that he or she is making money with you around. Many times getting a pay increase is a matter of getting your boss at the right moment. If it's a particularly busy time of year, your boss might be overwhelmed and won't have the time to consider your request. Also consider the company's budget. If things have been tough for a while, your boss may not be able to give you a raise even if he wanted to. If earnings have been high, however, you can take advantage of both the availability of money and your boss' good mood by asking then.

SUMMARY: Know your exact financial status at your job. Gather any positive feedback to bolster your argument. Investigate the pay range for your job and level of experience within the industry. Take timing into account.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Alarm systems are one of the most commonand most helpfulforms of home security. Whether you're home or away, if a would-be burglar attempts to break into your home, the alarm will alert local authorities and send you a notice as well. A home security system could also scare off a persistent burglar. If a burglar did manage to break into your house, an alarm system could deter them from proceeding. You'll receive a sticker with your home security system. Make sure to place the sticker somewhere that will be highly visible to potential thieves, like a front window of your house. The sticker alone will make potential burglars think twice. Burglars look for easy houses to rob, and if they're convinced that you have a guard dog, they'll avoid breaking in. You could either get an actual guard dog, or just hang a few "Beware of Dog" signs near the entrance to your yard. Even if you don't own a dog, set a couple of (empty) dog bowls near your front step to further convince potential intruders that you own a dog. If you put the box from an expensive purchase out near your trash cans, it will be very visible. Anyone could drive past and see a plasma screen TV box in your bin and find you have got a new TV set in your home. If the average thief sees you have just gotten new, expensive items (especially electronics), they'll be drawn to your house. The same thing goes for a computer, stereo, video games console, and any other item that is easily portable and may be expensive. Instead, break the box down fully and put it inside of a large garbage can on waste collection day.

SUMMARY:
Install a home security alarm system. Give the impression that you own a dog. Dispose of boxes from expensive purchases.