Congratulations, you are worth £184,800!

How much are you worth? £184,803, on average, according to recent analysis of the Government's 2009 Family Spending survey.

The trouble is, most of your wealth is likely to be likely is tied up in property and pensions and therefore difficult to access. Across Britain as a whole, property accounts for £72,073 (39%) of people's wealth, while the same amount is held in their pension.

The region with the highest average wealth is the South East, unsurprisingly, where the average person is worth £238,757. The poorest region is Yorkshire and Humberside, where the average person is worth just £146,610.

Region	Average wealth per individual
South East	£238,757
South West	£220,474
East	£207,245
Scotland	£185,327
Wales	£185,012
London	£183,454
East Midlands	£179,499
North West	£163,537
North East	£160,925
West Midlands	£159,433
Yorks & Humber	£146,610
Across the UK	£184,803

 Source: WhiteConcierge analysis of Family Spending: 2009 edition, Wealth and Assets Survey 2006/08 and Mid-2008 Population Estimates (GB adults over 16), all published by the Office for National Statistics

So, it seems that despite the economic downturn, people are still sitting on considerable amounts of wealth. But if most of it can't be accessed, that's not much good, is it? The fact is, the best form of personal wealth is the ability to earn an income.

But with many companies freezing pay this year, what can you do to stop the squeeze on your salary? Here are six ways to get wealthier by winning a better pay package from your employer:

1. Be realistic!

My first tip is to be sensible about what you can expect to squeeze out of your employer. Thousands of British businesses are still experiencing severe financial difficulties, thanks to the double whammy of a credit crunch and economic downturn. 

 

Thus, there's little point in holding out for a bumper pay rise if your employer has seen its annual profits plunge by 50% or more. In tough times, companies look to slash their expenses, not increase them - and payroll is often an organisation's biggest outgoing. 

In this situation, be grateful that you still have a job, as roughly 700,000 workers lost theirs in 2008/09, with more redundancies to come. Instead, set your sights on a cost-of-living increase, or try negotiating a performance-related bonus for when business perks up.

2. Be pro-active

Don't just sit back and see what comes along. You need a plan if you're going to beat the odds. As my mother often remarks, "If you don't ask, you don't get" and, in my experience, prior preparation greatly increases your odds of bagging a premium pay rise.

If your employer conducts annual appraisals, then make sure that you build your case well in advance of the big day. If it doesn't, then ask your line manager for an appointment to discuss your ongoing achievements and expectations. Otherwise, the opportunity will pass by and you'll lose your chance.

3. Ask the right person

Make sure that you're making your case to the right people. After all, there's little point in working on your personnel director if s/he has no direct input into the decision-making process for your pay. The best people to bring to the table are your line manager and perhaps his/her boss or department head.

4. Do your homework

These days, the vast majority of managers are driven by targets and statistics. To make a convincing case, you're going to need to crunch some numbers.

You need to find out how well your company is doing, by checking internal reports and any published public data (such as its annual report and accounts). In addition, you should check how rival firms are getting on -- not least because this may reveal job opportunities elsewhere!

Of course, you need to show your bosses how well you personally have performed over the past 12 months. So, if you beat your sales target by 10%, then show this off. Likewise, if your spending has come in below budget, say so - because managers love frugal employees who save the company money. Your goal here is to showcase your achievements in the best possible light.

5. Research your role

If you're doing a great job, but aren't paid as well as others in a similar position, then you have a strong case for an uplift. Arm yourself with evidence to demonstrate this gap, using examples gathered from inside and outside your organisation.

You can get help with this homework by contacting employment agencies, browsing recruitment websites and reading job adverts. (This stage is probably best done outside the office!)

To tip the balance in your favour, a professionally presented pay-rise presentation is usually your best bet. Don't forget to include any extra roles you've take on, plus any professional or personal qualifications that enhance your value to your employer. 

6. Call in any favours

Rather than doing it yourself, get others to sing your praises. Get key people on your side, such as happy clients, suppliers or other contacts inside and outside your organisation. For example, a praise-packed letter from a key client could really strengthen your hand.

Equally, don't be tempted to raise yourself up by putting others down. There's little to be gained by bad-mouthing your co-workers, as it's difficult to gain positive results from negative comments.

Another word of warning: don't overplay your hand by threatening to leave for a firm where the grass is greener. I've seen people use this threat in order to negotiate a higher salary and remain with the same firm. However, this tactic often backfires, as many 'winners' from this outcome become disenchanted later down the line. 

Get help from lovemoney.com

Finally, cutting your outgoings by £1 is much more valuable than getting an extra pound in your pay. That's because any extra pay will be taxed at your highest marginal rate, plus National Insurance contributions may reduce it further.

Therefore, to put your household finances on the best possible footing, don't forget to tackle your outgoings as well.

First, adopt this goal: Make some extra money

Next, watch this: Earn £200+ while you shop

Lastly, have a wander over to Q and A to ask other lovemoney.com members for hints and tips on what works best for them.