<prompt> Human: The average inflation rate for 2017 was a little over 2 That means over 2017 your ability to buy things and just exist decreased by 2.If the performance raise you receive buy your company isnt significantly above the rate of inflation, youre just getting a cost of living adjustment not a raise. Your company is incentivized to pay you what they can get away with. Consequently most raises arent really a raise. Theyre just a slight bumper to put you at the bare minimum of market wages.Never forget about the way market forces influence your income and quality of life.Inflation is real not just some abstract concept you were forced to listen to in ECON 101.  <response>: While we are at it how about another reminder that if you get a tax refund at the end of the year its really just an interest free loan to the government and if you buy something on sale that you werent planning on buying you arent saving money youre spending it. s 