When you ask for a raise, you'll have more success focusing on the value you bring to the table as opposed to your own needs. You probably don't want to blurt out, "Hey, I've got bills to pay and you haven't bumped my salary in three years" - even if it's true. So what do you say?

There's no denying the gender pay gap. It's there: The average pay for a man, the average pay for a woman, and space between. The gap exists regardless of whether or not you believe it exists. Wage gap deniers don't deny the gap itself; they deny its significance. Women stay at home with children, so the numbers make sense, they say. Women don't negotiate, so of course there's a gap.

We don't like to admit it, but a marriage (or any long, cohabiting relationship) looks less like an early romance and more like a business partnership. As organisational psychologist Adam Grant and his wife Allison Sweet Grant explain in Redbook, married life involves a lot of compromise and negotiation. They offer four negotiation techniques for avoiding unhappy compromises.

Working up the courage to ask for a raise can be difficult. And if your boss rejects your request, you might be tempted to back down immediately and forget the whole thing ever happened. A better idea: prepare yourself with a backup plan so you can score other perks, if not a pay increase.

Many of us avoid negotiating because it seems so tricky and so confrontational. You don't want to miss out on that money, though. One easy, non-confrontational way to haggle your salary? Make a ridiculous joke.

Negotiation is a messy, stressful process. But redditor B1aze688 breaks it down into three fundamental elements: The deal you want, the deal you'll accept, and what you'll do if you can't get either. Never enter a negotiation before you know all three.

Some negotiations are simply too difficult and complicated to solve traditionally. If the negotiations you're involved with have come to a stalemate, the "indaba" technique makes it easier for all parties to find common ground and resolve things fairly.

Today is Equal Pay Day in the US, which symbolises how far into the year women work to earn what men did the year before. In addition to pay, many women face different treatment in their careers than their male colleagues. If you're a woman, what strategies have you used to close the pay, and treatment, gap?

When you're negotiating, needs can kill your position. If you absolutely need something, the other party can use that to drive a harder bargain. Try to leave as many needs at the door as possible to negotiate better.

If you're looking for a raise, or looking for a new job and dread the question "So how much are you looking to make?", you're walking into a minefield that could either result in you making a good, fair wage, or getting underpaid from the start. Here are some things to avoid when it's time to talk turkey.

Even though you shouldn't be afraid to negotiate a higher salary, many of us don't do that. This mistake can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars over your career lifetime. We're curious: Did you negotiate a raise or your starting salary?

When you're negotiating with someone, you're probably trying to work your way towards a "Yes." However, getting a "No" can be just as helpful if you're asking the right questions.

Not even the best negotiation tactics can overcome the folly of asking your boss for a raise at the wrong time. That's why doing a little recon work might keep you from fighting an uphill battle.

Silence makes a lot of people uncomfortable, especially when they're negotiating a deal. Here's a simple trick you can use to make your opponent sweat.

When you're negotiating your salary, vague ideas like what you're "worth" can seem overwhelming. This briefcase technique can help quantify your value and get a better salary.

My Uncle Danny once helped me buy a new Corolla while I watched in awe. He was a relentless, negotiating beast. He threatened. He acted offended. He sat in silence and stared at the salesman. In the end, I paid nearly $5000 less than I expected. Negotiating is powerful. As a timid person, it's not something that comes easy for me, and it might not come easy for you. Here are some of the best ways to do it, even when you dread it.

You should never be afraid to negotiate a higher salary. Not doing so could cost you $500K in the long run. But even if you don't get the raise, just asking for it could help your career.

It's not easy to ask for more money. And because it's so intimidating, a lot of people end up earning much less than they're worth. Over time, not asking for a raise can cost you hundreds of thousands of dollars. Knowing the classic traits of an "underearner" can help you understand where you might be going wrong.

Asking for a raise isn't easy for most of us, but a few tips and tricks can help along the way. When it's time to hit your boss up for a raise, make sure to let him or her know what sets you apart, and you can do that with this simple formula.