This is an extremely self-limiting and myopic viewpoint on employment.

For instance, the only person who can classify income as disposable or not is me. No one else is allowed to make that decision, or is even deserving of knowing the information at all.

If your hiring manager is giving you the song and dance about calculations on your cost of housing and milk, you need to turn around and go elsewhere.

If you think you’re a cog in a machine, yes, you can determine your value this way.

If you feel you have inherent value in and of yourself, your attitude will change about work and employment.

The value I provide to a company has absolutely nothing to do with where I live. If I’m a good hire, I’m a good hire.