Set Your Own Anchor First

Pick your next purchase and set your anchor before you ask the price. Looking for a laptop? Research the realistic market price for the specs you need — say, $900 for a solid mid-range machine. Write that number down. When you see "$1,299, today only $949," you will feel neither impressed nor cheated.

Try the reverse for salary. Before any interview, gather three data points: the Glassdoor median, the company's posted range, and what a comparable friend earns. Write down your target. If the recruiter opens lower, you already have your anchor and can counter without drifting toward theirs.