Also, I’m not down playing inflation. If you’ve kept a job for nearly 30 years at the same company then absolutely not - your salary increases would NEVER have kept up with the rate of inflation. That’s a problem with companies. Some can’t afford to give high raises of 4-6%, which is what a worker deserves at a minimum just to keep up with inflation. You’d be better off quitting a job and getting hired at another company who will pay fairly. It doesn’t pay to be loyal anymore. That’s a sad reality of today’s work culture.