Don't you love it when you get an annual payrise? Of course it's not in line to inflation of about 7% increase from last year, but lesser than (so effectively being a pay decrease) And then, on top of your payrise, your medical insurance, that automatically comes out of your pay slip increases. So in effect, your payrise is lowered even more so.
Also, why only one pay rise a year (if your work deems it acceptable) and yet all your bills/food/petrol/rent etc creeps up year round?