Turning down a potential job offer....

sounds like you did.
but don't stop looking for something with better pay -- sounds like you need more $$, not good bennies...

Yes, of course you made the right decision. If you are satisfied with your current job, and are offered a job with equal pay, fewer benefits and not the shift you want, who in their right mind would accept it? You would actually put yourself in a worse situation financially as benefits do have monetary value. Not to mention losing out on any benefit of seniority. Many benefits are based on how long you have worked for a company; vacation time, 401K matching, pensions and others. Simply decline respectfully and state that in order to move, you would have to increase your salary, even to larger degree because of decreased benefits.

Tell them you've already got experience, you work for money.

Roger,,,funny thing is i used to be a technicial recruiter...so i know all the interview questions and can interview fairly well...

I've been in the same industry for a while but since much of its been contract work i got to touch a lot of stuff in a short period of time.

I can answer the questions...i've been on so many interviews its like everyone reads out of same play book sometimes...

and im not really an arrogant person or really all that confident. I just listen really well...

You made the right choice, definitely.

IAN, Have you ever asked your current employer for a pay raise? In the mean time, always watch out for number one; you.