Let’s see – I finally cut up my credit cards and am seriously trying to get a handle on my debt, so I have less disposable income but less debt, too. Of course that was my doing, not the government’s.
The last two tax refunds I got were the biggest I have ever had in my life – and this year’s was bigger than the year before – and I can assure you that the money went right out into the economy, one way or another, within weeks. You’re welcome.
Other than that… much the same, as far as I can see. Well, I feel better and safer having Obama in charge. And hey! Osama bin Laden is dead, so there’s that. Not that I was keeping awake nights worrying about terrorism striking semi-rural northern Illinois.
We’re better off. We were renters then, but we waited until the housing market here dipped and now we’re homeowners. Some of the new laws that have been passed recently regarding mortgages were hugely buyer-friendly, which at least made us feel more comfortable during the deal. I’m not sure which part of the healthcare law affected us, but shortly after that was passed, our health insurance went down almost $150/month. And, a friend of mine and his boyfriend are planning their wedding in NY! So, you know, added happiness!
Four years ago I had a 50k a year job, fantastic healthcare, no debt, everything I needed, most of what I wanted, and could afford to fly airplanes as a hobby.
Now I’m living below the poverty line, go months with no income, am surviving on food stamps and family help, am currently working two jobs which, combined, pay about 1/5 of what I used to make, when six months with no health insurance, am now on a form of glorified Medicaid, and I’m constantly broke, exhausted, and frustrated.
That said, I have a lot less job stress and, despite everything, in some ways I’m a much happier person. Just really, really poor, and poverty sucks.
Yes. I went from a low stress-low pay job to a medium stress-medium pay job. My wife took a pay cut because of the city budget crisis, but I more than made up for it with my new job.
I have a house now, and the mortgage payment is actually less than my old rent. I’ve got the same job, making a little more money, and my company is hiring, so the Grim Downsizer doesn’t seem to be lurking about as much.
Yeah, aside from being four years older–which I rather doubt any politician could help me with–I’d say I’m better off. I’m certainly not complaining.
I’m better off…I think. Hard to compare apples and oranges. Went from a decent expat package in China to being one of the masses based out of corporate HQ in the US. The air is clean, live in a house with a nice yard, kids love public school, and most importantly my youngest benefits greatly from the autism benefits of a cadillac health care plan. She also benefits from a good special needs program in school, and specialists that are actually quite good as opposed to just being expensive.
My daughters are all better off. I save less money but a higher quality of life.
4 years ago I was homeless, living in sewage with a meth addiction compounded by rampant violent alcoholic binges. I had no friends and no family.
Today, I’m CEO of a huge international corporation, own a house in Aspen and another in the Catskills, and spend the majority of my time doing volunteer work to help autistic crack babies become happy, productive members of society. I got married and now have 6 wonderful children, the oldest of which will be entering West Point next fall with plans to make a career in the military, defending this great country of ours. My youngest (twins) are going to Rensselaer on a full scholarship and already have patents on a cold fusion process we developed with my time travel machine in the garage. Last year alone I won a Nobel Prize, learned to divide by zero and taught myself to speak Sanskrit.
I’m definitely (slightly) better off now than I was 4 years ago.
Oh. Don’t think of it that way. Think, “I’m broke,” not, “I’m poor”.
I’m not better. No health insurance, no job, school districts are cutting funding (again) and there were several hundred applicants for just a handful of positions. I’m about to apply for food stamps and medicaid as I’m tired of getting cash from my dad and I have a six year old.
If I don’t get this job I’m interviewing for then I’m going to have to move home and suffer the pain.
As screwed as I am compared with 2007, the writing was already on the wall and I rode that pony as long as I could. Then I found another that paid 2/3 as much, and I rode it. Then there was another horse that paid 4/5 of the previous one, with no insurance.
Still screwed. Applying for jobs that pay what I got in 1986, but I’m pricing myself out of the market. We are closing in on the point where wages for skilled employees and the minimum wage are the same.
Nope, I’m poor. I don’t think self-deception about my financial situation would be helpful. “Broke” is when you’re short of funds until your next paycheck. When you’re still short even AFTER you get your paycheck… you’re poor.
We are worse off and better off so I’m not sure. My husband’s take home pay has been cut 25% in the past four years. This is going to have a HUGE knock-on effect on his retirement pay in five years. So much so that I am very worried. My pay has risen but I only started to work full time seven years ago after a five or six year kid-gap. And now I’m self-employed with no guarantee of income should my customers all decide to go somewhere else. So we maintain the same standard of living but the future is scary.
No. I have a more reliable car than in 2007, but I’m making even less money than four years ago, so paying for that more reliable car is scary at times. I feel more uncertain under Obama than I did Bush, though it’s not entirely Obama’s fault.
In 2007, I was making $45,000 a year, in a job where I had my own office. Not as good as 2006, where I made about $50,000.
Today I make about $40,000 a year, including a side business where I write resumes for people.
Had to change jobs in 2008, where I took a hit, but the new job has never caught up to where the old job was. (As opposed to the last job, during the Bush years, which increased pretty good year after year.)
So, yeah, most of the damage happened before “The One” got into office. I don’t fault him for that. But he hasn’t done much to make things better. I’m better off than my brother, who just went back to work after two years of being unemployed.
Here’s the rub. Other than FDR during the Great Depression, no President with an unemployment rate over 7.6% has gotten re-elected. Right now, it’s 9.1%. Even if it goes down .1% a month for the next 15 months, it’s barely going to hit the magic number.
Hellllllooooo President Bachmann.
