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Is anyone actually doing better these days financially?

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Substantially better. There was no work in Florida for my wife during the year we were there, so we just racked up debt. When we moved back to Colorado she instantly got her old job back and I made a career change and got into medical research, which starts at more than I was making after 4 years in my last field (animal care). Then I got another job in medical research, but maintain part time work at the old job. So between my wife and I we're doing a helluva lot better than we used to. So much so that we were able to get out of debt, save up more and get a loan on a new house (fixed rate of course), and we're NOT stressing out over the payments.
 
I'm starting to feel the gas prices, but that's about it. I'm a little bit worse due to increasing my monthly bills(moved to a more expensive place). However, I find as long as I keep on top of the bills, I'm OK.

I'd be OK if I didn't get $200-$300 taken out due to taxes on a paycheck(overtime varies that). I have found though that I come up short on paying something off if I don't work at least 10 hours of OT every month.
My normal work hour are 7:30-5 Monday through Thursday, and 7:30-12:30 on Friday. I've been working 6:30-5:00 without lunches since I started pretty much. If I ever get another raise, I won't have to work OT again, I will have what I need.
 
Probably a little worse since my income has risen less than inflation for the past few years and I need to curb my spending habits (buying computer parts and DVDs etc). Also, this past couple of years I've been hit with car and home maintenance expenses.
 
Not doing terribly bad but not better really either. Wages haven't kept up with inflation (few have) but don't have any debt (home and cars paid for) so no worries there. Overtime was cut completely out (as in I no longer will be paid for overtime - suffice to say I no longer work overtime regardless of the amount of work). Close to break even or slightly down. Might look for a new job soon to see if I can boost myself and wife back up a tad.
 
I work in the public sector so I'm actually doing worse. I've received raises, but they've had nothing to do with the economy. My money is not going as far as it would of 5 years ago....if I had any.

I am lucky, however, because I bought my first house in 2004 and will have it paid off in 5-7 years if all goes according to plan. I just hope we get some kind of serious relief. Inflation is going to start eating away at the core in a few short years if something drastic doesn't happen.
 
A little better right now. Got the house refinanced and paid-off a bunch of debt. Actually got our first new car in 14 years.

Car payment, house payment and utilities... 🙂
 
I am doing well.. paid off some CC debt, and I am ready to buy a replacement used car, but I think that I'd rather be more financially sound...
 
Originally posted by: Twista
worse
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What is it that you do, that you are worse off? From most posts here, people are generally the same, or a bit better off.

From watching the news lately, you'd think everyone was about to lose their homes, or they are drowning in a poor economy.
 
"I can't wait for Obama to become president so I can become rich again."

hahahahahahahahah .... Good One !! Best laugh I've had all day!!

Obama is a creation of the Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Democrat machine. He's not into making anyone rich except himself, his family, and his friends and allies. Anybody outside those lines will pay and pay and pay and pay

It's all about patronage. Eventually the news people will catch on to that and start reporting the facts instead of the fantasy.
 
Originally posted by: ScottMac
"I can't wait for Obama to become president so I can become rich again."

hahahahahahahahah .... Good One !! Best laugh I've had all day!!

Obama is a creation of the Chicago, Cook County, Illinois Democrat machine. He's not into making anyone rich except himself, his family, and his friends and allies. Anybody outside those lines will pay and pay and pay and pay

It's all about patronage. Eventually the news people will catch on to that and start reporting the facts instead of the fantasy.
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Yeah, I think it's foolish to believe that he will be the "end of all suffering" for all the people that are supposedly hurting. I am a hardened Democrat (from a heavy Republican family) and I will vote for him, but I think many people are going to be sorely disappointed if (or when) he wins.
 
Over the period of July 07 to March 08 I've received separate raises of 1.8%, 3.3%, and 63%. Combined: over 70%

I'm doing ok.
 
i dont have major debt, other than what i put on the CC that month, ive not carried a balance in over a year on a CC.

However, my self-managed stock account has lost about 25-30% of its value the past 1.5 months....that's definitely making me question if picking stocks is something i should be involved in, given this market.
 
No debt. No mortgage either 🙁 I can't wait for the day when I owe money to the bank for my house and am deep in debt to my ass.
 
Not doing so good myself. I finally landed a job after getting out of college only to have the company close 30 stores in one day nationwide, my location being one of them. Now I'm laid-off, with only 5 months of work experience since graduating and no real prospects for a job. My resume and work experience now looks like complete crap because of the jobs i had while going to school. Most of them were short-term or seasonal, (job only lasts 3-6 months then you get laid-off) but on paper it looks like I changed jobs all the time and my most recent job after college only lasted 5 months. I have been considering going back to school since I don't have any debt except about 9k in student loans, but I don't really know at this point.
 
I'm doing a lot better than the previous year. I went from making double the amount than I was making when I wasn't even looking for a job. Granted I work 70+ hours but work I really enjoy. Just paid off majority of my cc debt (went from 12k to 3k), just bought a new 45k car, still have my house that's almost half a million (live in so cal.). And was able to put a little away to savings. Just turned 30 years old and doing all this on my own. But my love life suck balls (damn I'm lonely)! When it comes to money it's just never enough.
 
Originally posted by: vi edit
Seems like every cost I cut is countered by something else.

I buy a car that is 50% more efficient than the last one and then gas prices go up 50% for a net gain of zero.

I cut out some frivilous expenses such as cable other subscriptions for a $1000 a year savings and then my taxes go up $1000.

I spend $500 on insulating my house and then the utility company raises natual gas rates by 15%.

I eat out less but then groceries go up 4% in costs.

I can't freaking win.
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This is my frustration as well. I've been trying to tighten fixed costs down in anticipation of having kids. But for every dollar I save I get fucked by something else.
 
Originally posted by: Atomic Playboy
I'm doing better than I've ever done, but my grandmother's inheritance money just came through, so that's pretty much the sole reason why. Suddenly I find myself caring about the stock market.
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gaurentee'd income annuity!

be smart with that money.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
Originally posted by: vi edit
Seems like every cost I cut is countered by something else.

I buy a car that is 50% more efficient than the last one and then gas prices go up 50% for a net gain of zero.

I cut out some frivilous expenses such as cable other subscriptions for a $1000 a year savings and then my taxes go up $1000.

I spend $500 on insulating my house and then the utility company raises natual gas rates by 15%.

I eat out less but then groceries go up 4% in costs.

I can't freaking win.
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This is my frustration as well. I've been trying to tighten fixed costs down in anticipation of having kids. But for every dollar I save I get fucked by something else.
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Well technically you are still better off than if you hadn't made those adjustments, since the base price of energy and groceries would have increased anyway. I just accept the fact that food and energy prices will do nothing but increase over time. No one ever became rich by earning 3% raises and cutting things out of their life. You pretty much need to be promoted to a new job or start a successful business to really get ahead.
 
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