How are you doing? (financially / economically?)

[id10t]

Getting tight, but we've planned on that over the years. Having a second kid threw things off a few years... Worth it to keep the wife home and involved with our kids schooling, after school stuff, etc. No sense in her working to pay out most of it in child care.... Just took 20% of my 356 resto fund out to cover bills, etc. for 4 or so more months (there wasn't that much in it!)

So to solve my problem, I'm applying for new jobs, maybe not doing exactly what I love but close to it, and starting pay on the ones I'm looking at would be close to a 50% raise for me.

[svandamme]

i'm doing well, but i see people who are feeling the pain...
my younger sister for instance, does not make the big bucks i make
and she can't because she's disadvantaged in life
and as food prices went up, her budget did not, so she's hurtin'

i'm single, no kids, so only 1 head to feed, food prices don't hurt me as much as a single income family of 4-5
I also have a company car, so any increase in fuel cost, doesn't hurt me one bit
folks who commute to work, with their own car... i'm sure they need to make cuts in their budget, just so they can afford to get to work, along with the increased food prices... that's hurt...

[Hugh R]

My daughter graduated college and is on her own now. Son is going to community college. I now feel like I'm rolling in dough, comparatively.

[Rick Lee]

I'm making less money now, since my income is commission-based and I've taken over a new, less lucrative territory. But my wife landed a much better paying job within three weeks of getting to Phoenix and our cost of living has gone down considerably, while I think our standard of living has gone up. So we're basically doing better on less money.

[jackobleep32]

Things are slower, but still okay here.

[cgarr]

Its kind of funny but if you ask the people that think things are bad are doing quite well themselves. So a lot of people think it stinks but not for them..Just the other people..

[mudman]

I'm one of the other people. My biggest buying demographic has stopped refi-ing or has lost their jobs, so I'm getting a lot less work. Also the downturn has permeated much of SE MI and many of my competitors have dropped their prices to ridiculous levels (I can't even buy the materials for the prices these guys are doing work for). I'm being very selective about the work I chase and have scaled back my operations.

[dmcummins]

I retired last year, at 50, so my stock holdings are down. But I knew that there was going to be some down years along with the good. So my net worth is down some but life is good. Ive got some cash sitting around just waiting if I think there are any deals in real estate, cars, or boats. So far I havn't found anyone giving anything away yet.

[syncroid]

Things are definitely tight for our family right now. My job is very steady. (Thank goodness) My wifes business is in the crapper right now. She is in real estate and as most of you know, the California real estate market is pretty dead. We have cut back on alot of things. I hope the economy turns around soon.
Dan

[9dreizig]

I just started a new business a year ago, but am confident I'll pull into the black by the end of the year...

[MysticLlama]

Tight but not terrible for me.

Got laid off in May and spent a few months without work. Luckily got some severance and had some savings, so didn't manage to go backwards.

Working again now, but took a pretty big pay hit to get working again, the competition in the market for my job level is very heavy.

On the upside, the new job is far less stress and my quality of life is up because of it in spite of the money situtation.

Have several friends that have been laid off though, including my landlord (not a huge concern since he owns my house outright), and keep hearing of more. It's one thing to hear about it and worry, but I do actually know several people firsthand who've been laid off in the past 3-6 months, including myself.

[BeyGon]

wow, about 135 lookers and only 50 voters, this poll can't be that hard.

[pwd72s]

I clicked never been better, my broker loves me. At least I hope she loves me. My "broker" is my wife....

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

I clicked never been better, my broker loves me. At least I hope she loves me. My "broker" is my wife....

'Tis the only reason I'm doing well, as well.

Slow and steady.

[Dave L]

Work is good and I will make more than last year. Investments are poo so I have put a few extra $ towards the mortgage. I am working towards paying off my mortgage by 40 so I cant really complain too much.

[Scott R]

I clicked the top choice, made Vice President this year, nice bonus included.

[911Rob]

Made so much money in the past couple years it almost felt illegal

Things are going good still, above average, slow and steady. My future millions are very economy based, so I must be careful.

Involved in a development building affordable housing targeted to the seniors market and we're doing very well with it to date; just about at the break even point

[Zef]

No changes...Paid off house...Retirement fund is full...Both me and my wife get steady job.

[tabs]

I watch virtually every gun auction in the USA. Guns are an indication of how the economy is going as it is a discreationary income proposal. Gun auctions are all still running strong. The only deviation is that for the average run of the mill collectable prices are holding steady to just a bit off the highs. However for the good stuff..well money is still no object.

My guess is that people are just being a bit more selective where they put the $$$$.

With the stock, Bond, RE and commodity markets all in BEAR mode...money still has to flow somewhere...

With regard to other collectables I would say that they have weakened with the exception of that unique item.

I would say that money is still around, but there is some hesitancy because of fear. People just don't know which way things are going.

It would be a nice courtesty to repsond Wayne and tell me what you think about what I just wrotes.

[mattdavis11]

Where's the box "I'm on government cheese already"?