Are you better off than you were four years ago?

[prolesunited]

Recent news articles say that the U.S. created more millionaires in the past year again. Are you one of them?

What has this economy done to you and your family?

How have you been able to cope with things?

What "tricks" have you learned along the way?

What will winter's projected heating bills mean for you?

[bonito]

1. No but a lot wiser.

[ThoughtCriminal]

2. Only because I don't have to re-live them

Closer to the end of GOP rule.

[NoBushSpokenHere]

3. Answers

No, not one of them.
The economy has created alot of stress.
I have been able to cope.
I haven't learned any tricks.


The projected heat bills mean I will have to

1. install a different heat source
2. ride a bicycle to use saved gas money for heating bills.

[Nickster]

4. Here are a few thoughts that I put down in writing about the subject.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x5019906

[prolesunited]

27. That's very well put

Definitely worth the click.

[CelticWinter]

5. worse off than 4 years ago

shops closing in the areas and nothing new to replace them. tricks-- waste nothing. heating bills--no worries have well gas.

[AirmensMom]

6. Well, no. Not even close.

I'm disabled now and can't work at all. I have to fight my LTD insurance co. in court to get my benefits. The ERISA laws make it hard to collect anything. I'm scared to death that Social Security will go away.

The only thing that's better is that we have a grandson now. My daughter and son-in-law signed up for 6 more years in the A/F because they didn't think they could get a job outside. She'll be going to Iraq (don't have a date yet). It could get a LOT worse for our family.

We keep tightening our belts. My husband has a good job, so we're better off than many people. I hope he doesn't get laid off.

I cope by coming to DU. I don't have any tricks. I pray a lot (no flaming, please).

Fortunately, we don't have to worry about heating bills. It only gets cold enough for heat 2-3 nights/year.

[prolesunited]

10. I'm sorry for your difficulties

And anyone who would flame you for praying is an idiot that doesn't deserve your concern.

I hope your daughter stays safe.

[AirmensMom]

24. Thanks, prolesunited.

I've seen a lot of posts ridiculing people for their beliefs, so it makes me a little nervous mentioning it.

I hope my daughter stays safe, too. Thanks for your reply. :)

[prolesunited]

29. Just be strong enough in your beliefs

to stand up to the bullies.

I'm an atheist, but I would NEVER ridicule you for your beliefs as long as you allow me to exercise mine.

[AirmensMom]

32. Don't worry.

I actually have stood up to the bullies, and I'll keep doing it ... it just gets tiring. We need to stick together if we want to beat all the bad things that are going on.

We both have the right to believe whatever we want and it's not up to anyone to slam us for it. I will never disrespect you for being an atheist.

I'm pleased to have met you. :)

[walldude]

35. We'll only ridicule your beliefs if you try

to force them on us ;) Nothing wrong with a little prayer in times of need.

[spindrifter]

7. Hell NO!

I am much worse off than 4 yrs. ago. I am making less money. My money is worth less. I am spending it like it's water in a sieve. I can hardly stand to walk into a grocery store and see apples, for crissake at $2.95 a pound--so I am buying less fruit and eating a less healthy diet. It hurts to go to the gas station. I have observed a lot of tricks from the croney ninnies in government, but I don't choose to "learn" them. Heating bills--I run through the house turning off lights and turning back the thermostat telling the family that they can wear another layer of clothes instead of wasting the hard-earned cash. They can thank the Prez. that it isn't any colder because we have global warming to take some of the chill off.
Yeah, there are more millionaires--but I keep seeing the street people and the people all over the place who have been victims of natural disasters.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

8. Well.... NO is "safer" than it was when BC earmarked all that $$ for

the levee upgrades. NOT.

[CatholicEdHead]

9. Pay may be higher but job security is not

I worked up the ladder, but in the past year my overall income dropped (0% raise and less medical insurance benefits) and the my job security is now job insecurity between now and next Memorial Day.

[prolesunited]

11. The waiting is hard

I knew I was in jeopardy in June but it took until April for the hatchet to fall. My advice would be to pretend it's a certainty and save all the cash you can.

I had a second job and upped my hours there to tide me over, but maintaining COBRA costs a fortune.

What would be your options for health insurance?

[devilgrrl]

12. Not at all.

But still not bad compaired to others. :-(

[Balbus]

13. Not a millionaire, but yes.

But I highly doubt it has anything to do with what administation is in office. Life is what you make it.

[devilgrrl]

18. "Life is what you make it."

Pfft! Yeah, it's that simple huh? :puke:

[Balbus]

54. No, it is not simple.

Not much in life is as simple as we'd want it to be.

[devilgrrl]

55. Then what did you mean by the comment?

Huh?

[Balbus]

56. I stand by the comment.

Just never said it was simple. That was your input - not mine.

[devilgrrl]

62. Fine, then address this question...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5071273&mesg_id=5071770

[Balbus]

64. I don't even know what the question is.

But that person is healthy, has a roof over their head and food in their belly. That's a damn good start - a lot better than a lot of people have.

[prolesunited]

28. I agree with that

But when you're barely, if not failing at, keeping healthy, a roof over your head and food in your belly while working your but off, what would even you be able to make of that?

If you have any ideas, many here are listening.

[DemoTex]

14. My pension was terminated. I'm selling my beloved mountain house.

Things will get incrementally worse on 9/10/2006 when my supplemental disability income dries up, and a whole lot worse on 3/30/2008 when I am thrown to the wolves of the PBGC. I have my writing income, which is OK. Dr. D. has a fantastic income, but we can't count on that forever. We have always saved a lot and we have no debt other than housing. We pay cash for cars and drive them 10-12 years. Still I wonder if we can weather the shit-storm that is brewing.

I fear that we all are in for a severe world-class ass-kicking, thanks to Bu$hco. But it might be worth it. If we can get the Bu$h regime disgraced, cashiered, and convicted (both here and internationally), maybe we can get to the business of saving the country and the planet. If nothing else, I hope I live to see that little motherfucker in chains. Yes .. that keeps me going. I would give up everything to see peace and justice prevail in this country. Every-fucking-thing.

[prolesunited]

20. I'm sorry you'll have to sell that place

I remember how happy you were to get it. At least you've had some time to enjoy it.

It's criminal that the corporations can cancel pensions while paying the execs million-dollar bonuses.

It does sound like you'll fare better than many. Hang in there.

[greatauntoftriplets]

26. I am so sorry to hear that the mountain house has to go....

I know how much you love it and the photos you have posted of it make me understand why.

And I know no one who is better off...except my billionaire employers who give the employees 3 percent annual raises.

[lildreamer316]

15. Gee...let me think.

ummm......FUCK NO.

Actually and truthfully, yes I am, but not due to anything that *co has done. I inherited. Whoo-hoo. I can clearly see that if I were working in my usual job right now, I would be struggling mightily; many of my friends still there are. The attitudes I see every day convince me that as a whole, we have really slid downhill.

So phisically, yes. Mentally and emotionally (in regards to the state of the world and country); not at all.

[bigwillq]

16. No way.

Not a millionaire.

The economy hasn't helped my family.

I've been coping (barely)

We have electric heat (slight increase)

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. Much worse off emotionally

and worse off financially as well.

[shadowknows69]

19. ditto on both

pretty much have to close my own business this month and hope the job market will let me flip burgers or something or my wife and I are fuked.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. I am so sorry

That does suck.

I still have a job and get maybe a 3% raise every year. But the raise in health insurance premiums takes my raise in salary and then some. I can't afford to buy a new car and am still making payments on a car worth less than the car I owned 4 years ago.

My husband actually makes less than he did 4 years ago. Budget cuts by his employer mean no more overtime.

And we are paying college tuition we weren't paying 4 years ago.

So we are worse off. But at least we are employed. Our oldest son has been out of work for 18 months and the job market for him really sucks.

[Perky]

21. Yes...much

[prolesunited]

25. Since you're bucking the trend here

care to elaborate a bit?

What did you do right and we're all getting wrong?

[Perky]

40. Went into business for myself

I am making good money....and donating a good bit to charity.

And am able to put money aside for my two year old's college fund.

I picked the right moment to go for it...I guess

[prolesunited]

41. Glad it's working out well for you

What field?

[Perky]

47. Consulting

Telecommunications

[arkie dem]

23. $HIT No...!!!

I haven't had a real raise since 97. The cost of living adjustments don't keep up with inflation esp. since the * regime came to power.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

30. Not so much...

Still have a job, but employer filed bankruptcy, now looking at some nasty pay and benefit cuts. Can hardly wait til I have to start heating my drafty old house on my reduced wages. Feh.

[electron_blue]

31. Yes, but not for reasons related to Bush

I divorced an abusive spouse and that has made all the difference in the world....

Financially, I am down about $10-20K/year than when we were together, but that's bcs of the divorce.

I'm employed by state govt and we have only seen 2% raise in the last 4 years (0% first 2 yrs and 1% the last 2 yrs). I'm currently re-working my spending so that I'm living beneath my means. Wish me luck!! I haven't managed it quite yet.

[prolesunited]

34. Money is NOT everything

I am so glad you got away from an abusive spouse. I am sure you will rebound emotionally and financially.

BTW, your lack of raises is related to the present administration. One, a depressed economy means that the state is taking in less tax revenue, whether from employment or sales taxes. States that once had surpluses under Clinton are now running deficits, so that means program cuts and less raises for employees like you.

Also, more costs that used to be covered federally are now falling to the states, such as underfunded mandates like the No Child Left Behind, or disproportionate distribution of Homeland Security dollars, or fed program cuts in medical care or college support.

[banana republican]

33. Hell no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Semi retired last year. Since then I have lost only GOK (God only Knows) how much to inflation (the numbers are being cooked), and I have had to spend about $10K to change from OIL to a heat-pump.

However I just started my own CPA practice in Seattle and it seems to have doubled in the last year. At least I will be able to survive.

HOWEVER; we may have let my wife's childhood girl fried live at our place since it seems that she may loose her job with King County. It seems that BIRD FLU is taking a toll. Our County Exec. is laying off a lot of people in order to purchase BIRD FLU vaccine.

P.S. Mods I like the new spell checker (or is it because I just new to Linux???)

[meisje]

36. Yes

[walldude]

37. Well, lets see...

In the 8 years Clinton was President I got a raise every year. When Bush became President that was the end of the raises. I did get a tax cut though :eyes: I also got:
A 100% increase in Gas Prices.
A 300% increase in HealthCare (Had to give it up.. hope the kids don't get sick)
A 140% increase in Natural Gas prices.
A 70% increase in Electricty prices.
I've also been noticing that food prices have gone up as well. Glad my car doesn't run on milk...

After almost 5 years of no raises I quit my freakin job. Started freelancing. It was a crazy move, I had no savings and only 2 weeks vacation pay as a severance(after 16 years in the same company). Things were tight for a few months but now I am getting steady work. If business keeps increasing I will do much better next year than I did this year.

[MrSlayer]

38. No but not really worse either.

I haven't been effected too badly by Chimpo really. The only difference is that I miss a few months of work each year as opposed to a few weeks under the last 6 years of Clinton. But construction work is cyclical that way. It's feast or famine and it doesn't matter who's in office. Every 8 years or so you peak or valley.

Winter's projected heating bills won't hurt me too badly either, I do well enough while I'm working that it will only eat some of my "fun" money. If I have the misfortune of being laid off it will be a bitch.

[MissB]

39. Things haven't gotten worse.

I left my career just before November 2000. It was completely voluntary- we went down to one income because that's what worked for us.

We've changed houses since then - the hot local housing market allowed us to sell our beloved home on a standard city lot and buy this piece of *@!& on a half an acre. It is a fixer-upper and keeps us busy. On the plus side, I have wayyy more room for gardening and some nice big trees.

We're largely unaffected by the economy... so far. Dh is still getting raises each year with no apparent danger of reductions, despite being in an environmental field.

We live much as we always have. Part of the deal for me to walk away from my career was that I'd figure out ways to save us money. We live relatively frugally. I cook from scratch and garden. I keep a large pantry full of stuff that I've bought at what I know is the lowest price (and its stuff that we eat). We don't eat out much. We have no commuting costs (dh bikes). The car sits for days on end. I hate to shop for "things".

This year, we've reduced the temperature that the thermostat is set at - last year we had it at 72, this year it's at 65. It gets bumped up to 67 briefly in the morning for about an hour, then drops back down. I'm not sure our heating bills will be much more than they were last year. We installed a high-efficiency gas furnace last year, but we also had several rooms with negligible walls (plywood only on the outside, no siding or insulation or sheetrock) and single paned windows. With the new windows and actual walls, the heating bills should be about a wash (given the local increase of 15% in natural gas). They may even go down slightly (which they did last month, even with similar outside temperatures).

We're looking at installing solar attic fans next year, which should allow us to ditch the single window air conditioner that we use upstairs. We're looking at ways to beef up the house, like adding insulation and replacing windows. We just can't afford it all at once. (Well, we could, but I abhor debt.)

I'm considering going back to my career soon, if nothing else then to help pay off the house quicker or to give us more options if dh loses his job. But it is a huge decision with real impact on our family.

[Zynx]

42. Financially I am in sound shape so is the rest of my family.

However, I feel pain for what has happened to our nation as a whole. This is not what the promise of America is.

[DS1]

43. Earning less than 25% of what I used to

[LuCifer]

44. No, but way better ARMED...

...and after the last damn 5 years, I'll NEVER go without firepower again.

[prolesunited]

48. I find your post quite disturbing

Who are you planning on shooting?

[Tsiyu]

45. Not financially, no.

No, I am not one of the millionaires.

This economy means that even simple things - like car insurance for kids and a new vacuum cleaner and plumbing repairs - can't be acquired because that money must pay for gas. This economy means that jobs don't pay well, and training and/or degrees don't guarantee commensurate wages or career choices.

Good friends, DU and not having a mortgage or car payment help me cope.

Tricks I've learned: Be adaptable.

Make do with less.
Keep the oil and the furnace filters changed.
Wash your hands.
Don't watch TV.
Learn how to grow something.
Laugh when you can. It's good medicine.

My electric bill was only $60 this month. It will climb to around $200 a month this winter. I will (crossing fingers) not have it as bad as some. My main concern is random power outages. They are rare here: Tennessee has a great Electric COOP system that WORKS for the people of Tennessee, but given this year's unpredictable slant, I think alternative indoor heat is a good idea. I'm investigating, but a lot of options are "out" because of the potential high gas prices.

Interesting questions. :hi:

[Cats Against Frist]

46. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to say "yes."

But, it's not because of Bush. Four years ago, I was pregnant, destitute, aimless, getting over addictions, living between a flop house and a moldy bungalow, in a terrible relationship, with no career goals or hope or a support system.

Now, I have a GORGEOUS 4-year-old, a career path in teaching creative writing, a completed poetry manuscript that I hope to get published, this year, a large Victorian house, and I'm getting a new car in a couple weeks. I've received nearly $50,000 in fellowships, and though I'm still in a shitty relationship, my boyfriend went from a full-time alcoholic, making $11.85/hr, to a weekend alcoholic, making $18/hr. And, I've lost about 40 pounds, and I'm much closer to my family.

The thing is, my successes have come from a channel that was already there, and will be there, unless there is a horrible depression and everybody loses their money. And my boyfriend just got promoted, and he's in manufacturing, and makes something that everyone uses -- and uses and uses. Our standard of living has gone up, because we re-located to Iowa, from the way-more-expensive Seattle.

I would say that part of my successes are due to the responsibility of having a child. Not only that, but I woke up from my late-90s Gen X stupor and realized how shitty the world had gotten with the Repukes in charge. If anything, Bush has helped me to crawl out of my gutter of self-destruction, and to try to live a better life, as a BETTER example than the human capital the right wing wants us to be. I've started taking care of myself, eating organic food, making things from scratch, being a more responsible consumer, recycling more, and helping out in my community, more.

[prolesunited]

52. Why unfortunately?

I don't begrudge anyone's success (unless it comes from exploiting other people.)

You should be very proud of what you already have overcome and wish you well on your journey. You still might want to do something about your shitty relationship and PT alcoholic BF for your child's sake. Even if you try to protect them, they sense it.

[neebob]

53. Yeah, definitely lose the shitty relationship.

It isn't worth the extra $18 an hour, whatever your share of that is compared to the price of keeping it. :)

[blonndee]

49. I, my parents, and my neighbors are worse off.

My parents made less money in real estate and paid more taxes.

I paid more taxes, despite having a "larger" income because of a small raise. The raise actually resulted in me making less money. Not to mention spending more money on my university-sponsored health insurance, which raised copays by a substantial amount. That, inflation, and higher energy prices (ALREADY!) have taken a big hit on my household.

My neighbors have lost insurance benefits AND the amount of healthcare benefits they are able to deduct on income tax...and their son and daughter-in-law had to file bankruptcy because she was laid off during maternity leave and so she lost her insurance, which she, her husband, and new baby were on. There's a lawsuit with the EEOC but in the meantime the collectors haven't stopped.

[EFerrari]

50. I am but it's wholly because I have an extended family

And we pool our resources. Nothing to do with this economy or this MALadministration. If my welfare was left in their hands, I'd be sleeping on the beach tonight.

[neebob]

51. Yes, but it has nothing to do with the economy

or who's in charge of it. It's purely the result of getting rid of an expensive, destructive leech and slowly digging myself out the deep, dark hole the leech sucked me into - combined with the good fortune of having a career that enables me to pay for my catastrophic mistake.

Don't get me started about credit card companies and the bankruptcy bill. I already went off on a guy from Citigroup who tried to feed me this B.S. line about payments doubling because "the government stepped in to help people pay off their bills."

No one's living richly at my house. I'm just lucky to be alive and have a roof over my head and some food to eat and a few bucks with which to play Parental Money Tree. I'm sure I'd be much better off if Gore had taken office.

As for heating bills, I've already budgeted for the worst case, a 70-percent increase.

[leftofthedial]

57. I'm back to zero.

basically, I've lost everything, including a 28-year marriage.

[BlueIris]

63. I'm sorry. That's how I feel, too.

I can't post that I lost anything like a marriage, but I did lose just about everything else. I think what I have left would roughly be my soul. That, it would be harder for the BushWorld to take.

[shadowknows69]

66. but they're working on it

n/t

[leftofthedial]

67. they've taken millions of souls already

beware

[fleabert]

58. nope.

I live in a better location, lifestyle wise, but otherwise, am worse off.

hopefully, my energy bills won't go up too much, I use electric floor heaters- I hate them and they are expensive, but it's a rental and I don't have much choice in the matter. (i welcome suggestions though)

[Hardrada]

59. Yikes!

[Maraya1969]

60. Being a millionaire today is not what it used to be

So when "they" say there is so many more millionaires ask them how much disposable income these people have. There is a big difference.

[Protagoras]

61. The US created more POOR than the past year again too

and I bet the US created a bigger disparity between the rich and the poor. And the US increased the proportion of POOR to rich...and the US Continues to have 3rd world heathcare for children. And the US has more children go hungry (OMG PEOPLE GO HUNGRY HERE?)

And I'm not better off than I was 4 years ago. I have an extra college degree and make 1/2 the money since then...and I just found out last week that my insurance (new) doesn't cover routine physicals...so if I want basic blood work, physical etc to see if I have anything general to worry about as I age...I get to pay $600 out of pocket..

Fortunately while this all sounds grim, I've chosen some of these changes and worked very hard before this to simplify some aspects of my life to allow these things. Sadly I work with and around a lot of very normal people who didn't have the luxuries I have had and as a consequence they are splitting their medicines in half to stretch them out, they are declairing bankruptcy, and they are wondering if they'll even be alive in another year.

We're not living on fumes in this country...now we're living on illusions. 90% of the people are in a state of denial and believing (while the credit cards hold out) that they are actually part of some special 10% that's actually getting that thing called the American Dream...well...that's a term that's right on Both parts.

[Libby2]

65. No

Nope, no fucking way. Worried about making it through the winter.

[Maestro]

68. No.

I'm making more money but finding it harder to get by. Living paycheck to paycheck.

[spanone]

69. Try FIVE years ago. NO.