How many of you are better of today than 5 years ago?

CODave · 03-13-2004, 12:47 AM

As I was reading the post on jobs I thought to my self, the best indicator of the economy is private sector disposable income and standard of living.

Does it seem like things are getting harder financially or is it just me?

CalHunter · 03-13-2004, 01:55 AM

I'm better off.

CODave · 03-13-2004, 01:57 AM

Glad to hear it. It probably is just me...

ElCid05 · 03-13-2004, 05:25 AM

I am in college, so my standard of living is definately not what it was when I was with my folks. My stock portfolio took a huge hit about six years ago, but has steadly gained back up almost to where it was. I would say that I am about the same overall, I really can't contribute any blame towards the economy for my prison of a college's living quarters.

Andy

stealthycat · 03-13-2004, 06:46 AM

My family is better off ... but not because of the economy. Good job moves by myself and paying off everything but my hom mortgage is the key for us.

Gas and food prices, and a sharp increase in personal property taxes are killing average America. My yearly raise the past 2 years was like 2.5% ... not even enough to keep up with the rising costs mentioned above.

PABuck_HNTR · 03-13-2004, 07:17 AM

I'm better off! So is America! We always tend to only factor our pocket books as the deciding indicator of how are lives are better. No matter how much money you have it won't change the fact that you will leave this world someday with NOTHING! I feel that alot has been done in the last 3 years or so to remind people that love of a family and self responsibility are important to happiness, not just money!

bob d · 03-13-2004, 08:02 AM

i am better off

ButchA · 03-13-2004, 08:08 AM

Me? I'm WAY better off than I was 5 years ago. My job is steady, I've had raises almost every year. My wife is the co-head teacher at her daycare center. My twin girls are seniors in high school and looking forward to college. Things are going good!

Butch

CODave · 03-13-2004, 08:15 AM

Good point fight4yourguns. I am not complaining about my life. I am a very happy man. Wife, six children, live in the country on 20 acres...

Just thought I would take a poll to see if the economy is good or bad for individual lives. More discretionary income or less...

Dave590 · 03-13-2004, 08:52 AM

Five years ago is a pretty long time to guage against. A better assessment might be, are we better off now, than we were three years ago.

Things were pretty "Rosey" right up to Sept.11th. Sure, all the indicators were in place that said a recession was in the making, But 9-11 stood the economy on it's head.

Being in the "travel and leisure" business, I took a pretty substantial hit. But then, so did millions of other Americans. After all, that is the intent of a terrorist attack. Then there was the enron and global crossing and adelphia.

However, the last nine months or so has shown a dramatic increase in the willingness of folks to go out and spend money on things that are not necessities.

So, from strictly a personal standpoint, I am in about the same place as I was five years ago, but I am fifty times better off than I was two years ago.