Financially - Are you doing better than before?

[scentednights2002]

We are doing OK not great. Two years ago DH & I both had pretty good paying FT jobs that put us about in the average income range. Then DH got in a car wreck & has been out of work for two years following back surgeries, etc. I had a PT job that I lost & then found another & am now working FT again but making half of what I made before. DH is working with Voc Rehab trying to find a PT job. Now we make about $14K/year for a family of 4 (DS11 & DD15). We do get food stamps & Medicaid for insurance since I don't have the option of health care with my job & with DH disabilities/medical issues, we couldn't survive otherwise.

The only reason we are making it on such a low salary is because I am very frugal and have been for years. Our savings is all but gone due to so long with no income but we pinch every penny we can and we make it. Granted most people would look at what we don't have or do without and complain but we are doing OK.

[shelleyf]

We are doing OK not great. Two years ago DH & I both had pretty good paying FT jobs that put us about in the average income range. Then DH got in a car wreck & has been out of work for two years following back surgeries, etc. I had a PT job that I lost & then found another & am now working FT again but making half of what I made before. DH is working with Voc Rehab trying to find a PT job. Now we make about $14K/year for a family of 4 (DS11 & DD15). We do get food stamps & Medicaid for insurance since I don't have the option of health care with my job & with DH disabilities/medical issues, we couldn't survive otherwise.

The only reason we are making it on such a low salary is because I am very frugal and have been for years. Our savings is all but gone due to so long with no income but we pinch every penny we can and we make it. Granted most people would look at what we don't have or do without and complain but we are doing OK.

You are a very inspiring woman. I agree with you, happiness comes from within and some people think it is money. I don't have much money but the happiness in my life is priceless.

[mama22qts]

A friend of ours has a friend who is in the same industry as dh. He has gone through a 40% paycut in the last two months, and it looks to go lower. It would not surprise me if dh went through the same thing soon.

[Luckymama]

mama22qts, I believe our dhs are in the same industry. The market situation is pretty bad. Thank goodness dh is a CFP now---people need planning in down times too.

[fivefoote]

We are pinching every penny and trying to stock up as best we can. DH work is laying off 25% of its workers by the end of the year and I just know he will end up being the one of every four that gets the pink slip. If not for the fear of the layoff we were doing just fine, especially since the price of gas has gone down. That was a huge expense for us at $4 a gal. We are a family of seven and just took in another while her and her mom work things out. We really need DH's income and benefits but on the bright side we will be able to eat, stay clean and shave thanks to coupons.

[smiles]

We are really feeling the bad economy. My DH has been going to school full time the past 2 years and works full time. He will finally graduate in Feb. In Aug. he took a paycut to get a job in accounting which is what he is going to school for. He used to work at a casino and make tips, which if he still worked there I think we would be feel it about the same as we do now.

I have my education degree, but can't get a teaching job in the area we live in so I currently work as a teacher's aide which I love but isn't that much money.

[pyxiwulf]

We're doing awesome. It's hard to admit when I know others aren't but it's good for us. I knew nearly a year ago that we would be in a good situation in a recession or depression. We're already used to living on one income, we're used to and know we can go without, we're stockpiled, so we can go without groceries for at least a couple months, and we are already in the habit of doing the deals. We bought a house at 50% under current depressed market value 6 weeks ago, paid off our car, and paid off our credit cards. Things are really good here.

[Castingbread]

Funny,when this poll started I voted no change for us. Weeeeell, now we are worse off. But we are fine-well, I haven't actually figured out the new budget, but we have always made it just fine since we were married in the 70's so I know we will be okay. And with the great traders & posters on this board we can't loose when it comes to groceries & h&B items!! Thanks you all!

[mama22qts]

mama22qts, I believe our dhs are in the same industry. The market situation is pretty bad. Thank goodness dh is a CFP now---people need planning in down times too.

Well, it's not so bad here right now. Most folks didn't pull their money out of the market and now the market is bottoming out, giving people an opportunity to get cash off the sidelines and back into the market. And yes, folks always need planning, especially in this lay-off market. :(

[VivaciousJewelz]

Things could be a lot better, but they could be worse. Luckily, when we moved to our current apartment, we did so only when we would be able to meet all our expenses on just my income. It's a good thing too, DH got laid off TWICE this year. I'm SOOO thankful for HCW, I've learned so much and I've been stockpiling rice and canned goods since DH and I know how to make that stuff stretch. Now we're expecting our first baby and even though things are rough and DH doesn't have a job, I'm glad he's home with me when I'm home, and that he'll be available to care for the baby. I just look at it like, "We're better off than we were this time last year, last year we were better off than we were the year before..." etc. Things just keep getting a little better, so I'm thankful.