Four years ago; better off or not?

My income is up roughly 40 percent and my net worth is up 75 percent. Both are outpacing expected gains in 4 years.
So that doesn’t suck.

 

I still remember in early February of '20, the economy was humming along, unemployment was at 3.5% and Democrats were really worried about being able to defeat Trump in November with all of that going for him. Especially when Sanders was looking like he was going to win the nomination. I was in a meeting with the CG of MARFORCYBER and he was complaining that he could not find any applicants for some GS-12/13 positions because the pay was not high enough, even though they would sponsor them for a TS/SCI clearance with a CI Poly. It had gotten to the point that real wages were rising well above inflation.

I would assume that is what Trump is trying to get people to remember.

@citygator I think the public is not happier despite the economy doing better because they know they are in for another four years of either Trump or Biden/Kamala and are very unhappy about either option.

 

No way man, you need to give Biden credit for that! lolz

Seriously, congrats. Hope you enjoy it, and leave your kids a nice chunk too.

 

per thei reference of 2020 summer riots, fortunately it hasn’t happened under Biden. It could of course under any potus, but did trumps platform of hate and constant antagonism encourage an atmosphere that fostered excessive police violence? Along with his comments like below (at bottom of post)

And 2021 Jan 6th - it was trump’s maga mob of thugs that beat LEO men and women and sent many to the hospital. many chanting they wanted to hang Mike Pence.

and just recently, Kirk encouraged violence if trump doesn’t win. See below. I anticipate we’ll hear more of this call to arms for maga as we get closer to the election.

“political activist Charlie Kirk, a top influencer and Trump ally, urged supporters at a faith-based event on Sunday to "fight" if Donald Trump doesn't win the 2024 presidential election.”

I want to make sure that we all make a commitment that if this election doesn't go our way, the next day we fight," Kirk told the audience at "Freedom Night," hosted by Pastor John Randall.

In Kirk's response, he reminded the audience, "there were a lot of people by the way that were all on board of the American Revolution as long as it was 73 degrees and sunny, and as soon as they had to march through the winter and fight a smallpox epidemic, they said, 'Forget this. You know, Liberty sounds nice, but I liked, I liked King George a lot.' So they kind of got out of the way.“

Trump ally’s stunning request: ‘If this election doesn’t go our way the next day we fight’

DJT 2017
“Please don’t be too nice,” telling the officers that he believed “the laws are so horrendously stacked against us, because for years and years, they’ve been made to protect the criminal … [n]ot the officers.” He told officers that they would no longer need to take precautions against injuring suspects when placing them in a police car, saying, “When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just seen them thrown in, rough. I said, ‘Please don’t be too nice.’”

 

But I imagine lots of us have kids at the age of marriage and starting a family that cannot afford their own starter home whereas pre-COVID it was still within reach. That, and so damn many folks cashing out of Cali and moving to other states with a pocket of cash and overpaying for houses that drives prices higher than they would be if Cali wasn’t liquidating.

 

Yeah, homes were quite expensive pre-covid. It was just that back then, those of us trying to get our first home were largely insulted, told to stop spending money on stupid stuff (avocado toast!), or told to just get a better job. Also, the only way the Cali thing works is if somebody is willing to pay them that money for their house in Cali.

There has been a housing storage building since the 2008 crash.

 

That is my biggest concern passing as much on as possible to the kids. Dad already got them off to a good start...When he was still alive he set up trust funds for all his grandchildren that they got control of when they turned 30. He looked after his descendants he lived a good life but he could have jet setted all over the world but chose to take care of loved ones first.

 

Our Family is better off because we will lot allow the idiots that screwed so many to affect us.

Many of my kids peers are not better off and it is infuriating. We have some here who admit their kids were harmed. Yet they justify it. All I can say is none of these kids are better off (though most will be fine as we took away a vital life moment for them)…

 

We're better off. Wife was part of the great resignation because she got a job that paid 40% more. I threatened to resign after receiving a job offer but stayed when I got a 20% raise.

As for my kids? My oldest is finishing up their first year at University of Arizona. Having a blast and enjoying life. UA has a Bachelor of Legal Studies degree, which will likely be their major.

My youngest is in 5th grade. The pandemic was very tough. 1st and 2nd graders aren't well adapted for remote learning. But he's doing fine, straight A student, and started karate a few years ago. Already a blue belt.

 

Better off now, but I don’t think it has much to do with Trump or Biden

 

What does “better off” really mean? How does one determine they are “better off”?

 

Thank you... someone that knows what Biden is really up to. LMFAO!

 

How about buy a smaller home to start with. Even live in a nice mobile home. Cook for yourself rather than eat out or delivery. Own an older vehicle and not top of the line IPhone. No Starbucks and such. And of course no smoking cigs. Lots of ways to cut back. Not I’m not saying it’s possible for everyone but for some yes.

My first home was a 2 bedroom 1 bath in a lower to middle class area. My living room console was two 2x6 boards on concrete blocks. Used bed and frame until I found a cheap waterbed. Stayed there until my son was born then started looking for a 3-2 when my wife got pregnant with our second child. I worked full time (8-5) for minimum wage and a part time job 6-10 Monday through Friday. My wife and I had some tough times when we first got married. Maybe that’s why I’m not real sympathetic to couples I see with all the bells and whistles struggling to maintain their lifestyle and buy a home.

I’m not saying there is a way for everyone just that there’s a way for many who don’t want to make the sacrifices that would make it possible.

 

This hits at the heart of what I've been seeing with the younger generations.

They see what Mom and Dad have and think they should have it too, like right out of the gate.

My wife and I got where we are today because we worked hard (and smart) and lived frugally.

These generations want to spend like drunken sailors on credit cards and then complain that they don't have anything to show for it.

 

I place some of the blame on the parents who buy cell phones for their kids at early age, keep them quiet with iPad games, don’t make them play outside, coddle them like they would break in half if looked at wrong, buy them a fancy car at 16, etc. Don’t teach them any responsibility then BAM, they want to leave home a have no skills to take care of themselves. So much wrong with so many parents.

 

Some of the kids do, some are very money savvy.

 

Seems like almost everyone is better off, you sure there were idiots out there screwing with people?