NBC News: Are you better off than you were four years ago?
- Thread starter alaskanseminole
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It was our fault for not knowing but it still was a huge hit.
They stop the child tax credit at 17 not 18. Why? Because according to the government kids are moving out on their own and becoming independent at 17. Yeah right. In what world do kids move out when they're 17? Duh.
Yeah your $2,000 credit went down to $500 I'm sure.
Many people that normally get refunds start owing tax when the kids start getting older.
I'm sure groceries have gone up a ton but the wife does 100% of the shopping so I have no clue.
There's plenty of money in my checking account so I don't even think about it I guess.
My house is fixed rate so no biggie. Condo is adjustable so I have seen the monthly payments increase. Haven't lost any sleep on it though.
We are "lucky" because we have always lived BELOW our means.
There's the hypocrisy we know and love. "We care about all less fortunate people unless they are less fortunate. Then **** em because I've got plenty" lol
Not to mention, aren't you a lawyer? Yeah I'm sure lawyers are doing just fine. Lol you earned it. I'm not saying you didn't, but it's pretty easy to say bills are easy to pay for when your making what you probably make.
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Fair enough. I've seen that definition. I've also seen the old "what you have left after expenses" which is kind of the way I think. It's not like I'm investing in restaurants or other risky ventures,
But, point taken and accepted.
Dude, I was a solo practitioner. I didn't have staff. My 4 kids and wife were stuck at home during COVID. I had to conduct hearings via zoom. People didn't have money to pay their bills. Don't tell me about how hard things were. I know first hand. "I'm a lawyer, I'm rich". Doesn't work that way chief.
I'm 100% better today than I was 4 years ago. Sorry you are not.
Plus.....I don't take vacations......Want not need not.
Better off financially, but my personal experience is things got more expensive at a higher rate than my pay increased- but that's just anecdotal I guess.
While I've already posted I'm doing fine, it's not like I don't notice how expensive stuff has become. I tell my (no pics) wife often I don't know how the average (or below average) person lives and enjoys life.
I took my wife and son to see Inside Out 2 at Flix Brew House. It cost a total of $79.29 and that was with child and military discounts and the food was only chips/queso, fried pickles, a slush and 2 waters. I noticed the family of 4 next to me all had complete meals and sodas. No way they left that dinner/movie for under $100.
I took my wife and son to see Inside Out 2 at Flix Brew House. It cost a total of $79.29 and that was with child and military discounts and the food was only chips/queso, fried pickles, a slush and 2 waters. I noticed the family of 4 next to me all had complete meals and sodas. No way they left that dinner/movie for under $100.
Things are always going to get more expensive. Now have some companies taken advantage of COVID and not reduced prices when they should....YES
This is starting to change however in the restaurant business it seems.
Also, if you’re a smart shopper at the grocery store and target their sale items I’m finding that prices have pulled back a bit as well. If the price is too high I don’t grab it off the shelf and then claim victimhood.
It’s weird to me how many people on here lie about stuff just to belong to a political party.
I call bs on a bunch of people on here.
Unless they found a new high paying job, hit the jackpot somewhere or as some have mentioned, they are now retired or close to it where they have kids they no longer need to support. They should also have houses and vehicles paid off by now. Thus that would be the only reason they are better than they were 4 hours ago. Not because the economy is better or the cost of everything is less than it was before.
4 years later I have the same job, house, and vehicle and go on less vacations yet I have less money in the bank than I did 4 years ago. It’s not like I’m wasting money on stuff either. Honestly I spent way more money 5-8 years ago when we bought our current house and each year we were doing improvements. Basically until Biden came along, coincidence, idk for certain but we spend less and have less money.
I'm up over $200k a year over the past 4 years and it isn't because of the President. But I look at my credit card bill that I pay each month, and it's gotten out of hand and there really isn't much more that we are buying now than we did 4 years ago. We have kids now and that adds into it a little but we're near $15k/month in a credit card bill. I cringe at paying that each month.
I do laugh at the article saying wages are increasing more than prices over the past year. BS. And even if it's true, inflation has sky rocketed the 3 years prior while historical wages have been up 3-6%.
I do laugh at the article saying wages are increasing more than prices over the past year. BS. And even if it's true, inflation has sky rocketed the 3 years prior while historical wages have been up 3-6%.
Where do you live making $200K a year but have $15K/month in credit card charges? WTF? If I had to guess I’d say you’ve got a budgeting problem.
I said up 200k a year over the past 4 years. We make way more than that.
How big is your family and what part of the country do you live in? Your family income is up by $200K over the last 5 years? Congratulations! You certainly can’t be struggling financially then. Reading your credit card statements would be fascinating though.
or you've gotten 2 promotions and pay raises over the past 4 or so years
aren't you the same guy who purposely has a job with low pay, but great benefits? shouldn't be surprised your margin is a lot slimmer than some people
Welcome to the world of parenting.
And because your insurance costs went up dramatically….how is that Biden’s fault? How did Biden and his policies raise the price of your groceries? Your meat? Your cars? Don’t private corporations and companies have some blame here? Did Biden order them to increase prices? I don’t get it Bubs……Covid and supply chain issues pushed prices upwards…and a lot of that was created because trump cut consumer safety nets with his ludicrous tax cut for BILLIONAIRES.
I dont see anything in his post about Biden. The question was "are you better off now than you were 4 years ago?". Some people are honest. Others are not. In any case, every answer is anecdotal anyway.
I am definitely better off as the economy has been rolling. There was no downturn in the stock market as many anticipated after Covid. Fortunately, my spouse and I both have good jobs. My kids 529s and our retirement plans are looking good after the last few years. We live modestly which helps. I feel fortunate to be raising my kids with expendable income to use on their activities, and not have to worry about money when buying food. We were both raised in much more tight financial situations without expendable income.
if you can't fathom the possibility that some people are honestly doing better now than 4 years ago...I don't know what to tell you
No thanks for me. Life is too short. I spend my time outside of my job with my kids and love it. I think Whiskey may change his tune and do the same when his kid(s) are older. I understand his mindset of wanting to work hard now to provide for his kids, as I felt similar when I started to have kids.
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We live in Des Moines. 2 kids. I try to save 100k a year and maybe that’s the reason why I feel I’m being squeezed as it’s harder to save even with income growth and life changes. I don’t want to work past 50-55.
I feel for lower middle class, have no clue how a family living on 100k with 3 kids can effectively get by and save for the future.
Everyone's situation is different. Getting ambushed by all those taxes is on him….that’s what tax guys and accountants are for! It certainly isn’t the Dems or Biden’s fault. If you make a mistake on your taxes/income projections, you may be “worse off” but that is on you! One of the toughest lessons learned in life is admitting you phuqued up……just dont let one phuque up lead to more….
Let them eat cake, and hire accountants and tax guys! Lol
And ftr I said it was our mistake that our tax bill went up.
Times are definitely tough for many. Voting for Drumpf will certainly not do anything to help those struggling. Everything about him and current Republican policies puts the growing issue of economic inequality on steroids.
When you deal with the tax code and itemization, you better get the best advice available from reliable folks who honestly understand and know how taxes work. In will pay every cent of income taxes I owe the state and Feds….and not one cent more. My tax bill between Fed, State and local has run between 14-16% of my wages/earning for the past 35 years….it just never fluctuates…and until recently I have itemized. Higher rates came from using standard deductions. This past year my tax bill was reduced by about 60% as I used a solar credit…..and the State of Iowa told me “You are old…..you don’t have to pay any more!”
Wait. You earned almost 12% in 2022?
Least shocking news is who is and who isn’t doing better. Pretty much straight down party lines.
Correct. For retirees on fixed incomes, their purchasing power has declined since Trump was in office.
Wow…your retirement savings doubled in 4 years? I must be invested in the wrong funds. 🤔
So, what’s your net result (income less expenses) now….compared to when Trump was president?
So, what’s that all got to do with you incorrectly questioning that he had 4 jobs?
