https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 23:59:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278938 Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:34:53 +0000 HLK208 278938@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: I am so sorry :( hopefully he'll find something asap </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278933 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 23:47:00 +0000 tequiero21 278933@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i do think we're better off, but i'm not crediting obama in any way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278607 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:25:02 +0000 SleepyMonkey 278607@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, we have been very fortunate. Personally, I think we are both happier now than before. Both of us are more comfortable in our own skin and that is just something that comes with time. But we also function as a couple better, after we both made a few changes. Financially, we are much better off than we were 4 years ago, but like some other HBs have said, I don't think it has anything to do with Obama. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278542 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 15:28:18 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 278542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: holy @#$#. Now I feel guilty for prompting you to jinx yourself :( My hubby just found out that his contract isn't being renewed and was going to be let go in December. Luckily, within 5 days he had 2 new offers (one with a better salary and benefits). Maybe you'll get lucky too? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278450 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:28:20 +0000 Mrsbells 278450@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Chillybear: Awww sorry to hear that. I hope he find something soon </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278435 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:14:02 +0000 Chillybear 278435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>feel like i totally jinxed myself with my response earlier. about an hour ago i got a text from hubs that he's being laid off and has 2 weeks to finish his open projects. There just isnt enough work at his consulting firm. </p> <p>here we go again.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278429 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:09:47 +0000 Mrsbells 278429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I dont believe Romney really cares whether we are better off or not. But yes I am much better off and am thankful that McCain didnt win because he wouldnt have done anything to help regular working class people like me. Even during the worst of the recession he said he had become a nation of whinners and was never really in touch with how badly people were struggling. I find this to be the case with all republican candidates lately </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278427 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:07:11 +0000 ladyfingers 278427@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Thanks, me too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278426 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:06:28 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 278426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I understand and that's why in my original post I really wanted to acknowledge the people who are having a hard time. It seems that by and large people are doing better, but it's not a universally true thing and when you are going through it yourself... it's the whole world really.</p> <p>I really hope your husband gets a lucky break soon and is able to overcome his demoralization! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278422 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:02:52 +0000 ladyfingers 278422@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Sorry, we're just going through it -- yet again -- with yet another job-application-in-limbo. So I'm a little upset. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278419 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 14:00:01 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 278419@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I think you need a hug. I'm so sorry your husband is going through that :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278386 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:27:43 +0000 Pancakes 278386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>In general, yes. We had just gotten married 4 years ago and we had made some stupid financial decisions which resulted in a lot of stress for us. But we worked hard to pay off our debt, so now we can comfortably afford for me to stay home with LO. We don't have much financial stress at the moment.</p> <p>The future is uncertain though. The Obama administration has made huge, huge cuts in DH's line of work, so we are crossing our fingers that the 10+ years he has put into this job will ultimately pay off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278359 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:11:11 +0000 yoursilverlining 278359@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes; personally as well as financially. Our home has retained it's value, and we've both kept good jobs (my husband has tenure, so that was gauranteed), and we've both moved ahead professionally. The biggest "better off" is that LO was diagnosed with a mild heart abnormality in the womb, and without Obama-care's rule about preexisting conditions, LO could be denied health insurance for the rest of her life. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278348 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 13:06:13 +0000 ladyfingers 278348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Financially, I am. I paid off all my credit card debt in August, and found a better (and better-paying) job last March, where I have consistently gotten raises and bonuses since starting. </p> <p>My husband is not. He has racked up more credit card debt, mostly due to the fact that his employer has had furloughs and no raises and abolished overtime. He has been unable to find another job, much less a better paying one, in the 3 years I have known him. We are grateful he has a job, but it is hard to see him become more and more demoralized as time goes on and potential employers (for whose jobs he is absolutely qualified) keep ignoring him or sending him rejection letters. This was his dream career his whole life, and he now believes that he made the wrong choice and is paying for it by not being able to support his wife and future children the way he always wanted to. Employed or not, it has taken a tremendous toll emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.</p> <p>I don't know who we have to blame for that, but I don't believe either man currently promising to fix it, can or will. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278317 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:46:16 +0000 eeh 278317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like others have said..yes, I'm better off but not because of the government. I don't think any politician gets credit for me meeting my husband, getting married, having a baby, etc. I'm relatively certain those things would have happened regardless of who was President. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278288 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:30:36 +0000 JennyD 278288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes. But we live in Canada, and we weren't hit as hard by the recession (although my husband did lose his job). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278257 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:17:32 +0000 Honeybee 278257@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Aboslutely! Four years ago, DH and I were fresh out of college. Since then, we've relocated, secured good jobs, recieved promotions/raises, bought a house and two cars, had two amazing children, remodeled the house, adopted another dog, I became a SAHM and started my Master's degree (halfway through!), and DH completed his Master's (I count this as partially my achievement because both of us worked hard while he was in school :). Financially, we're in a much more stable place; personally, I couldn't imagine a better life than what I have right now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278242 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:09:29 +0000 littlebug 278242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think financially, yes, we are. We were able to refinance our mortgage to a much lower interest rate thanks to the Fed freezing interest rates to stimulate the economy. 4 years ago Hubs was told that his company was cutting salaries by 7.5% and employees had to start contributing to their health insurance (the company had paid 100% of costs previously). They also cut their hours to 32/week. He spent 4 years looking for a new job and NO ONE was hiring. Finally, he is at a new job with higher pay and full time work. My job has been able to continue giving us raises every year. We have managed to put some money into savings - and keep it there - and still maintain our fairly generous lifestyle. Things get tight now and then if emergencies come up, but overall, yes, we are in a much better place financially than we were 4 years ago.</p> <p>ETA: I would say the only thing that is worse now than 4 years ago is that we are underwater on our house. Refinancing helped, but if/when we decide to sell, we will most likely take a loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278221 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:58:05 +0000 MrsTiz 278221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, but to be fair I was in highschool 4 years ago :)</p> <p>So in the last 4 years I have graduated, gotten a full time job, a raise (small but still a raise) moved out of my parents house, gotten married and bought my own house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278207 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:53:11 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 278207@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, yes. I am in a wonderful marriage and have a beautiful daughter. Financially, no. Our house is under water (as it was purchased in 2006 when the market was booming) and that is a huge stress factor for us. It feels like we are throwing money away every month. Four years ago I was working full time and was single and just had a whole crap ton of money. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-278178 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:37:08 +0000 mrsjyw 278178@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am one of the lucky ones and am def better than I was 4 years ago. I've more than doubled my income (so has DH), gotten married, bought a house, and comfortably ($$wise) awaiting the arrival of our son in Nov!</p> <p>Our bills+cost of living as gone up; but we've also been able to indulge in vacations; paid for our wedding; house, etc. things that I wouldn't have been able to do four years ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off/page/2#post-277803 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:36:34 +0000 PurplePumps 277803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Economically, I'm in the same position. I'm still in the same job I was 4 years ago as is my husband. We haven't gotten any huge raises, but we got our regular expect raise for this company. Personal life wise, it's been great, we got married, bought a house, went on a few great vacations. Cost of living has gone up, but we've reevaluated our finances and even with rising cost, things look good as long as they stay on track (we don't lose our job). So, over all, I'd say I'm better off than 4 years ago. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277795 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:34:42 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 277795@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm better off, but I agree with @chopsuey119: it isn't because of Obama and the government! Four year ago my husband (we were freshly engaged then) took a new job 1000 miles away from where we were living. His new job is in a recession proof industry, so we never felt like he was in danger of loosing it. At the time, my husband revealed to me how much debt he had and we struggled to make ends meet. There were plenty of days where we has $10 in the bank, two days until one of our paydays, no food, and just enough gas in both cars for him to get to work. That meant I would walk to class and work. After a lot of sacrifice and hard work, we made it through! We got married two years ago, paid off all his debt, paid off mine, and we were able to buy a house last year. We don't struggle anymore and I feel so blessed and thankful for it. So we are much better off! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277754 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:22:38 +0000 mediagirl 277754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think he was exactly talking about family and personal life. I think he was talking about jobs and economy and whatnot. When it comes to family - its great. Things are wonderful and I'm better off. </p> <p>Job wise? Not so much. My husband and I have not gotten raises in 3 years. Gas prices have gone up, food prices have gone up, our utilities have gone up but our salaries have not. Out insurance rates have tripled in 4 years. We are NOT better off. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277752 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:21:58 +0000 MamaMoose 277752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't this Mitt Romney was speaking about being personally better off. Yes I have married my husband and become pregnant with our first child in the past four years, but obviously the Obama administration has nothing to do with that.</p> <p>Financially we are not as well off as we were 4 years ago, but that's because 4 years ago my husband was playing in the NFL and now he has a regular job like the rest of us. But we still do just fine with a plenty in savings and more being moved over there every month (until this little nugget arrives and steals all my disposable income!). We bought our house a couple of years ago so we have a mortgage now but it's less than what we were paying in rent. I did hope the housing market would have come up a bit by now but we plan to be here for another 3 years or so, so hopefully things will turn around by then to help us built on our equity. When we move we will be moving to a MUCH more expensive state so a 20% down payment will be about twice as much as what it was on our current house. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277741 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:19:03 +0000 pastemoo 277741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>family? yes. baby? yes!<br /> money? probably not--we had difficulty adjusting to sharing money and then we moved to an area where we needed another car and a lot of driving and i left my job for baby. so no but mostly by my own choices. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277728 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:15:19 +0000 Shutterbug 277728@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I voted yes based purely on our financial situation. I was affected by the recession (laid off in 2009) but I'm at a better, higher paying job now, and DH has gotten several raises/promotions in the past 2 years. The low interest rates and gov't programs like HARP have allowed us to refinance and save $$$ every month. Not sure how many of these improvements I have Obama to thank for and how many are just from getting older/more experienced career-wise, but I"ll take it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277722 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:13:44 +0000 Bookish 277722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, better off in every way possible, We were very lucky here in Texas, because the recession didn't hit us *quite* as hard. I am extremely lucky to have a job I love, a house bought in January, and the ability to be TTC-ing! Couldn't be more thrilled with how my life is going :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277720 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:13:18 +0000 Minnie_Girl 277720@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yes, but I can't say that has anything to do with Republicans or Democrats. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/are-you-better-off#post-277719 Fri, 31 Aug 2012 08:12:51 +0000 sheskrafty 277719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was able to buy my first house 3 years ago and because of the First Time Homeowners tax credit, and I actually have a savings account for the first time in my adult life! I got married and got pregnant and actually feel financially stable. My then-fiancee was laid off a few years ago, but now has a better job. I paid off my car a year early and am a year away from paying off my student loans. Life is great!! </p>