Okay, I'm posting this to check and see if anyone else out there is feeling the "squeeze" more than ever.

I personally have never worked harder for less. I feel like I'm going to die just making the ends meet.

This is not meant to be a political finger pointing thread. Please tell us your story over the last 5 years and how your life is better or worse for whatever reason.

its seems these days are missing something. maybe its family? have faith in your plan. i am also chasing that almighty dollar sign. chasing..

5 yrs ago. Worked for Sara Lee corp. in one of the last Hanes hosiery factories maintining sewing machines and boilers. Manufacturing was sent to Mexico. It was a very good job.

4 yrs ago. Worked for Independent tool and die. The largest contract sent manufacturing to Mexico so the company was cut in half. I was part of the half that was cut. It was a very good job.

3 yrs ago started selling commercial coatings for Duron Inc. Sherwin Williams bought the company and replaced the lower half of the sales staff with Sherwin Williams employees. It was a highly stressful, decent paying job.

2 yrs ago to the present. I'm a Asst. Manager/parts monkey for Advance Auto Parts. I'm a commercial paint job bidder, I rarely get any contracts. I do anything and everything in between to maintain a roach-free environment to live in.

It all sucks now and I have a strong urge to kill sometimes. Thankfully common sense has prevailed, so far.

Larry

Times are better than ever. Our income is good and our health is excellent.

What more can you wish for?

Five years ago I made good money but spent it all - and more.

After my escort off my employers property last Christmas ( By the RCMP ) I decided it was up to me to provide myself an income.

It has not been easy but nothing worthwhile ever is. You will never get rich working for someone else.

My dad's been a mechanic for the rail road for over 30 years. The poor guy works 60-80 hours a week so we can maintain our blue collar/middle class status. He is definitely working harder than he was 5 years ago to maintain the same quality of life.

I live by myself and work part-time so yeah.... its rough, when what you make is only $40 more than your bills for the month BEFORE food or fuel and you have to decide wether to starve or walk 35 mins one way to work.

You too!?

Oh yeah the HD just went in my computer and my car insurance is due next month so dont say it cant get worse

But atleast I have my health! (wait I've been living on KD & balogna for the last 5 months and am slowly dying....) I think I need another cheap beer now........

The only reason I'm working harder to make ends meet is because I currently have 2 kids in college.

Things may be different in other parts of the country but the upper midwest seems pretty good. Restraunts are busy every night of the week, shopping center parking lots are always full and every weekend the highways heading up North are filled with RV's, cars and trucks pulling boats, campers, 4 wheelers, snowmobiles etc... There's a lot of construction going on around town too, commercial and residential. My Uncle is a licensed contractor who does remodeling and he has been turning down work 'cause he's got at least a years worth of work pending...

Doing fairly well. Both wife and I put in the hours but it seems like all we get done is work and no time for leisure. I work for a big / small company. Our division is small but we are owned by Honeywell. It's only a matter of time before the job is gone I think. The writing on the wall says everything is going to be outsourced and we will be an assembly only plant (for awhile until that is outsourced also) but I am in a pretty good position as I have 24 years Tool and Die with the company and the assemblers still needs assembly tools to work with. We have went from almost 40 in the toolroom to 3 over the years. Hopefully it will last another 10-15.

Kevin

Doin better than ever. Substantial savings in bank,early retirement in 6 yrs,(at 55),house paid off in 8 years. My wife and I lived pretty frugally for the first 15 yrs of marriage,did some investing in real estate instead of taking fancy vacations, never have owned a new car(but I own 8 old cars), and payoff time is coming. Life is good!

Sounds like I'm better off than most right now but I'm slowly losin' ground. This area has lost a lot of jobs, most recently the Case New Holland combine plant in East Moline, IL and Maytag in Galesburg. Still have mine for now but the future is shakier than ever. I complain sometimes but shouldn't it could be a lot worse. 20 years ago things got real bad around here, I lost my job and almost everything I owned, I survived that but didn't have a family then. Hope I don't have to relive that.

5 years ago I landed the job I am at now.Making$10.00 more per hour than I previously was.No longer have to work 80 hours per week to clear $500.00.I can make that in half the time with a 40 hour week now.Had a new house built.Three kids will be in private school next year.I can definently say I am in alot better shape now.Same goes for my wife.She works part time just to escape the house. I am pretty thankful.I did not land that job due to politics,that is for sure.I landed it because I was the quailified person for it.I wish that everyone who would work would be as fortunate as I am right now.I know this was not meant to be a political thread but we know it is going to end up being one right?

I would have to go back a couple more years. 1997 was the worst as far as livelihood. I hit a deer on my Harley and it put me out of work. So bad that GM wouldn't take me back for fear of workman's comp. I was lucky to be working there. Good benefits,but a fight with "red tape."

Married a great gal in 1999 (I've been happily married three times) and she was a God sent when we lost my mother in 2000.

It's been hard to learn to live with less but, I would have to say I have more now. Yea, mom took care of us kids somewhat, we were able to get even so that made things easier.

I'm a Grandpa five times over and my bride gives me mostly any thing I want. Now, don't be fooled that door swings both ways. It was her eyes that got me to say "yes" again. We take care of each other pretty well. My Kids are working and going to school. All of us a healthy considering our given situations.

I would have to say I'm better now than before, but my view has changed. I know that I'm grateful for what I do have. It seems to take longer to get it all done and the time seems to just be flying by. 2005 already. Unbelievable. Soon it will be warm again and I'll be able to get around to playing in the "Dog House" again. The cold plays hell on me. But, I'm still suckin' wind and walking around bothering folks.

Pappy

Retired at 55 and never had to go back to work so life is good at 66. Still have the health to enjoy street rodding, hunting and fishing, wife and grand sons. Life has not always been easy, but has always been good.

Now some advice for those struggling:

1. It is not how much money you make but how much you save that counts.

2. Learn the difference between "Wants" and "Needs". Stiff arm your "Wants" and the "Wants" of your family until 1 above has provided you the means to pay cash for them.

3. Never borrow money for any thing that is depreciating (normally all "Wants" fit this category). Remember, your borrowing money is some one's ticket to a better life. Credit card debts is an investor's dream and a borrower's night mare!!! Borrowing to buy a home or start a business is normally a good investment, but like all investments, you have to make the effort to keep them in good shape to make them pay off.

Trees

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You young folks this is the best advice you will ever get!
Print what TRESS said and paste it to your dash!

I'm 52 and still in contact with people I went to school with. Most went to work for GM. Some still live check to check but they go out to eat 5 nights a week and buy two new cars a year.
I love the statement well my payment only went up $35 per-month.--you know you just got screwed.
Another friend just retired form GM worth about 5 million.
Just a line worker but lived in same house 30 years and just now bought his first new car a month ago. He is still *****ing about how much that new Pontiac cost!

Fact is most people that are hurting brought it on themselves.
The right to stop working at 5:00.
My right to eat out twice a day. (adds up!)
Not staying educated for an out if you see your job coming to an end.
I'm owed everything.
Scared to change jobs or to better themselves in any way.
Just plain lazy.

NEVER envy someone with money - because they paid the price you were not willing to pay!

A lot of very good advise here...... My mother-in law was a single mom raising my wife and her sister most of there lives. She never made much more then minimum wage. She bought and payed for a house during that time. My wife said they didn't have much growing up. They would do alot of things that didn't cost money, like go to the park and read books, or what every. Those 2 girls are very well rounded adults.. So like you said it is not about what you make but what you do with it...


As for me my shop at home never slowed down this year at all. I built more engines and transmissions in 04 then i have ever done. Now my full time job is another story. We have not sold anything in 3 years. No raises in almost 4 years and the co-pay with health care keeps going up, but i still am thankful for the job and am happy with what they offer....So i am sticking it out untill they tell me not to come in anymore...

Keith

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Performance Engines
It's better to have a gun and not need it, then need a gun and not have it.