Is the economy getting better where you live?

[williamson_ja]

In light of the DOW hitting the 13000 mark today, I wanted to see what you think. I just wanted a quick snapshot of how people are feeling about the economy across the nation. Do you think things are going better where YOU live (not where everyone else lives). We have a weird economy in my small town that seems disjointed from the rest of everyone else. So, it is really hard to see how things are really going when you live here.

For the record, things are going really well in my area. My husband is self employed and has his best month ever last month. For some reason, I just don't feel like going out and spending money though. I'm still in this save save save mode where I feel like the bottom is going to fall or something. So, humor me. How's it going where you live?

 

[happygirl]

In light of the DOW hitting the 13000 mark today, I wanted to see what you think. I just wanted a quick snapshot of how people are feeling about the economy across the nation. Do you think things are going better where YOU live (not where everyone else lives). We have a weird economy in my small town that seems disjointed from the rest of everyone else. So, it is really hard to see how things are really going when you live here.

For the record, things are going really well in my area. My husband is self employed and has his best month ever last month. For some reason, I just don't feel like going out and spending money though. I'm still in this save save save mode where I feel like the bottom is going to fall or something. So, humor me. How's it going where you live?

Not any better but not any worse. So I guess that a plus

 

[runwad]

Just a little better here. I got a small raise this year after not having one for 3 years and DH doesn't have to take any furlough days this year. That in itself is a small raise but not any better than it had been 4 years ago. Now with gas and groceries going up so much my small raise is being absorbed into higher living costs.

 

[Colleen27]

It depends on where you're at, I think. Around here it is a one step forward, one step back sort of thing. More places are hiring but only part time, no benefits, and at wages lower than I've seen in a very long time. I have friends who are making less now than I made in high school and college 15 years ago. And I'm not sure what the people who defaulted on debt, lost their homes, or otherwise destroyed their credit while unemployed are going to do because a pre-employment credit check is as standard as a drug test now. The housing market is doing a better, though; much of it is investors buying up cheap inventory to rent out, which is hurting some neighborhoods/communities, but some is also families who were priced out of buying or trading up who are now able to do so.

 

[nene0182]

I live in North Dakota where we never really saw the economic slump that a lot of areas did. I don't remember current numbers but last I heard, our state had a $1 billion state budget surplus. So, our state as a whole has been doing quite well. My husband & I both work for large international companies, his is based out of Idaho and mine out of MN. His company never decreased any jobs at his plant and my job eliminated 10 jobs 3 years ago but reassigned those employees to other departments or the employees chose to retire. The housing market is fine as well, we bought our house in May 2011 and our relator told us it was the busiest year she ever had and it wasn't even halfway over. Many businesses are still being built as well.

 

[williamson_ja]

It looks like more than 1/2 are doing the same or worse. I would like to hear more comments from those people. What's going on in your area?

 

[rentayenta]

My husband is a firefighter and I work in mental health for a big hospital corporation. We didn't feel the economy decline and stayed steady. We also don't feel the huge highs either. Guess its a trade off of sorts. We have increased our income and now have a small LLC so for us, we're doing better. Saving more for retirement, planning for the future.

 

[Darcy03231]

I live in southern NH and our area wasn't hit as hard as some others. I would have to say we've stayed about the same.

 

[Swimalie]

I live in "Federal worker-land" where we are in our 2nd year of no cost of living raise, about to go in to our 3rd year and they have raised our health care costs and they are looking to raise the amount we have to put in our retirement. All this leads to less in the paycheck each time. Gas prices are up, food prices are up and yet our paycheck isn't going up. Our house is still down about $140k in value, too. We're still doing well financially but things are not looking up for us at all.

 

[bored]

I live in a heavy furniture manuf. area and we're on year 5 with no raises. Business is steady, but the layoffs continue. The executives must have their yearly bonuses to "retain" the talent. Funny how the talent is what has gotten our industry in the pitiful state it is.

 

[java]

Well it's about the same I guess. It's not as good as it was but it's better than it was last year. DH was unemployed and now has a job in his field. He is making less money and no health insurance- so it's not as good as it was. I just heard and analyst say we are bumping along the bottom- and that's the way I feel.

Gas prices could derail the weak improvement- which was the point of their discussion. I agree.

 

[MyKidsMom1820]

I voted that it is better for us because personally in our home it is, but I live in michigan and michigan as a whole is kinda sunk.... west michigan is going better than the detroit area, but it still has a lot of issues. Our property values suck, and we are underwater in our home, but we are just paying a long on it... not much else we can do for that one....thinking about renting it out if we want to move up in house in a few years...

 

[Wish Upon A Star]

Well, I live in the keep raising taxes State, so I have to say that things are about the same. Both my husband and I work for municipalities and we've given back time yearly with furlough days . . .while the higher ups are getting their wage increases . . .

We are probably in a different situation because our children are going on 23 and 19, so basically, we don't have childhood expenses anymore, one has already flown the coop and has a full time job and the other is in college on a full academic scholarship, so we are able to put aside money monthly for trips, etc . . .

I think that if our kids were younger, we'd be hurting monthly and not able to save for things. Everything is sooo expensive, clothing, food, gas, etc, that it would be really hard to put aside fun money.

I really hope things start picking up. There is no way we could ever retire in our State at all . . .our pension would get taxed to death.

 

[disprincessatheart]

I got laid off in sept 2010. It took almost a year before my first job interview. Since labor day I've interviewed with 5 different companies and no offers. Only two even had the courtesy to tell me they had chosen another candidate - the rest left me wondering indefinitely. I have another interview Friday and I really hope this is the one since the govt just decided that those of us currently unemployed apparently don't need help anymore.

My dh still has a good job, and since I've been out of work we've cut expenses a lot (no childcare, I only fill my gas tank once a month, more coupons) but my unemployment runs out next week, so we're going to be hurting really soon.

 

[crazyme5kids]

I think it is getting worse. I have never seen the amount of businesses closing the way they are closing here.

Personally, I was laid off the end of Dec. My husband's job is very, very stable thank goodness. Even though I lost my job, we aren't feeling a financial hit too much..... Yet.

I feel very lucky because we have health insurance, we are able to pay our bills. We are being a little more careful with spending, thinking about needs over want more often than we did before, but we are in much better shape than so many people I know at this point.

 

[nunzia]

In light of the DOW hitting the 13000 mark today, I wanted to see what you think. I just wanted a quick snapshot of how people are feeling about the economy across the nation. Do you think things are going better where YOU live (not where everyone else lives). We have a weird economy in my small town that seems disjointed from the rest of everyone else. So, it is really hard to see how things are really going when you live here.

For the record, things are going really well in my area. My husband is self employed and has his best month ever last month. For some reason, I just don't feel like going out and spending money though. I'm still in this save save save mode where I feel like the bottom is going to fall or something. So, humor me. How's it going where you live?

Good perceptions. I think this 'recovery' is really just a shell game and things are much much worse than we know. All these unfunded obligations are just starting to rear up (think pensions for boomers retiring, debts coming due, the nation's debt at 100% gdp) and you will continue to save save save, maybe under your mattress.
That said..our area never felt much of the turmoil form the last 3 years. Our housing never really shot up, so it never really crashed. We've always had low paying pathetic jobs here and that remains the same. The biggest hit was when they shipped out the Stealth and brought in the F-22 which they promptly quit producing, so we felt that impact for awhile. The German Air Force still trains here so that helps. Things have stabilized somewhat at the base, and as we have a lot of Federal retireees living here, if their pension checks begin to be cut that could really impact us. For now we are pretty much still the low income little burg we always have been.
My job (church) is struggling so we are putting in for part of health care expenses (by 'we' I don't mean the pastors...just the muckety mucks) and we haven't gotten raises for 2 years (again..the same 'we' as earlier), so I'm actually bringng in LESS this year. DH (vet Tech) still gets raises but we keep getting hit at tax time so continue to have more taken out of his checks to try and break even so the constant inflation (of course they say there is no inflation since food and energy aren't included in inflation figuring..how convenient) does have us hit somewhat. My second job (entertainment store) is hurting, but I don't think that is the economy as much as I think time is running out for brick and mortar stores that sell books, music and video.

 

[crisi]

I answered its about the same, because it isn't awesome. But honestly, it's better, just not awesome, both personally and in general where I live. Everyone I know who was laid off or had reduced hours is back at work and working full time. Stores are more full. Girl scout cookies are selling better than they have in years. People arent walking around scared that next week or next month the company will have a huge layoff. It isn't the late nineties, when there was so much extra cash floating aroud that people where known to get large raises twice a year and unemployment was almost unknown, but it's a lot better than march of 2009.

 

[Ginny Favers]

For me, things are better because I lost my job in 2009 and just started a new one last year and have gotten back on my feet.

Maybe it was because I was unemployed, but I never noticed anyone really struggling at all. People still crowded the stores and went on vacations and bought new cars. I never saw any signs of hardship, and don't see that changing where I am. So I perceive that things are pretty much the same. Either people have always been doing well, or they're pretending to be.

 

[apnep]

I'm in TX. Housing market didn't bubble like it did elsewhere and the job market never really seemed too bad compared to elsewhere. But the cost of living is going up with the gas prices and our dollars are definitely not stretching as far. My food budget has increased and I am not buying more than I usually do. I don't know WHAT's up with the DOW. I am praying for a better tomorrow for EVERYBODY.

ETA: I polled "the same."

 

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I think the stock market "recovery" has everything to do with the fact that this is an election year and Super Tuesday is just around the corner. I also think that whichever way gas prices go over the near future will be indicative of which party has greater power over being elected or re-elected. If the incumbent can muster the clout needed, gas prices will go down. If the other party can manage it, they will keep gas prices up to plant the seed that a change is needed.

That's just my opinion. I lost faith in the system a while ago.