Is the economy picking up at your house or your area?

[MoniqueU]

My DH works a sale management position in a commision based industry. He was laid off 2 times last 2 years but we managed to scrape by somehow though it hasn't been easy or pretty. The last time he was laid off he had a solid job by the time he reached home which was great. A former employer at the same time also wanted him even though he quit that job a couple of years ago due to the commute and work schedule. They have a no hire back policy but really wanted my husband personally so the boss there aranged a meeting with the president of the company to get it okd. They tried last month to get him at a differend location and he turned it down based on potential. They then made a position fo rhim at the old workplace. He will quit the current place as the store has doubled their net profit since he has been there but the money isn't flowing downhill and the owner is finding ways to get out of paying more and messing with paydays. the new place will pay better (based on last years figures) and once they kick in have better benefits though they take 6 months to kick in which is rough. So we are (very) caustiously optimistic. the sales at the place he is at now have climed through the roof in an industry that had been hit hard. That means consumer confidence in Socal is picking up. The last couple of recessions didn't affect his industry but this time hit hard. Income dropped 50 percent from sept to october of 2009 and it has been rocky ever since.

So while the commute is going to suck again we feel things are turing around. We haven't heard of any new friends getting fired and the amount of for sale and bank owned homes in our neighborhood seem to have stabiilized.
He is quitting and walking out on the job he is currently at tomorrow which a couple of years ago he wouldn't of been able to do that. We have been lucky to get by this far but we seem to be on the right track going into the new year. No vacation or dl in our sites at the price their annual passes and day tickets are but we are hopeful.


I hope others are starting to see some changes in their own lives or soon will.

 

[kelly1218]

Unfortunately no

DH is still a contract worker for the Government...and they have cut him down to 30 hours a week now. I hated the 37.... cried at the 34...... panicked at 32..... now I'm numb. We lost most of our insurance and benefits when they went below 32 hours.

We can't even find part time work to supplement. Unless he wants to travel....and for $7-9 an hour....I dont' think traveling(or going into the city and paying the wage tax there) for part time work is worth it. especially since we figure it would only be about $30-50 a week take home after gas, tolls, taxes, etc.

 

[mamaLori05]

The housing market in our neighborhood seems to be picking up quite a bit lately. We've had several new builds start as well as homes sold just this past month. My dh is also getting a raise and bonus this year after 2 years of pay freezes. I'd say things are picking up around here as well.

 

[shortbun]

Let's see...my brother and another friend lost their jobs last week. My BIL has been out of work for over two years, my sister says her business is doing more work for less pay...people downgrading things. My husband just had the worst year he has had he started his company. My girlfriend's ex lost his job thus lowering her income unless he finds another one fast and can continue to pay his child support. Everyone we know is playing it cool, not spending a lot, still hunkered down. We ARE in Ohio which is being hit hard all across the north, especially near Detroit/Toledo and our new governor paints a bleak picture. Nep, we're still in a big mess around here.

 

[FINFAN]

well, my neighbor said he might actually get a slight "raise", back to what his orig income was 3 years ago, but the new income tax rate just ate that up and then some...so, using just that as the most recent example told to me, I'm going to go with not really. I did see a lot of holiday shoppers out there, but to me peoples grocery carts are filled less and more and more are using coupons. I still see people on thier bikes ( we are in Chicago/snow) and we have more houses for sale than ever, no sold signs, just for sale signs. Our Goodwill is always jammed and DS 16 has been turned away from applying for jobs more than he has received applications. Our gasoline bill is now officially out of control, affecting our budget big time.
So, at my house? Nope, not even close, going the wrong direction
In my area...I'm gonna go with I highly doubt it.

 

[kydisneyfans]

First of all, we are blessed with our financial position. My wife and I each made more money last year than any other year to this point. My wife teaches at a local college part time, then works full time at a local hospital doing coding and billing work. Both gave her raises heading into 2011. She does both as she enjoys teaching, not by necessity. My 401K ended last year $15K higher than ever.

I have been under a wage freeze since 2008 but have been getting some bonus money. Wage increases have been approved for Feb.1.

Before anyone knocks things, both of us were laid off when the economy was "good", it took moving to another state to become employed again.

What I don't like is the total blanket of-the economy's bad, everyone's suffering, or the economy's great, everyone's doing fine. Each family has their own position, it's the fact that more families are struggling than usual that has created this problem. I know equally as many families that are flourishing right now.

Prayers go out to those without work, it's a life changing event, we've been there. Sometimes very difficult decisions need to be made as a result, it shouldn't have to be that way.

 

[MoniqueU]

I didn't mean to rub salt in the wounds at all. I was just hopeful what we are seeing is a sign of better things to come. Perhaps what we are seeing is just pent up demand rather then a good outlook going forward, And I will still be watching every penny.

 

[DisneyScraps]

No, I have 2 family members out of work and there is nothing out there. Every week another small business shuts down. Real Estate isn't moving at all. I think it's getting worse. Every business that closes means a few jobs lost.

The military is going to cut 2,000 jobs in this area in the next year.

Lisa

 

[Kies99]

I guess you could say we're lucky. We live and work in Pittsburgh and our area managed to get by much better than most of the country. Over the past 2 years, houses in our neighborhood have continued to sell and I don't know anyone who lost their job (locally that is). Not to say Pittsburgh was totally spared, but according to all I've read and seen we made it through better than most.

On the flip side, we never had the housing boom or job boom that other areas experienced prior to the recession.

 

[Swimalie]

The housing market here they say is picking up. Our county was one of the first in the area to be hit with foreclosures and they have pretty much stopped in our area. As far as jobs, they haven't announced it fully yet but the Fed Govt will be going on a 5-10% reduction in force, which means 5-10% of most of my neighbors and the DC area will be laid off, retire early or transfer to another location in the next 16 months (Sept 2012). My husband's office was told just before Christmas. 19 people have to go. We are living day to day as to whether he has a job and if so, where. The whole RIF will hurt the DC area's economy! Govt Contractors are going to feel it as well. The only thing keeping us going is the fact that my husband and a co-worker are working on a big project for one of the Secretary's. It won't be over any time soon and this is something big so I think we're safe. But so many of my friends and they spouses aren't that it's scary.

 

[snowywhite89]

Unfortunately no

DH is still a contract worker for the Government...and they have cut him down to 30 hours a week now. I hated the 37.... cried at the 34...... panicked at 32..... now I'm numb. We lost most of our insurance and benefits when they went below 32 hours.

We can't even find part time work to supplement. Unless he wants to travel....and for $7-9 an hour....I dont' think traveling(or going into the city and paying the wage tax there) for part time work is worth it. especially since we figure it would only be about $30-50 a week take home after gas, tolls, taxes, etc.

 

[Marionnette]

Not really. We havent seen an increase in revenues and Im still hearing about layoffs and longterm unemployment from people who walk thru our door. The stories can be very depressing but they make me realize how good we have it even now. My heart goes out to all of you who are still struggling. They keep saying that the economy has turned a corner and 2011 will be a better year. I hope there right.

 

[leadfootlevi]

Gas prices predicted at $5/gallon. Which means food prices will increase. Actually, prices of everything requiring transportation will increase.

Any upturn we are seeing now is being eaten away - slowly but surely. An increase in healthcare costs and taxes and my take home pay is less this year than last.

I have no idea what we'll do if gas really hits $5/gallon. Our budget will need a serious makeover.

 

[Kay1]

It's mixed in my household. I earn my money through investments, especially CD interest. If we were dependent on my income we'd be church-mouse poor, as I'm sure you could guess.

My husband got a raise because he got a promotion, but my 20-year-old son was turned down for jobs at Burger King and as a janitor and feels pretty dispirited.

On our cul-de-sac, everyone is fine. One couple who works in manufacturing had hour and pay cuts, but that happened about eight years ago and they adjusted.

I wish the best for all Disers.

 

[savvywifey]

somewhat, im not sure it ever went down though

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

Yes, it's been getting better since the middle of 2010

 

[HHSTigerFan]

I can see it slowly turning here in Illinois.. the small area I live in (pop about 100K) is starting to see a few positives such as a few of the major employers have added a few people, the retail area is seeing a few things built, starting to see some new houses started etc..

 

[madge]

In my area there is economic improvement. Thanks largely in part to the Ft. Knox Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and the US Army Human Resource Center of Excellence ... there has been a significant influx of jobs and people to this area. The housing market is doing well (depending on the proximity to Ft. Knox) and new businesses (mainly restaurants and retail) are opening every few months. A friend of mine is a Realtor and has had the best 18 months of her career.

On a more personal note, as a federal employee, my DH pay is frozen for the next 2 years. Stinks, but it could be MUCH worse, so no complaints here!

 

[Planogirl]

Spending seems to have picked up here but housing is still flat and the job market is still lousy. The good news is that nothing seems to be getting worse so hopefully everything will start to pick up soon.

 

[undertheradar]

I think that anything we see in Socal is a "false" bump. We have a lot of state cuts coming and that will trickle down throughout the economy. Should our gas hit $5.00 per gallon, our cost of goods and services will see across the board increases. While it took time for our part of the state to experience the downturn, it isn't going to bounce back quickly.