richravizza 27 #201 July 18 On 7/15/2024 at 8:28 AM, SkyDekker said: Funny enough two of the Maga Trump supporters here say they are better off now...followed by a but some magical other people are not better off. Is it easier to pay your bills, food student loans,rent or mortgage is it easier to pay off a credit card or to buy your first home? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,789 #202 July 19 2 hours ago, richravizza said: Is it easier to pay your bills, food studentIt loans,rent or mortgage is it easier to pay off a credit card or to buy your first home? It's a lot easier for me. My 401k is up 60%. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wolfriverjoe 1,485 #203 July 19 55 minutes ago, billvon said: It's a lot easier for me. My 401k is up 60%. Unemployment below 4% for a longer time than any since records were kept (so like back to WW2 or so). Inflation below historical averages. Wages going up faster than inflation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeWeber 2,627 #204 July 19 Just now, wolfriverjoe said: Unemployment below 4% for a longer time than any since records were kept (so like back to WW2 or so). Inflation below historical averages. Wages going up faster than inflation. Media says he must go, posters here say he must go, Pelosi and Schiff say he must go, Kirk and Spock say he must go, go-go girls say he must go. There is not a number or metric that matters now, the snowball is rollin'. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richravizza 27 #205 July 19 22 minutes ago, wolfriverjoe said: On second thought....i'll pass. Thank you joeWeb, Agreed the C&D has been received, and I'll take that to heart. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
richravizza 27 #206 July 19 1 hour ago, billvon said: It's a lot easier for me. My 401k is up 60%. I'm sure it is, inflation does have benefits for those with big assets.Congrats on your returns Bill. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gowlerk 2,120 #207 July 19 1 hour ago, JoeWeber said: Media says he must go, posters here say he must go, Pelosi and Schiff say he must go, Kirk and Spock say he must go, go-go girls say he must go. There is not a number or metric that matters now, the snowball is rollin'. And the voters say........he must go. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,102 #208 July 19 1 hour ago, JoeWeber said: Media says he must go, posters here say he must go, Pelosi and Schiff say he must go, Kirk and Spock say he must go, go-go girls say he must go. There is not a number or metric that matters now, the snowball is rollin'. Throwing the old out with the bathwater. Shameful. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeWeber 2,627 #209 July 19 Just now, Phil1111 said: Throwing the old out with the bathwater. Shameful. Maybe if a million of us gave him 5 stars on Yelp it would erase what we've seen and fear to see next. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,326 #210 July 19 18 hours ago, richravizza said: Is it easier to pay your bills, food student loans,rent or mortgage is it easier to pay off a credit card or to buy your first home? It is for me, when I bought my first home rate were double digits. My stock portfolio is up, bonds are down a bit, private credit is up, private equity is up and real estate holdings privately and business are up....all in all I am much better off than 4 years ago. Housing affordability is definitely an issue. But if you think that is due to Biden, then you simply have absolutely no clue what you are talking about. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,340 #211 July 19 The same pretty much goes for me as Skydekker. Wendy P. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,233 #212 July 19 9 minutes ago, SkyDekker said: It is for me, when I bought my first home rate were double digits. My stock portfolio is up, bonds are down a bit, private credit is up, private equity is up and real estate holdings privately and business are up....all in all I am much better off than 4 years ago. However, the working stiff at 35 years old making 37-65K/annum with 2 kids is not. They're 10K in CC debt, have no savings and an average $25,000 of vehicles at a cost of about $600/month, plus insurance, plus gas, healthcare costs, etc. Most on here have done well for themselves. But, I doubt they would enjoy the above scenario. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SkyDekker 1,326 #213 July 19 Just now, BIGUN said: However, the working stiff at 35 years old making 37-65K/annum with 2 kids is not. They're 10K in CC debt, have no savings and an average $25,000 of vehicles at a cost of about $600/month, plus insurance, plus gas, healthcare costs, etc. Most on here have done well for themselves. But, I doubt they would enjoy the above scenario. I agree, but people in that situation prior to the pandemic also were not loving that situation. Trump got the tail end of a prolonged surging economy, which was ended by a global pandemic. The comparisons aren't apples to oranges and need a lot of framing to try and equalize. Has Biden been perfect, not even close, but his presidency has been pretty successful and I personally seriously doubt things would be better if Trump had been president these last 4 years. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BIGUN 1,233 #214 July 19 27 minutes ago, SkyDekker said: I agree, but people in that situation prior to the pandemic also were not loving that situation. Trump got the tail end of a prolonged surging economy, which was ended by a global pandemic. The comparisons aren't apples to oranges and need a lot of framing to try and equalize. No argument. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 2,789 #215 July 19 15 hours ago, richravizza said: I'm sure it is, inflation does have benefits for those with big assets. Or for people with investments. Or a home. Or a business. Or a steady job. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeWeber 2,627 #216 July 19 Just now, BIGUN said: But, I doubt they would enjoy the above scenario. Which is why I didn't have kids, worked 16-18 hour days 24/7/365, saved every penny I could, drove shit cars paid for in cash, and lived in an over used Park Model trailer out back until I was turned in to the county. Today's youth have the same information we had. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wmw999 2,340 #217 July 19 1 hour ago, JoeWeber said: Which is why I didn't have kids, worked 16-18 hour days 24/7/365, saved every penny I could, drove shit cars paid for in cash, and lived in an over used Park Model trailer out back until I was turned in to the county. Today's youth have the same information we had. They do, but they also have exposure to so many more goods than we did, both because of mass media, and the proliferation of fast fashion and fast everything else. They're human beings, just like the kids who give in to sexual urges that turn out to be too strong for them. It's not that everyone gets a pass (I worked myself through private university, while skydiving; I do understand your pain). It's just that circumstances are different for different people. It's just that everyone's circumstances are different. We each have skills or talents that came relatively easily to us (even if we've worked to maintain us), and we think those things are easy for everyone. They aren't. Wendy P. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeWeber 2,627 #218 July 19 Just now, wmw999 said: They do, but they also have exposure to so many more goods than we did, both because of mass media, and the proliferation of fast fashion and fast everything else. They're human beings, just like the kids who give in to sexual urges that turn out to be too strong for them. It's not that everyone gets a pass (I worked myself through private university, while skydiving; I do understand your pain). It's just that circumstances are different for different people. It's just that everyone's circumstances are different. We each have skills or talents that came relatively easily to us (even if we've worked to maintain us), and we think those things are easy for everyone. They aren't. Wendy P. Then economic suffering is a part of the reward. I have close relations who have done an amazing job of raising their kids and sending them off to college but don't have college money for them and also don't have retirement savings that are meaningful. Now, in mid life that looms ominous. But they are solid people and will use the next 25 years to get there. Joe missed it all by working every weekend for a different type of success. I remember looking around when I was young and thinking that come whatever I am not going to end up old and poor. So I deprived myself and saved. That $600 monthly car payment in the example and ridiculous CC interest would add up fast in a 401K. Bad luck is one thing, self inflicted wounds are another. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phil1111 1,102 #219 July 19 3 hours ago, billvon said: Or for people with investments. Or a home. Or a business. Or a steady job. With real returns on all, above the rate of inflation. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites