The old question

[snafu]

Are you better off today than you were four years ago?

[siggy_freud]

Absolutely yes.

[Blessed]

Yes we are. Our income hasn't been raised tons but living in your means and regular savings pays off. We are still totally debt free with a healthy savings. Our last kid that needs to go is set for college. We still have 100% paid health benefits due to hubbys contract. The kids are happy and healthy so all is well. I am grateful.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

We have more saved and no more mortgage, so in that sense we're better off. But looking toward the long term, I think we're about the same. My 4 siblings, though, are all in tight spots, as are a couple of their adult children. Because I cannot help but think of that every day, I'm not carefree.

[phantom]

Four years ago, I was newly engaged and working on planning a wedding and buying a house. It's hard to compare the planning for such things to actually settling into them. Both are good in their own ways. So, I think I can call relationship and home matters equally good.

But, I'm much better off career-wise. I've gotten out of a struggling company that was just starting to drive me crazy four years ago, and I joined a really good company that makes me pretty happy. My husband (then fiance) is working for a company that he likes much better now too. Between the two of us, I think we're making about 50% more now than we were then. Since we just keep throwing pay raises into savings and debt elimination, it doesn't really feel like we're doing that much better. But, when we stop to think about it, it feels pretty good.

[humandraydel]

My salary has increased 20% which is okay I guess. An average of 5% per year, which I suppose beats the normal 3% pay raise. My net worth has increased significantly, mainly because 4 years ago my net worth was pretty low.

I graduated college in 2005 with a degree in engineering, so I've weathered the storm pretty well and really had no place to go but up.

[LuckyRobin]

I think we are. We have steadily paid down our debt. DH has a much higher salary than he did four years ago. Our medical is far higher than it used to be and most living expenses have risen, but that hasn't stopped our forward progress. However I have family members who are much worse off than they were 4 years ago. I think we are just one of the lucky ones who are doing okay.

[disneysteve]

Absolutely. We've spent 4 more years building our savings and four more years paying down our mortgage. The stock market is in much better shape so our retirement accounts and college savings have all grown nicely. I replaced my car a few months ago so I'm now driving an 06 instead of a 98. We're all in good health and happy.

[susie michelle]

We are better off than we were 4 years ago, mostly because our businesses have grown in that length of time and our home has increased in value. Plus, we don't have to pay for any childcare anymore. Hooray!

[kork13]

Easily, yes. 4 years ago I was fresh out of college and recently entered the military. I had a few thousand dollars to my name, plus a fair chunk of debt (car and personal loans, ~$40k). All of the debt was paid off a little while ago, thankfully. In the meantime, I have moved 3 times (including Japan for 2 years), and today, I have over $100k in various savings/investments, bought my first house just over a month ago, and have a whole heck of a lot more debt (mortgage and car loans, ~$150k). I've been exceptionally blessed, and the last 4 years, while trying at times, have overall been alot of fun.

[MonkeyMama]

Absolutely!

The employment front is kind of "meh," but the value of our home is about the same and the stock market has done very well. So, we have moved forward by saving, investing and paying down mortgage. Payroll tax holiday and low mortgage rates have bought us more cash flow (Savings/investing) in a time of stagnant/decreasing wages. Credit card rewards have been pretty helpful too. There are some silver linings and the big picture isn't bad.

I just read an article about how my age group was faring the worst in this economy (mid-30s) because of lost home values and because most of us have been sitting out the stock market. My initial reaction about the stock market comment was "HUH!?!" But I suppose it is true. It's been a very volatile decade, and many young people are fearful to invest. Just to say, we wouldn't be doing nearly as well if we hadn't been investing in the stock market.

[cooliemae]

My wife and I are definitely better off now than four years ago, just looking at the fact that our net worth has increased 4-fold tells me that. However, with everything that is going on in Congress and the looming cuts to gov't jobs, I may not be for long.

[chrisburke21]

Debt Free

I would say an overwhelming yes. I am debt free and able to sock away a good portion of my savings.

[Ramose]

Yes, I have started investing in shares and my wealth has grown.

[feh]

Without a doubt, yes.