[Newsseeker]

Ten years ago I was in the Marine Corps. Things are much better now.

[Tyler_JC]

So overall, my hypothesis was incorrect.

Most people on this site are much better off than they were 10 years ago but think they will be much worse off in the next 10.

[mlit]

Its kind of tricky. I'm better of than I was 10 years ago in a lot of ways but...
I'm not and see no way for me to be better off than my parents, and they were far below what my grandparents were at. My family peeked in the 50's and has been in steady decline ever since.

[Tyler_JC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('mlit', 'I')ts kind of tricky. I'm better of than I was 10 years ago in a lot of ways but...
I'm not and see no way for me to be better off than my parents, and they were far below what my grandparents were at. My family peeked in the 50's and has been in steady decline ever since.

[Denny]

Economically, better off for sure. We have been able to bank most of my wife's earned income since she went back to work 11 years go. I have always been saver, and that has been good, but not as good a growth as the stock market average, despite all my investing efforts.

In many other ways, worse off. Especially work. I do not feel the sense of excitement I did ten years ago, seem to have lost influence, and now am looking just at retirement in 6 years. I am wearing the proverbial golden handcuffs.

The weekend is the highlight of my life now, but Mondays used to be.

My most interesting projects now are my vacations.

[Madpaddy]

Ten years ago, I was a platoon commander in Lebanon. Today, I am a major in the Engineer Corps. Much better off financially but have less disposable income because I have 2 boys and a wife.

I also get much less sex now than 10 years ago - go figure....

PS: I am a hardcore doomer.

[Baldwin]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Madpaddy', 'T')en years ago, I was a platoon commander in Lebanon. Today, I am a major in the Engineer Corps. Much better off financially but have less disposable income because I have 2 boys and a wife.

I also get much less sex now than 10 years ago - go figure....

PS: I am a hardcore doomer.

[cynicalheretic]

I was still in high school, living at home. I am much better off.

Yet, I am still broke.

[WildRose]

Hmmmm.... I am surprised that no one else on this thread (yet) feels they have diminishing returns from their incomes, as my hubby and I surely do. Maybe it is due to the fact that we live in an area with a boom economy (Alberta).

We are both earning more than we ever have, have a small mortgage (which will be completely paid off in seven years), do not have car payments or student loans. We have a growing family which, of course, is costing more than ever to raise (big kids = bigger bucks!), but by no means does anyone in our family have a lot of extras.

What we have been experiencing is a gradual squeeze on our resources. As I mentioned, our incomes are higher than they have ever been, but our disposable income is consistently shrinking because of inflation (especially groceries), higher property taxes, higher costs for utilities, insurance, car registration, school fees and gasoline prices. We are not able to save money and have gradually cut back on all forms of entertainment that are not free.

Perhaps it just costs more to live here. I wonder if anyone else is feeling the same squeeze.

[I_Like_Plants]

Yes the gradual squeeze is a big part of life now, we all feel it, but as good 'merkans we're brainwashed to never think about it or talk about it.

[Madpaddy]

Bingo Wildrose,

You have described my families situation exactly. 10 years ago, it was no big deal for me and my partner to eat out 3 nights a week, take weekend breaks to Paris etc. 6 times a year and be able to save €300 a month and pay off the mortgage which was about €750 per month.

Now I earn exactly twice as much money, my mortgage is €1200. I save €330. But, we eat out once a month and almost never travel abroad (also for environmental reasons). We have chopped off all the fat in our expenditure as regards grocery shopping. Our utility bills are small and our car does over 50mpg but we still never seem to have disposable income. I estimate that the real rate of inflation is about 10% - the official rate is 5%. However, my salary increase is 1% per year. Within 5 years I reckon I won't be able to save anything anymore and that is at the current rate of income squeeze. If it accelerated, I won't be able to afford the mortgage either.

[WildRose]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Madpaddy', 'I') estimate that the real rate of inflation is about 10% - the official rate is 5%. However, my salary increase is 1% per year. Within 5 years I reckon I won't be able to save anything anymore and that is at the current rate of income squeeze. If it accelerated, I won't be able to afford the mortgage either.

[Madpaddy]

I have fitted low energy lighting, solar panels and A rated appliances in my home. My electricity costs about €40 per month from the grid, my water is free from my well. My internet is expensive at €42 per month for wireless unlimited download broadband (my wife needs it for her work). My phone bill is also about €40 per month and my heating about €50 per month (€100 per month for Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, March and €0 for the other months). We have an aerial on the TV and we get about 6 channels s that too is free.

That makes €172 or $240 for a 1650sq ft home.

My money seems to go on house and car insurance & road tax (about €2,200 per year for our 2 cars, health insurance €1,000 per year, children's creche €450 per month and so on.