Posted on 09/12/2024 6:47:04 AM PDT by mikelets456
I didn't know how to post without having a link so I apologize. I have to be honest, for most of my life (in sales), the harder I worked, generally the more money I made....more on that later. We are savers---putting in 401K, stocks, mutual funds, some precious metals, have property. We had no debt (except our mortgage----2.3% and under $100K). Recently we had a few things---our son's wedding, property taxes (up another $800 this year) car tires needing to be replaced, air conditioner crapped out, cost of food, gas, utilities, etc. We ALWAYS pay off any debt immediately but now finding it harder and harder....I actually got a credit card with 0% interest for 15 months just to give us some breathing room.
Back to work---I have been at this company for 38 years. Have been in the top 3 in sales every single year. The past several years we had layoffs, are on 4 day work weeks (20% less pay) and our sales are off literally 50%.
We have had some rough times in the past but this is, by far, the worst----and it gets even darker---I see no end to this downward spiral. In past times, there was always a light at the end of the tunnel. However, I don't even see a tunnel to find the light.
I know our entire industry (manufacturing---Chemical, plastics and oils companies) are all complaining and not spending any money. I don't get political with customers but they're all stating "They're waiting for the elections before initiating projects".
My question is---are any of you, or people you know going through this as well? If Kamala gets in there I don't know how we can survive if we continue in this direction....
(Excerpt) Read more at sheridanmedia.com ...
“I don’t understand how his business is slow if everyone is still consuming.”
I have stopped buying beef.
I see no reason why meat from free-range animals that eat grass [i.e. bulls] should cost more than meats from animals that eat grain and need to be housed [ i.e. pigs and chickens].
My strategy in riding this out (and the crash to come) is in two parts: 1) recently moving my investments out of the stock market (we will never be able to retire if they get whacked in half again, the recovery period is too long); 2) having a massive pantry, full freezers, doing canning, etc. In many ways, we are eating at 2020 prices because we stockpiled ahead of and during the pandemic, before all of this inflation. Right now, if you have a bunch of stuff in your pantry or freezer, be deliberate about using it and you can maybe postpone spending on some groceries.
I’m so sorry for your difficulty.
My income is $800 a month less and expenses are double from 4 years ago when I lost everything to the Almeda urban arson proven anarchists wildfire. I had to pay back emergency catastrophe funds to Biden after they decided it was a loan with $12,000 interest. They destroyed my lifetime perfect credit and have cancelled all my credit cards.
Then they breached Irongate Dam and destroyed all my families property and future.
Impossible to get medical care in the place I am stuck.
I’ll never be able to return to my community.
Now the park I am in is being condemned because of bad septic.
I’m terrified of being homeless again at 76.
I think there’s many more losing everything, especially if you have been outspoken for conservatism.
Just called a friend and told him I don’t see how we’re going to be able to keep going. Inflation is horrific. The government is apparently totally corrupt. God is not happy with this nation. Go to worship services. Work hard at being faithful, taking care of the wifey, grandkids and other people. Not working for us. Nation needs to repent, but folks will spit in one’s face for saying so.
#FJB
#FKHT
Yep.
Were doing OK but only because we heavily invested in real estate and PM. We got out of everything else a couple of years ago.
Yup. Also having too much month at the end of the money these days. Never thought we’d do food banks but we do. Some of it is of our own doing but branDUHnomics is most of it. We consider gas mileage when deciding on going out. No joy rides just to go riding around/sightseeing. How much that will ease(?) shall be seen in Nov. We know it won’t be instant but it could be a start. God will still be in control in any case. 😊👍
I feel for ya, times are tough for a lot of people right now and it’s going to get much worse. When Barry the Muslim was installed as President, my wife and I changed our whole lives around and got out of Debt completely by selling one house, paying off the other then paying CASH for 2 more houses. I am one year from retirement and 100% debt free.
FYI Kamala said the other night she will save us from the policies enacted over the last 3 1/2 years by the last administration that have decimated the middle class.
My mortgage P&I has been constant since I took it out in 2012. But my mortgage payment has almost doubled because of escrowed taxes and insurance.
My budget, which was very comfortable and with a LOT of leeway 15 years ago, including a lot of giving to church and charities, has been blown out of the water. I'm having to rob Peter to pay Paul. Now looking to sell two old 1970's project cars to stop the bleeding. I've considered selling my AR-15 but see a need for it in the near future.
I don't see an end in sight, either.
This. The debt interest payments are so high the only way we can pay it and fund even basic government services is to continuing borrowing. This is a death spiral.
If you own property in Texas you are NEVER "debt free." You always have a property tax debt hanging over your head, usually to the tune of 10's of thousands a year. It's really obscene.
This is not a Federal issue.
Property taxes are tens of thousands? Yikes. Is that because there is no income tax or are their other reasons?
I am retired and doing fine but I sacrificed and saved a lot with a lot of pain to get there. The key is to spend less and save more percentage-wise every year which requires the ability to not worry about having less than your friends.
One benefit of being in sales is that you have transferable skills. I wish you well.
I’m out of the project vehicle thing for several reasons including the price of parts and stuff.
Other things to pay for.
I don’t miss turning a wrench nowadays.
I see someone's end in the sight of my AR.
Then vote Kameltoe ,and all will be well.
Looking around I see many hardships increasing. In my eyes, inversely proportional to a falling away from God. The further our people fall away from God and his word, the more his blessings are removed.
As for our believers, remember, God promises us Provision ( our daily bread), and not Prosperity. America is under Correction, which may just lead to Judgment.
Give Thanks, Pray for Revival, and spread the word- everything else will fall into place.
A full half of property taxes are for the failed public indoctrination centers. That alone makes me mad.
I pay around $10k per year in tax on a modest house and property. Others around me pay a lot more. This is up from around $5k 10 years ago.
Texas politicians are forever talking about remedying this excess. They talk about it, but do nothing. We get a measly bone thrown to us every once in a while ($50 or so) and they crow about it. It’s worse than income tax because you are at the mercy of someone else who tells you what it’s worth.
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