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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:38:21 AM EDT
[#1]
Yup. Have a wonderful wife, new kid, better paying job that I enjoy, free school, no cold weather, the best dog a man could have, and no credit card debt.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:40:10 AM EDT
[#2]
Far better. I'm making a lot more money than I did 8 years ago and I live in a much better house.
Mentally I'm better off as well. I don't take things as personal as I used to. Perspective has been coming with age for me. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:44:54 AM EDT
[#3]
The topic made me think... 8 years ago, I was a few months into my stint at Dell. I was making about HALF of what I make now. I'd say I'm better off in that respect. I do own a house now, but I do have some debt (other than the house).
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:47:53 AM EDT
[#4]
Yep went from a poor slob in school to have a great job, traveling the world, and fixing up my first home. Life is good. Plus I have extra money to feed my firearms habit.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:47:59 AM EDT
[#5]
I may not be better off now than 8 years ago but I know I am doing much better than if Kerry or Gore had been president!!
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:49:00 AM EDT
[#6]
Yes!
Traded in on a better wife, more money, own my home, very little debt. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:49:31 AM EDT
[#7]
Financially....no
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:49:52 AM EDT
[#8]
Honestly yes. I started my business 8 years ago and it is booming right now. I am maxed out with work.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:50:39 AM EDT
[#9]
oh yeah many times over
much better paying job, no longer with the crazy ex =), own my own house, have the best dog in the world and have one hell of a gun collection |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:52:19 AM EDT
[#10]
Yes, more money and better situation, nicer things.
But not as good as 3 years ago. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:52:39 AM EDT
[#11]
NO!!!!!!!!!
Mike |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:52:43 AM EDT
[#12]
Yes.
Wonderful wife, super dog, awesome '75 Bronco, bigger artifact collection, more income, better career, I now own an AR, I now own a suppressor, I have a better cardio routine, etc... Bush didn't help me with any of it. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:52:53 AM EDT
[#13]
Yes and no. In 2000 I had a bad financial hit due to divorce.
My house payments and overall debt are down, but so is my salary. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:55:08 AM EDT
[#14]
Yes, definitely.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:57:47 AM EDT
[#15]
Absolutely.
Own my own home, have 2 healthy, beautiful children, a wife who loves me, make far more money, own 2 cars, virtually no debt... Far better off. ETA Nobody gave me any of it, I did it on my own. And of that I'm damn proud. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:58:29 AM EDT
[#16]
Yes.
House, Harley, ATV, wife, great promotion, virtually debt free... However, I am honestly concerned that the next four years will stall or regress my situation. If BHO wins, I am willing to bet that will be the case. I would love nothing more than to be wrong though. 
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Posted: 7/20/2008 7:59:13 AM EDT
[#17]
Yes, infinitely better off.
I am making twice the money. I was promoted. I own three times the real estate. I am in a new house since then, I own about 21 NFA weapons that I didn't own eight years ago. I have new cars. I am in better physcial shape and have become much more concerned with my physcial condition physical health and personal appearence. All this combined makes me a very happy person. All that being said, eight years ago I was living the dream. I just didn't know how much better it was going to get. I can honestly say that I have it better than probably 99% of the other people in the world. I have lead a charmed life to this point. Hell, unless I suffer some kind of serious setback, I am going to be retired in less than four years at the age of 50. One HUGE downside: Because I am trying to watch what I eat, be healthier, get in shape, and lose weight I can no longer drink 4-5 pints of Guiness a night and I really miss it. I am not sure the sacrifice is worth it. 
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:00:27 AM EDT
[#18]
Better job, more money, new house, almost paid off car, more guns. Much better than 8 years ago
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:02:36 AM EDT
[#19]
Yes, I am better off than I was 8 years ago.
What this suggests to me is that the well-being of me and my family isn't a dependant on the POTUS as some here would believe. I'm better off DESPITE the idiots who run the government (both local and federal). |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:03:00 AM EDT
[#20]
YES!
Land owner, no mortgage/debt No Bills Money in the bank Better Pay DAY SHIFT!!! Lots of toys Future is looking good with an idea of how to get there |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:03:22 AM EDT
[#21]
Yes. More money, better state, 2 kids.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:04:27 AM EDT
[#22]
yes in everyway except I am fat now.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:07:22 AM EDT
[#23]
 Me too. 
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:08:00 AM EDT
[#24]
Except for paying more for gas, yes.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:08:01 AM EDT
[#25]
Much better.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:10:36 AM EDT
[#26]
Financially, I am much better off. My eye-sight has deteriorated some, though.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:17:00 AM EDT
[#27]
You do know the inherent flaws with self selecting polls, don't you? Answer: Yes. I am 8 years older, not in high school, and making way to much for my age/range as a contractor. Work sucks, but I get lots of money. I'm mortgaging my future....I hope. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:20:06 AM EDT
[#28]
Better worksite and less stress, earning & saving more money, more articles published, better name recognition, house paid off, closer to retirement and my book editor is almost finished. Yep, things are much better.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:20:23 AM EDT
[#29]
Yes.....Making much more than before....wife has an awesome job..with great benifits...kids are just about out of school......yup..Thank-you God..life is good.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:26:39 AM EDT
[#30]
Doing great, have a new career with great pay, getting married, only debt is low interest student loans, and lots more guns!
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:35:36 AM EDT
[#31]
far far better off. Better job making more money, just got done completely making over the outside/yard of the house, I have no debt, kids and wife are doing great. Can't think of anything that is worse than 8 years ago.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 8:37:37 AM EDT
[#32]
YES
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:20:18 AM EDT
[#33]
Not even close, way better off!
Paid off vehicles, paid off house, plenty of money in the bank. Making about double the money now, have a second interview Thursday with a company that wants to give me even more money (would also cut my commute time to about 10 minutes)  Yeah, life is really good right now - even with the high gas prices. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:24:14 AM EDT
[#34]
YES
I hit 8 years in the Army next month, I am almost engaged (stupid army), bought my first new card (08 BMW 335i coupe), I have excellent credit, I am mature, and I OWN GUNS  No really, I am only 26 so I dont have anything to base the last 8 years off of. Ask me this again in another 8 years. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:28:28 AM EDT
[#35]
Yes and No ....
Yes because it was 8 years ago that I got divorced and handed my Ex a settlement in the high six figures . just about wiping me out financially . No because I spent the next 6 years working my ass of to recoup my losses only to burn myself out in the process , and hurt my health from the stress . Yes again Now that I've sold my business ( At Cost ) and took some time off . Last year I took a job doing what I always loved to do , but it's at 25% of what I was making doing it as the biz owner , but the trade off is my stress level is ZERO . I work my 40 hours and when I leave work . The job is the furthest thing from my mind fifty feet down the road . So that part of my life is good Then No again because of women , or my inability to find one that I'm compatible with . Some of which is the fact that I'm 48 years old and have learned what it is that I want in a mate , or better yet WHAT I DON'T WANT ! I haven't totally given up on that quest , but I have cut back considerably on the effort I once put into it  |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:35:18 AM EDT
[#36]
Yes... I've finished college, have my own house vs living at home with my parents (I went to college 15min from home), I like my job more, etc.... |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:39:36 AM EDT
[#37]
No.
But I'm getting there. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:43:20 AM EDT
[#38]
Yep!
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:45:09 AM EDT
[#39]
I'm better off. I spent some time poor and scratching around in the dirt, and had time to think and come up with a good plan B. I'm launching it now and should be flying high by December.
The future looks bright to me. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:45:19 AM EDT
[#40]
Of course. Since 2000, I have graduated college, married a wonderful woman, helped said woman through law school and embarked on a successful career myself. We just built our first house and we have no shortage of money due to the fairly simple lifestyle we lead. Other than the mortgage and her car note, we have relatively little debt.
Life is good.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:47:03 AM EDT
[#41]
Yes. In pretty much every way.
Bettter job, more education, more money, less debt, a great wife, lots of cool toys, family is all healthy. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:48:16 AM EDT
[#42]
Other than being 8 years older, yes.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:50:37 AM EDT
[#43]
Lets see...
Financially: 8 yrs ago the wife and I could almost qualify for food stamps (and had we not been students we probably coulda got them), this year we are looking at the 35 percent tax bracket and have been there for the last 6 years, currently no car payments or CC debt...so in that dept. definitely a yes... Family: 8 yrs ago we had just gotten married and did not own a home (paid $450/mo. for a roach infested dump rental), we now have two wonderful boys and almost paid-for house ...so, a yes in that dept. as well. Spiritually (and most importantly): So-so...we are currently in between churches and praying and searching that God will tell us where we need to be. Health: Been battling mild to occasionally moderate hypertension in the last eight years but seems to be controlled with meds, diet and exercise...otherwise the family and I are GTG, praise God! So, overall, eight years ago seems like light years to us! |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 9:53:41 AM EDT
[#44]
i have more possessions, my kid's are great, but i'm actually making exactly the same money, but looks like that's gonna change here in a few months. I'll definitely be making less.
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Posted: 7/20/2008 10:17:30 AM EDT
[#45]
Yes - I got out of a dead-end career that was "up and down" financially, went back to school and entered the medical profession, now make decent (not great, and not really any more than I had before, but it is CONSISTENT) money, wife is making more, our expenses are less, debt mostly paid off, and we are living back in Florida where we belong and not up north where we hated it.
Most of all, I feel like our jobs are secure, I finally have benefits, vacation, and a great schedule (4 days a week, 10 hour shifts) which gives me Fri, Sat, Sun off every week. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 10:32:26 AM EDT
[#46]
Ditto. Now I make more than twice as then, was promoted, own real estate with no debt other than the mortgage, own about 25 NFA weapons (only had 2 eight years ago), and am in better physical shape now (did another sprint triathlon this morning). |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 10:34:05 AM EDT
[#47]
Yes.
Married a beautiful gun loving woman, who happens to be an attorney. Bought a house in western Colorado that has gone up ~$200K in about a year. We both started businesses that are prospering. |
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Posted: 7/20/2008 10:45:26 AM EDT
[#48]
Negative. 8 years ago I could still do my job as a Marine/Industrial Tech. Now I am recovering from 2 herniated discs and a blown ACL in my knee. Workman's comp in Florida is teh big suck.
Things are getting better, I can walk normal now after 2 years of misery and no job. Just started riding a bike to get back in shape and rebuild muscles.
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