What has happened to your financial situation within the past six months?

[CMike11]

How have you done finanically within the last six months?

[CMike11]

I realize I am an anomalie.

I have my own business. My wife and I were struggelling for years.

Within the past six months my business has gone ballistic. Our income has increased by by about 15X.

And Obama is somewhat responsible for it.

If not for the bad economy I might not have the quality salespeople that I do have.

Also I am not asking anyone to spend any extra money in what we are selling. In fact, it gives a discount for residential and commercial people in a vital area for most people.

[DRS]

After my wife left I took all the debts, I went to the bank ans consolidated everything into a variable rate loan, in the last six months thanks to interest cuts I have a lot less debt

[CMike11]

bump

[AeroEngineer]

The same.

[johnrocks]

The same, my life is just one stable bore,lol but financially I am blessed.

[Spaceman Spiff]

I realize I am an anomalie.

I have my own business. My wife and I were struggelling for years.

Within the past six months my business has gone ballistic. Our income has increased by by about 15X.

And Obama is somewhat responsible for it.

If not for the bad economy I might not have the quality salespeople that I do have.

Also I am not asking anyone to spend any extra money in what we are selling. In fact, it gives a discount for residential and commercial people in a vital area for most people.

So what's your business? Maybe some others want to jump in.

[CMike11]

It's door to door sales.

It's a hard way to make a living.

You gotta be out there in all weather.

I would rather not say the exact thing I am selling.

[Spaceman Spiff]

It's door to door sales.

It's a hard way to make a living.

You gotta be out there in all weather.

I would rather not say the exact thing I am selling.

Kirby vacuums?

[NascarGirl2448]

Well thanks to the stock market tumbling every time Obama opens his mouth, our financial situation has taken a real hit.

[ChaosControl]

Paid off the last bit of school loans, saved up a fair chunk of change, put some into my stock account and made a 5% return this last month, mainly due to selling options as the stock price is now only 10 cents higher than when I bought it.

So I'll say better.

[hatman]

I got out of the market, mostly, in early October after losing 30% of my 401K, so technically in the last six months I'm a little better off (the DOW is -1000 from where I got out).
I'm able to bank about 30% of my take-home and had hoped to retire this year, because of my 401K beating, I'll have to go at least into next year.
Fortunately, I mostly enjoy my job.

[Spaceman Spiff]

It's door to door sales.

It's a hard way to make a living.

You gotta be out there in all weather.

I would rather not say the exact thing I am selling.

Amway?

[CMike11]

Kirby vacuums?

:)) Nice try.

Actually half my sales force are people who worked for Kirby. It's virtually impossible to get people to pay about $2 k for a vacuum cleaner when people don't have money to survive. In a way I have to be grateful for Obama

The beauty of what I am doing is that no one spends extra money. It saves them money.

However, I am not going to say what it is I am selling.

I will say I am very thankful for my good fortune. My wife and I have been struggelling for way too long. It's about time. I am also aware that anything can change.

[Gabby]

We are a lot worse off.

My job is stable right now. Though our company has cut the hours and pay of most people by 10%, I have not been affected as of yet since I work on a cost plus contract. For every hour I don't work the company earns less. So I'm working 50-60 hour weeks. They will not hire the help I need to get the job done. They don't have to pay me for over time.

My husband and I also have a small business doing computer and web work. MY husband does the work since I have a more than full time job. Since last fall all 4 of the large contracts we had lined up backed out. So my husband's income has been zero for months now. He's looking for a job too. Has had interviews but no offers.

My 401K is down to almost nothing now.

Basically our income is down 50%.

It sucks.

[PNW]

We are a lot worse off.


Basically our income is down 50%.



Same here.

[Harmonious]

I'm doing about the same.

I have no job. I am looking to publish some things I wrote, and hope I can get some money, thereby. But it is by no means a certain thing.

[Alaric]

... no one spends extra money. It saves them money...

However, I am not going to say what it is I am selling...


Amway?


Bingo! All the big Amway lines of sponsorship train the so called independent business owners to not disclose what they do until they get into the living room, and even then to disclose it only at the very end of the presentation. If it were truly the opportunity it claimed to be then there would be no reason to be evasive about it.


edit: The upside of Amway is that is turns the liberals who join into conservatives and makes conservatives more conservative. ;)

[CMike11]

Bingo! All the big Amway lines of sponsorship train the so called independent business owners to not disclose what they do until they get into the living room, and even then to disclose it only at the very end of the presentation. If it were truly the opportunity it claimed to be then there would be no reason to be evasive about it.


edit: The upside of Amway is that is turns the liberals who join into conservatives and makes conservatives more conservative. ;)

Sorry. No bingo.

No, not amway. We actually sell stuff.

I am evasive, because it's none of anyone's business, and I like my anonymity. I stated from the beginning that I didn't want to say what my company sells. That should be respected.

Also, I am not presenting an opportunity, I was simply stating what was going on in CMike11's financial life in the past 6 months, which is the topic of the OP.

[CMike11]

I will say that I find it a sad state that I go to many poor houses and I hear many financial woes of people telling me how long they have been out of work.

I recruited a few of them. Almost all of them were making about $75 in about two hours or less of work. They do well for one week then quit.

Many of these people when I offered them a job said no. You would think they would at least try it.

However, some people feel that they are above door to door sales. They would much rather live off welfare :wall::wall:

[RadsRinCharge]

Both I and my husband have been lucky...but in another year my husband's job could get worse. He could either lose it or start over from step 6 to 1 due to a tight budget within the state. There have been announcements of my job on the news here and there... hurting also. We are a little nervous...

I get ticked off everytime I hear of Obama's spending. Elitist jerk.

[CMike11]

Both I and my husband have been lucky...but in another year my husband's job could get worse. He could either lose it or start over from step 6 to 1 due to a tight budget within the state. There have been announcements of my job on the news here and there... hurting also. We are a little nervous...

I get ticked off everytime I hear of Obama's spending. Elitist jerk.

I don't understand. Steps 6 to 1?

[ScottFree]

I make my money based on truck traffic. It is waaaay down.

[CMike11]

Do gasoline prices affect it?

[ScottFree]

Do gasoline prices affect it?


If you are directing this question my way, not as much as you might think. The high fuel prices last year hurt some carriers, but last year there was still a lot of loads to be found, it was just harder to compete with the biggest carriers sheerly because of their deep pockets. Problem now is even the biggest are now having trouble finding loads. Less construction, less need for lumber, less manufacturing, less need for steel, less need for retail goods... All these things means less need to move stuff by truck. I am in the truck parts business. The less trucks on the road, the less need for parts. Many carriers have been laying off drivers and idling equipment. Starting with the equipment they own that is in need of the most repair. This affects my commission based income. For example, June is historically or best month each year. So far this month I am on pace for about 2/3rds the sales in June, last year.

[Wilhelm Scream]

Same.
I was a broke college student six months ago. I am a broke college student today.

[BillyBobUSA]

Sorry. No bingo.

No, not amway. We actually sell stuff.

I am evasive, because it's none of anyone's business, and I like my anonymity. I stated from the beginning that I didn't want to say what my company sells. That should be respected.

Also, I am not presenting an opportunity, I was simply stating what was going on in CMike11's financial life in the past 6 months, which is the topic of the OP.


As you have every right to do.

I work for the Defense Dept and while I still have a job, everyone is nervous about possible cuts under Obama, like a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

[JeffR]

Way better. But it has nothing to do with Obama.

[CMike11]

Out of curiousity what does Amyway actually sell?

[Gabby]

Out of curiousity what does Amyway actually sell?

Just about everthing. They have very good cleaning products. They are highly concentraited so they last forever. health products, beauty & personal care, apparel, household items...at one time they even sold furnature... don't know if they still sell it.

Here's a link to an online catalog so you can see... it shows all of the catagories.
http://www.quixtar.com/products/category.aspx?pid=9929&ctg=16343

[BillyBobUSA]

Just about everthing. They have very good cleaning products. They are highly concentraited so they last forever. health products, beauty & personal care, apparel, household items...at one time they even sold furnature... don't know if they still sell it.

Here's a link to an online catalog so you can see... it shows all of the catagories.
http://www.quixtar.com/products/category.aspx?pid=9929&ctg=16343


Wow, they have diversified their product line by quite abit since I last saw them.

[CMike11]

Just about everthing. They have very good cleaning products. They are highly concentraited so they last forever. health products, beauty & personal care, apparel, household items...at one time they even sold furnature... don't know if they still sell it.

Here's a link to an online catalog so you can see... it shows all of the catagories.
http://www.quixtar.com/products/category.aspx?pid=9929&ctg=16343

I see. It is based on using their internet site?

[Antrel]

I work and go to school. I get by comfortably paying rent and tuition. Building credit to get ready for my first loans for medical school. Ask me again soon.

[2Parties1GlobalistGoal]

What specific field in medical school are you pursuing?

[CMike11]

I'm doing about the same.

I have no job. I am looking to publish some things I wrote, and hope I can get some money, thereby. But it is by no means a certain thing.

I am sorry Harmonious. I hope things get better soon.

[ConstitutionHugger]

How have you done finanically within the last six months?

Bout the same. I had all my overtime cut but I started getting monthly bonuses. Now if my customer starts back up to the point they were this time last year I'll be MUCH better off since I'll get bonuses and OT.
With Gas being as low as it was, I was able to use that extra$2.50gal that I was paying for gas to pay off the tuition and fees I had put on my credit card before I even got my reimbursement.
All in all, I really can complain too much

[ConstitutionHugger]

That and thanks to the obama tax cut i take home an extra $0.02 every 2 weeks!!
So If I was an obamabot liberal I'd have to say I am much better off! :razz:

[curtis123]

I realize I am an anomalie.

I have my own business. My wife and I were struggelling for years.

Within the past six months my business has gone ballistic. Our income has increased by by about 15X.

And Obama is somewhat responsible for it.

If not for the bad economy I might not have the quality salespeople that I do have.

Also I am not asking anyone to spend any extra money in what we are selling. In fact, it gives a discount for residential and commercial people in a vital area for most people.

I've noticed over the years that my business tends to fare better when the economy isn't quite so hot.

I've had an increase in business over the last couple of years, and it's still increasing.

I think it depends on how your business marketing is set up. Those who sit and wait for the customer to come along don't do as well as those who go out and seek out the sales. A good proactive sales person is worth their weight in gold.

[FidelisAdMortem]

For me I voted better, and its only going to get better.

[2Parties1GlobalistGoal]

I won $20 million on a scratch off ticket I bought with my SS disability check. Thank you tax slaves.

[msny]

For years I had been leasing a car.

But three years ago I decided to buy the one I have now.
I made my last payment last month. So now I'm 350 buks
a month richer. I'm not in the market for a new car, first
time in 20 years.

I work for a large auto supplier to the Big 3
as a programmer/analyst.

We have been picking up business from other suppliers going
bankrup.

The wife is retired and about to get her first SS check next month.

So were doing fine. Not rich, but paying our bills.

[CMike11]

I've noticed over the years that my business tends to fare better when the economy isn't quite so hot.

I've had an increase in business over the last couple of years, and it's still increasing.

I think it depends on how your business marketing is set up. Those who sit and wait for the customer to come along don't do as well as those who go out and seek out the sales. A good proactive sales person is worth their weight in gold.

Waiting for the customer to come to you is never a good idea.

[Harmonious]

I am sorry Harmonious. I hope things get better soon.

Thank you kindly. :hug:

[Striker8440]

Overall we are a bit worse than 6 months ago but not too bad. I ended up having to take a 3.00 per hour paycut which amounts to about 14% and also the distance I drive 1 way to work is now more than I did drive roundtrip before.

I am an IT contractor and where I was working took a hell of a cut in business right after the election. They make conveyor belts for mining companies, and they lost quite a bit of business right after the first of the year. The company I work for found a spot in a different city to place me temporarily until the first company figured out if they could keep me or not. Well it turned out that they simply could not afford me so I was one of many that got laid off. At that time the company I now contract for offered me a permanent position although at a cut in pay. I ended up taking it because it IS still a paycheck and that is needed, also I am now in the process of being trained to be a team lead so I will start to recoup some of my lost pay.

All in all its been a loss but, down the road the opportunities seem to be there for me to recoup if not overtake my previous pay so it may work out for the best. It could be worse, they didnt have to find another slot for me or offer me a perm transfer and simply laid me off so I guess I should be somewhat gratefull that they did keep me on.