For me if i was asked "do you like the price of things more today than 4 years ago" then I would answer no. I liked the prices of stuff better 4 years ago.
For some people that is enough to mean that their life was better 4 years ago. It isn't that simple for me.
4 years ago I had just had my cruise cancelled on me by the cruise line. I had to wear a mask at work. I was making way less money per hour (whole plant got a new union contract with huge raises in it about 2.5 years ago) and getting less hours. I was worried about hospitals being full, fighting about masks and vaccines and trump talking about how the election was going to be stolen from him. My shoulder was a mess. I was more overweight. I had more debt than I did money (including retirement accounts, house debt etc). I was driving a truck I didn't like and my wife's car was getting old. I didn't have as many hobbies. Stuff was cheap though and that was nice.
Today I'm making quite a bit more money per hour, getting consistent overtime as well, plus my wife is also now working a small amount of hours per week at the elementary school and I'm volunteering there a couple hours per week. (Which I love) My mental and physical health is better today. I'm happier today. I bought a brand new 4runner in 2022 (I love it) that currently has 15,000 miles on it. Bought my wife a brand new accord hybrid in April this year (it has about 7,000 miles on it).
Despite buying those new cars, last year for the first time in my life I had more money than I owed (counting retirement accounts and all debt including vehicles and home) and that's not even counting the equity I have. I have more hobbies now. My family is healthy and happy and doing well financially. I like my job, love my neighborhood and country. BYU is 7-0
Life is good.
I'm definitely better off today than 4 years ago. It's really not even close.
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I just finished my second week of what I consider a dream job. I had taken a pay cut leaving one place that I was working on a contract that ended. But this new job would be a substantial pay raise compared to any amount I've made anywhere. From my last job to this one I'm going to be making about 40% more, and that's before a couple of huge fringe benefits.
They are giving me a 2025 Chevy Equinox for both work and personal use. All gas is covered, even for person use, with the exception of an exclusively personal long road trip, but even then I can fill up before I leave on their dime and then start paying for gas once I'm out of my immediate area. They replace the vehicle after 40,000 miles.
Every single day I work, even if I wake up at my house, go work, then come back to my house at the end of the day I get per diem, up to $73 for the day depending on the hours I work. When traveling out of town and staying in a hotel I get $73/day per diem and I don't have to show receipts for meals. There is a lot of travel, which I don't really mind. A benefit to the company paid travel is that I'll be gold or diamond or executive status with an airline or two, a hotel chain or two, and a rental car company or two, building up more than enough points to travel with my family almost for free, at least as far as airfare, car rental and hotel is concerned.
When I work a weekend I get double time even if I'm not into overtime. When I head that I assumed that would mean they would really try to avoid people getting weekend hours, but it's the opposite, you have to work at least one weekend a month. I've never cared too much about having weekends off so I'm all for this.
All tools and clothing I need for work are paid for.
All that is awesome but even better, this company has it's **** together more than anywhere I've ever worked, and I've been around a bit. I've been massively impressed with how they take care of people. They are a market leader with about 67% of the market in the field they are in and they are the premium option.
My future is looking brighter than it has in a very very long time.
news.gallup.com
