But I don’t live in the US (so healthcare costs are not much of an concern, despite me being disabled) and know I am incredibly lucky. Is it economically worse?
Fuck yeah.
I am self employed/have my own company and I am also blessed with a high earning (and in every other aspect awesome) wife who brings in the main income (she works full time, I normally would work 70%).
Two years ago I had 5 full time slots(filled by 7 people), now I am down to 3. Being unable to renew contracts with people at the beginning of the year broke something in me. It’s not their fault. They did their best. While I sure could have done some things differently I am somewhat sure by now that in the broad picture I could not have done much to save their jobs - I already have reduced my own payout to the legal minimum (less than 50% of my already average theoretical wage) and used loopholes to even pay nothing to me for half a year. But cutting costs only goes so far if not enough new projects come in.
My clients are mostly healthcare and public services and these sectors are forced to massively cut costs due to our incompetent neocon government.
The only thing that lets me sleep at night easier is the fact that by now I could “recommend” all affected people (who wanted that) into new jobs, so none is left unemployed.
While it hasn’t been direct make me struggle personally I am struggling with my company.
Which sucks balls,especially considering seeing how competitors get huge grants just for “being in the right party”,etc.
We are also otherwise very lucky - We (well,half of it is owned by the bank,but who 's house isn’t) own a house - but it’s an three apartment building we simply live in one. The other two apartments are rented out (below median rent and far below what I might get if I push things) and our apartment is rather, well, mediocre. But that’s okay. It’s mainly meant as a way to invest money I made when younger by doing some incredibly risky but lucrative jobs. And to make sure we don’t need to bother with another landlord ever again. We just liked the location, the age (it’s over 70 years old) and the property - and have now have a relationship with our two other renters that is basically “live and let live”.
They know they can simply knock on our door if something’s wrong and have profited by the modernisation of some core things, but also don’t bother me with bullshit.
The rent we now receive will go to the bank for at least two more decades,so it’s not something that helps us financially now - but it might help my kiddo one day.
No, not personally.
But I don’t live in the US (so healthcare costs are not much of an concern, despite me being disabled) and know I am incredibly lucky. Is it economically worse? Fuck yeah.
I am self employed/have my own company and I am also blessed with a high earning (and in every other aspect awesome) wife who brings in the main income (she works full time, I normally would work 70%).
Two years ago I had 5 full time slots(filled by 7 people), now I am down to 3. Being unable to renew contracts with people at the beginning of the year broke something in me. It’s not their fault. They did their best. While I sure could have done some things differently I am somewhat sure by now that in the broad picture I could not have done much to save their jobs - I already have reduced my own payout to the legal minimum (less than 50% of my already average theoretical wage) and used loopholes to even pay nothing to me for half a year. But cutting costs only goes so far if not enough new projects come in.
My clients are mostly healthcare and public services and these sectors are forced to massively cut costs due to our incompetent neocon government.
The only thing that lets me sleep at night easier is the fact that by now I could “recommend” all affected people (who wanted that) into new jobs, so none is left unemployed.
While it hasn’t been direct make me struggle personally I am struggling with my company.
Which sucks balls,especially considering seeing how competitors get huge grants just for “being in the right party”,etc.
We are also otherwise very lucky - We (well,half of it is owned by the bank,but who 's house isn’t) own a house - but it’s an three apartment building we simply live in one. The other two apartments are rented out (below median rent and far below what I might get if I push things) and our apartment is rather, well, mediocre. But that’s okay. It’s mainly meant as a way to invest money I made when younger by doing some incredibly risky but lucrative jobs. And to make sure we don’t need to bother with another landlord ever again. We just liked the location, the age (it’s over 70 years old) and the property - and have now have a relationship with our two other renters that is basically “live and let live”. They know they can simply knock on our door if something’s wrong and have profited by the modernisation of some core things, but also don’t bother me with bullshit.
The rent we now receive will go to the bank for at least two more decades,so it’s not something that helps us financially now - but it might help my kiddo one day.
So yeah. I am still incredibly lucky.