Are you better off then 8 years ago?

[SuperCharger]

It's "better THAN" genius.

 

Now that you set me straight I have to say I'm WAY better off now THAN 8 years ago.

 

Thanks.

[Azazello1313]

a lot better off in pretty much every way (except I weigh 25 pounds more).

 

not really trying to make a "political" point here or anything, but it's kinda funny how people who are doing well are always adamant that the government had nothing to do with their success, but people who are doing badly are often just as quick to implicate the government in their own troubles.

[SuperCharger]

a lot better off in pretty much every way (except I weigh 25 pounds more).

 

not really trying to make a "political" point here or anything, but it's kinda funny how people who are doing well are always adamant that the government had nothing to do with their success, but people who are doing badly are often just as quick to implicate the government in their own troubles.

 

 

That's human nature. And just 25 in 8 years I'd say is doing good.

[Chavez]

a lot better off in pretty much every way (except I weigh 25 pounds more).

 

not really trying to make a "political" point here or anything, but it's kinda funny how people who are doing well are always adamant that the government had nothing to do with their success, but people who are doing badly are often just as quick to implicate the government in their own troubles.

Good call - in this very thread, gsmayes, Club, and kegz totally fingered W as the culprit for their struggles.

 

Oh wait, no they didn't.

[Azazello1313]

Good call - in this very thread, gsmayes, Club, and kegz totally fingered W as the culprit for their struggles.

 

Oh wait, no they didn't.

 

well, mostly grownups hang out here, thankfully.

 

would you dispute that people are a lot more likely to blame the government for their struggles than credit the government for their successes? like the other guy that responded said, it's just human nature.

 

edit: and since you bring it up, not one of those guys said "it's rough, but the government has had nothing to do with it". but almost every single person who answered that they are better off went out of their way to point out that the government had nothing to do with it.

Edited August 26, 2008 by Azazello1313

[Hugh B Tool]

Negative. Still trying to recoup from the Telecom crash. Wonderful Worldcom put a fairly liquid man that was ready to retire in ten years suddenly over $300,000 in debt. Lost my company and now work two jobs to pay current and back bills. Although my daughter is now twenty and going to college while working full time and still wants to see her Dad as much as possible. In better health and wiser so no complaints because it doesn't do any good to do so. It is just money and I will make a bunch more. Oh yeah, still getting plenty off trim. Even when I don't really want it.

[yo mama]

Oh yeah, still getting plenty of trim. Even when I don't really want it.

But like Az said, you're probably not going to give the government any credit for *that* now, are you? Didn't think so.

[ABearWithFurniture]

I can honestly say I'm way better off than I was 8 yrs ago but it's mostly through just getting married, having children, and knowing IT technology...

 

My salary today has tripled from exactly 8 yrs ago but during that time it has spiked both ways due to me contracting/permanent positions for about 8 different companies...PACS pays a hell of a lot of money due to not very many people in the field, relatively new technology that's been around about 15 years now and highly in demand and there's hardly anybody doing it. I've only been in it for about 3 years now but if you want to double/triple your salary almost overnight and know anything about computers/networking...I highly recommend it.

 

Got lucky with moving out of California about a year ago and selling right before the market did a nose dive out there...bought a house in Texas for half the price but double the square footage/lot size...much cheaper to live here and my home has actually gone up in value as Austin is one of the few places in America still seeing a very slight, but upward based housing market. Very nice place to live and raise children...

 

So if anything else maybe W has taken care of Texas...pack your bags

[Hugh B Tool]

But like Az said, you're probably not going to give the government any credit for *that* now, are you? Didn't think so.

 

 

Good genes brother, good genes.

[Chavez]

would you dispute that people are a lot more likely to blame the government for their struggles than credit the government for their successes? like the other guy that responded said, it's just human nature.

 

edit: and since you bring it up, not one of those guys said "it's rough, but the government has had nothing to do with it". but almost every single person who answered that they are better off went out of their way to point out that the government had nothing to do with it.

I tend to tune out when people start whining so I couldn't much say.

 

I also tend to agree that in just about any case, the fickle finger of gov't incompetence landing on "YOU" is pretty rare. The gov't isn't in any way directly responsible for bad business or personal finance decisions. Or good ones, for that matter.

[Ursa Majoris]

.PACS pays a hell of a lot of money

This?

[ABearWithFurniture]

This?

 

That is correct sir...all the hospitals are moving away from static images (x-rays/MRIs on film) and buying into PACS/DICOM/digital x-rays, etc). Hospitals/3Pvendors are looking for system adminstrators, technicians, implementation specialists to install/maintain all this technology into their systems and the technology is so new to them/contract agencies, that they don't have enough people doing it. Starting pay for a PACS admin is about $110-120K in almost any state in the US right now. Takes about 3-5 years to gain technical expertise in it but if you know computers and networking at all it's mainly just about learning the workflow of the hospitals/radiologist/cardiologists.

[jaxfactor]

 

But the Huddle community rocks!

[keggerz]

That is correct sir...all the hospitals are moving away from static images (x-rays/MRIs on film) and buying into PACS/DICOM/digital x-rays, etc). Hospitals/3Pvendors are looking for system adminstrators, technicians, implementation specialists to install/maintain all this technology into their systems and the technology is so new to them/contract agencies, that they don't have enough people doing it. Starting pay for a PACS admin is about $110-120K in almost any state in the US right now. Takes about 3-5 years to gain technical expertise in it but if you know computers and networking at all it's mainly just about learning the workflow of the hospitals/radiologist/cardiologists.

sign me up

[Sugar Magnolia]

In 2000 I was making $165K a year and hubby was making 150K.

 

In 2008 I will probably make 23K and hubby 42K, but that is a little more than double what we made in '07

 

But

 

Our networth is down $540,000 from 07.

[ABearWithFurniture]

sign me up

 

Send me a PM if you are interested as my company is looking...both on the clinical and technology side.

[NSab]

IN 2000 my business was growing at a rate of 25% per year. I had to sell it due to current economy. Family Life is better, Biz bad! Much like Keggerz.

[NSab]

sign me up

 

Me too!

[Riffraff]

That is correct sir...all the hospitals are moving away from static images (x-rays/MRIs on film) and buying into PACS/DICOM/digital x-rays, etc). Hospitals/3Pvendors are looking for system adminstrators, technicians, implementation specialists to install/maintain all this technology into their systems and the technology is so new to them/contract agencies, that they don't have enough people doing it. Starting pay for a PACS admin is about $110-120K in almost any state in the US right now. Takes about 3-5 years to gain technical expertise in it but if you know computers and networking at all it's mainly just about learning the workflow of the hospitals/radiologist/cardiologists.

Only $65k - $90k in the Seattle metro area (with sys admin experience, but if you don't know PACS, you are only making the minimum).

Lots of sys admin IT jobs in the area pay about the same. Of course , the competition is a little stronger here, lots of IT bodies and employers want specific skills since they usually aren't going to train you.

 

That said:

PACS is a good system to learn, you will always be employed. Hospitals won't ever go away.

The initial training on the system is the biggest hurdle. Once you get it though...

[Riffraff]

Am I better off than I was 8 years ago?

 

I guess so. But in many ways I would say I'm not.

 

* Local housing market doubled/tripled around 10 years ago. So, the cost of a house sure cramps the income more.

* Sure, I make more income. But that's just due to experience in the job, not the political landscape.

* I've been frugal / financially sound for longer than 10 years. The savings went up, but that's due to a concerted effort on my part.

* I liked the work I was doing more 8 years ago. The people I worked with were top notch too. Less stress then.

* I've never played the "keeping up with the Joneses" game (but I do have a lot of very nice stuff). I buy whatever I want.

* I actually traveled more when I didn't have much coin (kind of goes hand in hand though). But about the same amount as 8 years ago.

* My investments haven't improved over the last few years. That kind of sucks for an earlier retirement goal.

* Relationships are about the same, just older. Less get togethers, but more "me" time. Both good and bad.

* I live in a much nicer neighborhood, so that's an up tick.

* Sports injuries have slowed me down, so that's a down tick.

* Less community service on my part now, so that's a drop in my own well-being.

* I'm more of a role model than I was then. I feel I was in the Self Actualization phase of Maslow's heirarchy of needs at an early age.

 

Honestly, not much has changed.

I make more $$$, but things cost more. Cost of living has definitely gone up.

 

I never wanted to be famous. I don't want people digging into my life or following me to the corner store to watch me buy toilet paper.

I did want to be well off enough to not have to worry about losing anything I own if I take a year or two off from working. This, I've achieved.

 

Now, if only I could run a website from home that would cover all my basic needs plus a little something something. Then, I might say that I'm better off than I was 8 years ago.

[tazinib1]

What the hell? I can't even REMEMBER 8 years ago.

[Perchoutofwater]

I'm much better off than I was 8 years ago.

 

8 yeas ago I had a wife and one child. I drove a 7 year old vehicle and my wife drove a 3 year old vehicle. We lived in a 1785 sqft house.

 

Now I still have the same wife, and have two children. I drive a 3 year old car, and my wife drives a new car. We live in a 4000 sqft house. My income this year will be 5.5 times higher than it was 8 years ago. My income will vary greatly depending on how well my company does, and this year is going to be a very good year for the company. I do not attribute any of this to the federal government.

 

The reasons for my success are as follows by order of magnitude.

1. Natural progression of Life

2. Busting my ass

3. State Government (The state of Texas is spending a lot of money on schools right now, and schools usually make up about 60-65% of our work)

4. Aging Baby Boomers (We build hospitals as well and they are one of our mainstays usually making up about 30% of our work.)

[AtomicCEO]

IN 2000 my business was growing at a rate of 25% per year. I had to sell it due to current economy. Family Life is better, Biz bad! Much like Keggerz.

 

I thought all small business owners cared about was taxes?

 

Muck and H8 can tell you that the economy doesn't matter as much as the incredible evils of taxing small businesses at all. This evironment right now is the best ever for a small business.

[ABearWithFurniture]

Only $65k - $90k in the Seattle metro area (with sys admin experience, but if you don't know PACS, you are only making the minimum).

Lots of sys admin IT jobs in the area pay about the same. Of course , the competition is a little stronger here, lots of IT bodies and employers want specific skills since they usually aren't going to train you.

 

That said:

PACS is a good system to learn, you will always be employed. Hospitals won't ever go away.

The initial training on the system is the biggest hurdle. Once you get it though...

 

Most of the admin positions I've seen for permanent positions pay around 80K/90K a year...contract positions are paying about 60-80 an hour.

 

That being said being a PACS admin is a really stressful job with a lot of hours and lot's of job functions...better off staying back on the tech side of things.

[TimC]

My income doubled in the past 8 years, but the future seemed brighter then than it does now. I'm waiting for Obama to take care of me for the upcoming 8 years. Really looking forward to the Government giving me everything I need now. That'll help alot.

 

Let's see...I was able to buy a 2nd Vette, a pickup, build a bigger house, have more money saved than I used to, and let the g/f take a lesser paying but more fulfilling job. We've both gotten fatter and slower, though.

 

More than likely though, I'll be laid off in the next year or two because the company will be sold since it's doing so crappy. I'll be able to hook on somewhere else but doubt the money will be as good. I don't know...I was laid off in '97 after a dozen years with the company and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

 

I don't blame or credit Bush for anything.