I can't be thankful enough for my job. It allows the wife to stay at home with the kids so hopefully they don't turn out to be delinquents. 1 out of 2 cars paid off and socking money away for retirement and a little in savings. Got two boats paid for (but both together are only worth 5 grand). Just found out that my performance evaluation was good enough to warrant a 4% COLA so that helps too. But it is affecting me indirectly. I'd love to be able to sell my place for what I paid for it a couple of years ago and build in a different location but there is no way I'm selling for 40 G less than what I paid for it. That would be like losing all the equity I built up.