Has anything changed for you yet?

I definitely am not saying that it could not turn on a dime. You just wonder why all of the sudden. My husband makes the inside door panels for Honda cars. It is strange, as we know cars are not moving. He came home and they are working 12 hour shifts until the end of the month. We are going to get the kids Christmas presents, and put the majority of it back, so we have it later. I am sure we are not out of the woods, but it is nice for now.

Thank you thorough, I was starting to think that almost everyone wasn't getting what I was trying to say. I am glad things are looking up for you too!

Thanks chameleon! I think renewed hope plays a big part of it. The whole postive attitude carrying over into other areas of your life thing. Celebrate? Not ina traditional go out to dinner or do something special kind of way. LOL Just feeling like there is a chance me and my family will be okay is celebration enough.

I am so happy for you that all these good things are happening in our life. Beware of the crdit limit being extended though - they do this to tempt you to purchase more. I don't think that these good things are relatd to Mr. Obama becoming the next President. Her has such a tough role to play. I heard on the news in my country this morning of about a half of a million peopel in the USA have lost their jobs in September and October. These were the figures for only 2 months. I tinbk htat Mr. Obama has given the USA hope for the future and this is such a good thing to do. I noticed that he is already being attacked by the Republicans and he is not yet in office.I believe that he is genuinly for unity in your country and if, in his term of office he can achieve a third of what he wants to do then he will have done a great deal. What worries me is the unseen powers that operate in every country and if th government does not have their help then they quietly work against the party in power.; Much happiness for you and your family. Have a little celbration as it teaches children what can be achieved through hard work and you have set them a wonderful example. Then, my last advice is to save as much of your increased wealth as you can. It is not so much about what you earn but about how much of you earn that you can keep. God Bless

I think regardless of who was elected we would've seen the stock market decline. During McCains last week or two of campaigning there was hope that the 3rd quarter results wouldn't be as bad as expected, and when the quarter ended on Sept. 31 we started finding out how bad it was. And now that the final reports on companies P&L's are coming in there is the downturn. I think most of us who follow this were pretty aware it's going to get worse before it gets better. Personally I don't think we'll start seeing any substantial recovery in the markets until 2nd quarter of 2009. Makes me glad that my family is young enough to "ride it out", but also maked me concerned for people like my dad who just retired from Chrysler last February, he's depending on that pension and 401k.

I believe it will actually get much worse before it gets better - regardless of what the government does - the economy will have to hit bottom (wherever that is) before it will begin a slow climb back up.

Actually the experts that I have been listening to say that the DOW drop is normal when a Democrat is elected, then throughout the administration the DOW does better than if there was a Republican administration. Now, economics is not my forte but, I do know that there are a lot of factors that push the markets up and down and one of the big drivers is unemployment. I just heard the recent job losses and the jobs that are usually last in a recession to go are actually going. There were a 1/4 million job losses for the month of October.

I think with the high unemployment, the falling stockmarket, consumers not buying it will be foolish to be happier with higher taxes and crazy ideas of foreign policy.

I have never been one of those who considered Obama the "messiah". And I believe I did mention that part of my good fortune was due to my own hard work. I guess the point I was trying to make when I started this post, and obviously didn't do a very good job of, is that there seems to be a new energy in this country now that Obama has been elected. People generally seem happier and more hopeful, and with that comes a new revitalization to perform and see America in the light it was meant to be seen in.

I am not giving him all the credit, read the post! It's about a new attitude of hope that he has brought.

And while your at it....thinking Obama is to be credited for all your good will...don't forget that he simply sees you at "typical white folks"....

There's not too much I can thank the current president for, except for the fact that if he wouldn't have done such a miserable job people would not be looking so forward to Obama's inauguration day!

By the way I would not see the increased credit limits as a good thing. that is a good part of what got us into this trouble in the first place. Too much debt vs income for the average American family. So be careful.

I'm not planning on using any of it, we have adopted a strict cash only policy in this house. But having a higher credit limit without having a big balance means a lower debt to income ratio, and will make my credit score better. I have decent credit, but this surely made me feel better.

If he was "refused by the white man" he wouldn't have been elected. I'm sorry I don't share your views, I truly believe that he will be good for all.