Doing taxes ... Our household income dropped about 39%...

[LuckyTheDog]

... from 2008 to 2009.

Man, that SUCKS.

:(

[ixion]

1. I've yet to return to the amount of cash coming in since 2007...

it's been in the tank since then.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Need some perspective to mean anything

What were the amounts? Not exactly. Just rough estimates.

When I went from an active employee to the retirement rolls my income went down over 50%. From close to a hundred thousand to about 30 thousand a year.

But I have never been happier in my life.

Don

[LuckyTheDog]

4. I didn't retire, I was laid off

I got some severance and unemployment benefits... and I picked up a little freelance work. But even with that, household income dropped by $45K all at once.

[NNN0LHI]

5. I understand that and an unexpected cut in income like that can be traumatic

I kind of had time to prepare myself for my reduction. Wasn't easy at first either.

Seemed like it got better as the years went by though. I had to learn to adapt.

Good luck and I hope things improve for you soon.

Don

[Johonny]

3. I know I got a lot back

because I made almost no interest and had no raise and saw my health insurance go up up up and I feel lucky to have done that well. Last year was a banner year for almost all :(