Trump so far are you better economically now in his second term?

[darnoldrocks]

As for am I better off now than in Biden's term, I will hold that answer until at least mid 2026. 
What I can tell you are my main personal finances.
My variable rate mortgage is down a little.
Gas is significantly cheaper.
My personal stock market trading account was 293k in the first week if January 2025.
294k by January 31st.
Went as high as 317k by February 14th.
Went as low as 259k on April 15th.
Ended May 23rd at 325k, so right now I'm happy with where it is at.  (I do hold some volatile stocks in that portfolio, which can swing pretty good.    Palantir, Nvidia, sold crowdstrike 2 weeks ago, Oklo and QBTS)

What are others experiencing?   

[bigbettor]

Happy Memorial Day weekend. Yall keep bashing Trump. Gas prices are are down to the 21 prices. Who was president then?!

you're so full of shit you could fertilize the infield at the Meadowlands forever. Gas in NJ is flat; gas in the Midwest is more expensive now than 6 months ago. Gas in CA is high as Trump on Adderall and caffeine.
Your bullshit smells worse than what's under Tim Pool's wooly hat.

[Buckeye]

As for am I better off now than in Biden's term, I will hold that answer until at least mid 2026. 
What I can tell you are my main personal finances.
My variable rate mortgage is down a little.
Gas is significantly cheaper.
My personal stock market trading account was 293k in the first week if January 2025.
294k by January 31st.
Went as high as 317k by February 14th.
Went as low as 259k on April 15th.
Ended May 23rd at 325k, so right now I'm happy with where it is at.  (I do hold some volatile stocks in that portfolio, which can swing pretty good.    Palantir, Nvidia, sold crowdstrike 2 weeks ago, Oklo and QBTS)

What are others experiencing?   

I go to a local butcher here near Scioto. My usual order of an 8-10# standing rib roast, rib eyes, and ground round just cost me $251 ! 18 months ago the same exact order was $166.
Don't pee in my ear and tell me it's raining. The new SUV I looked at is $4,200 more because of tariffs.
I don't care about presidents 1 bit but these prices are out of control!

[darnoldrocks]

Big bettor  ....   From The Hill   .....   The Trump administration is withholding funds appropriated by Congress for a national electric vehicle (EV) charging network, a government watchdog says.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated $5 billion for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, which set out to help build a national network of EV chargers.

Why the hell should government spend my money to build these chargers?    Does the government build gas stations or hydrogen stations with tax money?

[darnoldrocks]

Buckeye   ...   I feel terrible for you that you are finding that SUV too expensive.
Here's an idea, hold of on that discretionary purchase and see where the tariffs end up on vehicles and what vehicles may be cheaper in 2026.
You can lower that meat bill by eating a little more chicken and pasta. 

[Buckeye]

Buckeye   ...   I feel terrible for you that you are finding that SUV too expensive.
Here's an idea, hold of on that discretionary purchase and see where the tariffs end up on vehicles and what vehicles may be cheaper in 2026.
You can lower that meat bill by eating a little more chicken and pasta.

So, change my life bc we must needlessly suffer thru bad policies? BTW, chicken prices are steep. My grocery bill in general has gone up since February.
I will take your advice and hold onto my current vehicle. Thanks

[MIKE CAMPBELL]

As for am I better off now than in Biden's term, I will hold that answer until at least mid 2026. 
What I can tell you are my main personal finances.
My variable rate mortgage is down a little.
Gas is significantly cheaper.
My personal stock market trading account was 293k in the first week if January 2025.
294k by January 31st.
Went as high as 317k by February 14th.
Went as low as 259k on April 15th.
Ended May 23rd at 325k, so right now I'm happy with where it is at.  (I do hold some volatile stocks in that portfolio, which can swing pretty good.    Palantir, Nvidia, sold crowdstrike 2 weeks ago, Oklo and QBTS)

What are others experiencing?   

I hold a truckload of PLTR, PLTU and NVDA. What is your opinion on NVDA's earnings announcement coming up?

[darnoldrocks]

"I will take your advice and hold onto my current vehicle. Thanks"

Your welcome.   

[darnoldrocks]

I hold a truckload of PLTR, PLTU and NVDA. What is your opinion on NVDA's earnings announcement coming up?

Mike, I wish I was as intelligent and knowledgeable about these holdings as the market.
I bought some of these names up to 2 years ago because I retired and started to listen to earnings calls online.
It struck me that some companies were so excited about their technology and potential, that they damn near sounded giddy.   That is why I bought, but now that I am in, I have no level of expertise to know when to get out.

I loved Crowdstrike, but then they had that system update that caused some grief.   I held during that slide because the system update had nothing to do with their core security technology.   Things recovered nicely, but then the other day they were in the news for some other kind of negative investigation relative to their execs.    2 strikes was enough for me.

Last week I sold a small % of each of my Hims and Hers, QBTS, Nvidia, Pltr and Oklo holdings.  It they shit the bed now, at least I have 75% of my original investment out.   Where they go from here is gravy.

No doubt with tariff talks, especially around chips and tech, Nvidia is a tough call without a crystal ball.   If it was just about the best technology, I think they are fine.   Like everything else associated with stock markets, it's the unknown that can kill a good thing or catapult an unknown.
Look at OKLO.   Trump announces a desire to push "nuclear" technology and OKLO which is looking to build small nuclear infrastructure and sell the energy generated, exploded after the announcement.   

[Calhoun]

Look at OKLO.   Trump announces a desire to push "nuclear" technology and OKLO which is looking to build small nuclear infrastructure and sell the energy generated, exploded after the announcement.

Barron Trump has to be up $100 Million since the inauguration. Can't imagine him not trading like a mofo.

[darnoldrocks]

"Barron Trump has to be up $100 Million since the inauguration. Can't imagine him not trading like a mofo."

Calhoun, I can't disagree, but sadly I think there are plenty of politicians out there, somehow getting extremely wealthy while making $175k per year.  It makes me puke, but it just seems to be fact of life. 

[NJ Observer]

YA GOTTA LOVE THESE MAGA TYPES!!! WHEN THE DEMOCRATS DO STUFF, THEY CRY LIKE PUSSIES ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING!!! WHEN TRUMP'S FUCKED UP SCHEMES LIKE 1890'S TARIFFS CAUSE SKY HI BEEF PRICES, THEY TELL EVERYONE TO CHILL OUT!!! I CAN'T STAND PUSSY HYPOCRITES!!! WHAT A BUNCH OF THIN SKINNED PUSSIES!!!
GROW A PAIR MAGA AND ADMIT TRUMP WILL COST TENS OF MILLIONS OF AMERICANS TO PAY MORE FOR STUFF!!!

[The Unstable]

I looked at a camera online. Read some reviews posted to Reddit 2 months ago and three people said they paid 599.  2 months later camera is 799.

I looked at a Toyota Crown Signia wagon, up 2000 dollars since Tariffs.

Bought some item from Walmart online, was 22 dollars 2 months ago, went to reorder 30 dollars.

Meanwhile large Tax cuts for the wealthiest, while they cut food stamps and healthcare.  Debt to go up 3 more Trillion plus due to the tax cuts.  Interest rates for mortgages and cars are up. Trump negotiates against himself and usually gets nothing in return. DOGE cut 5 percent of what they said they were while gutting public service and destroying peoples lives.  Trump grifts hundreds of millions especially through crypto scams. But, but, but Hunter Biden.  What a bunch of suckers MAGA is composed of.  Of course he was never going to do anything for you, when there is a Tornado, he cuts FEMA.  Need a flight, he cut Air Traffic.  Need a VA suicide prevention person, he cut that.  Need food stamps , tough shit starve.  Plus he intentionally raised your prices on almost everything. 

[Calhoun]

"Barron Trump has to be up $100 Million since the inauguration. Can't imagine him not trading like a mofo."

Calhoun, I can't disagree, but sadly I think there are plenty of politicians out there, somehow getting extremely wealthy while making $175k per year.  It makes me puke, but it just seems to be fact of life.

[Calhoun]

Trump gave a speech to the graduating class at West Point today.

He said this:

“Totally stealth planes. I hope they're stealth. I don't know, the whole stealth thing—I'm sort of wondering. We shape a wing this way, they don’t see it but the other way they see it? I’m not so sure. That’s what they tell me.”