Dick Pangallo, Realtor, Issaquah

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"I'd say it's the same. Everybody else seems to be doing okay, too -- all my family and friends and neighbors are doing okay. People are getting raises and not getting laid off as often.... They're also looking at quality options as far as income goes, and what they really need. But if our area loses the baseball stadium, we'll not be as economically healthy..."

Reginald Williams, Computer security, Lynnwood

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"Definitely. I think that's the case. The cost of living has increased dramatically. It's the stress of society, and how complex everything is, and the uncertainty of jobs. You used to have a job for 20 years, now it's not so definite. And now it takes two people working in a household to make ends meet."

Kathi Ellsworth, Sales, Bellevue

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"Yes. I'm working but my husband retired, so it is more difficult to make ends meet. No one I know has lost their job, but they worry about it. It's just kind of tough... and it's harder to afford things than it was 15 or 20 years ago."

Cheryl Stave, Utility coordinator, Issaquah

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"Yes, I am. We're building a house, so we're trying to save money for that and we've been working overtime to save."

Michael Thomas, Marriage and family therapist, Bellevue

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"I'm not, but I work as a therapist so I certainly see people who are working harder, and worrying about it. I feel real lucky but there are a lot of changes going on with others' jobs. For example, in the health care field, everybody is really struggling."

Barbara Walt, Store manager, Kirkland

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"About the same. I've just opened a new store and we worked hard last year and we're working harder this year. It's a competitive field -- I'm in the retail business. I think people are more cautious about spending the money they have."

Copyright © 1995 by the Journal American newspaper, Bellevue, WA.

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