I'm doing this in 2 parts - and I realize that there's a lot of variables that can play into this, but curious what people think.
The post about income disparity between friends made me think about this.
Without knowing specifics of your financial situation, where do you think most of your friends/acquaintances would classify you?
optional for comments: do you feel that these people would fit into the same category as you?
income and perception (part 1) - see question in description 57 votes
"lower middle class" /"working class"
I'm a special snowflake, and let me tell you why...
Re: income and perception (part 1) - see question in description
I think, based on the fact that we don't have a college degree between us and that we're pretty cheap/thrifty, people would assume we're working-class. I think we're pretty solidly middle, given our actual income.
Found link for Canadians.
M and I are 'upper middle class' - which actually surprised me.
Our friends income I would consider spread out but I believe majority of them are probably middle class or at least close to it with a few in the upper middle class.
Our friends run the gamut from working poor to super rich. How they perceive our wealth probably depends heavily on their own situation. If we are making plans with our working poor friends, we ask them out to Dairy Queen or to come to our house for dinner and beers. If we are making plans with our super rich friends, we're planning a trip or something. We never ask people to do things we think are beyond their means.
I put myself as "lower middle/working class" but I think most would put us at "middle".
We work office jobs and have masters' degrees, but we're not lawyers or doctors.
That being said, due to the cost of living here requiring certain salaries, if you were to look at "class" by national definition, we're solidly upper middle class.
This is us as well. We both have bachelors, but work in management professional jobs that pay well. We also live in a very affordable city with a low mortgage and minimal debt (all financed at 0%, with full amount more than covered by cash in hand).
We do travel quite a bit, DK generally gets me jewelry as gifts, and I will occasionally splurge on a designer bag so perception may be that we're wealthier than we are - but we also have a pretty modest house, non-luxury cars, and I make an effort to shop sales, negotiate on prices, and use coupon and rebate apps. (Not to mention DK is a somewhat reformed "cheap ass.")
I'm solidly middle class, but inching my way toward upper middle class. I'm guessing my friends are a mix who see me as either middle class or upper middle class. My friends are lower middle class or middle class.
I also agree that it can be very relative. My one friend who is lower middle class definitely sees me as upper middle class. She has always lived in Orange County, CA. She is utterly astounded at the number of real estate investment properties I own. I mean, logically, I can tell her all day long that real estate is 5-8x less expensive here. Really, really. But when you're used to modest, cookie cutter ranch houses being $500K, I'm sure it is hard to picture. Or, on the flip side, that the rents I can collect are nowhere NEAR what they would be in OC.
Mmmm...real estate at NOLA prices but So. CA rental rates.
Sorry, I just devolved into fantasy. But I'm sadly back to reality now, lol.
My friends who are lower-middle, or middle definitely think I'm riding high on the hog, and I get that because that's what I used to think too.
in this bubble we live in we are one step above Appalachia. Our home is smaller and not in the right neighborhood. I don't carry a Louis and my workout clothes aren't lulu lemon.
I try try so very,very hard not to compare.
Between babybelle's college savings accounts, daycare, extra travel costs and all other associated costs, I feel like I'm constantly doing this:
Based on a calculation tool, we're pretty solidly middle class.
If we made the same amount in a different state, I think it would be an entirely different story. If we lived closer to the greater NYC area, we'd be lower middle but if we lived in West Virginia, we'd be upper middle.
Some of the older parts of NOLA are like that. And by "older", I mean that as a good thing. Heart of the city, where people have been living since the 1800's or early 20th century.
There are a lot of places where you will be walking down the street past gorgeous mansions with beautifully manicured lawns. Cross into the next block and/or go a few blocks over and it's drug deals on the corner, abandoned or run down houses, etc.
I'm a lot more used to it now, but it really struck me as odd when I first moved here.
Nowadays, I don't think Seattle is much better. Portland would be, but that is only "relatively speaking". Portland is also a HCOL area.
From my H, who is originally from OR, "You Californians! Moving up here and raising 'ar property taxes."
My response: "Do you actually mean raising your property values? You're welcome."
A joke between us, lol. Not that either one of us have lived in our respective home states in over 15 years.
I flipped these, oops: I think most people think I'm more towards upper middle class, just b/c of the "new" car and the pretty damn awesome apartment. But, the new car is b/c of someone paying off my student loans and I wouldn't have this apartment w/out a roomate. And, really, this apartment is a bit higher than I should be spending by about $100 in my mind, but it's worth it for the space and amenities we get.