Rich v Affluent

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In DC, any dual income couple in their 30's or older making less than $150k is flat out poor. There is no other way to properly describe that couple. $150k-400k middle. $400-$1 million upper middle. Million plus is affluent. $2 million plus is rich.

http://www.dcfpi.org/interactive-how-does-your-household-income-compare-to-other-dc-households-2-2

So:

1-85% = poor
85-98% = middle class
98-99.9% = upper middle class
99.9%+ = rich

Do you know how ridiculous you sound?

Those stats are for all D.C., not NW. It's ridiculous for a couple that lives in NW and has HHI of $150k to think they are 85% income level by counting bc NE Andy i guarantee any couples who make that in NW do consider themselves poor and rightly so. We are mid-40's - by our mid 30's we were at HHI $600k. I haven't met a couple living in NW that makes less than $150 in my life, other than a year or so after grad school when friends were in their 20's. Describing a family that can't afford to send their kids to private as middle class is foolish- that alone qualifies you as poor.

Excuse me while i go bang my head against a wall.
You don't get it and apparently never will.
There are many, many, many families in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond who live on less than this in NW DC.
I know many of them. Lovely, very well educated, professional, well-spoken, well-traveled families.

THE WHOLE FUCKING WORLD IN NW DC DOESN'T WORK IN BIG LAW, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, INVESTMENT BANKING OR SUB-SPECIALTY MEDICINE!!!!!

how hard is it to understand that?

+ 1 I can't believe the bubble some of these entitled, ignorant DCUM posters live in!

So not being able to afford the $20k per kid to send them to private school makes you "poor"?! Guess what - 95% of the people can't afford that. Are you saying all Americans, other than the overpaid lawyers and sub-specialty doctors, are poor?

What about the well-educated accountants....architects.....writers.....microbiologists.....who average less than $100,000? Are they all poor? What about me - $110,000 in my 50s, with season theater tickets, biweekly maid service, and trips to Europe? (I posted before.) Am I poor?

What about my friend, who is an assistant professor and earns less than $100,000? She's in Spain right now, on vacation, and drives a premium car. Is she poor?

What about another friend, an editor, who together with her husband pulls in $120,000? Each of her four kids have their own IPhone and Ipad, and the family just went to Disneyworld this week. Are they poor?

Leave your over privileged little enclave and see what middle-class is. YOU, on the other hand, are rich.

Are you liberal or conservative?

Who are you asking....the woman with the 7-figure net worth who insists she's not poor, or the snob who insists she is?

Regardless, my guess is that the woman worth $1 million is a conservative, and the snob who says she's poor is a liberal.

What is your guess?

Interesting, I guessed the opposite

Why? This could be interesting.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In DC, any dual income couple in their 30's or older making less than $150k is flat out poor. There is no other way to properly describe that couple. $150k-400k middle. $400-$1 million upper middle. Million plus is affluent. $2 million plus is rich.

http://www.dcfpi.org/interactive-how-does-your-household-income-compare-to-other-dc-households-2-2

So:

1-85% = poor
85-98% = middle class
98-99.9% = upper middle class
99.9%+ = rich

Do you know how ridiculous you sound?

Those stats are for all D.C., not NW. It's ridiculous for a couple that lives in NW and has HHI of $150k to think they are 85% income level by counting bc NE Andy i guarantee any couples who make that in NW do consider themselves poor and rightly so. We are mid-40's - by our mid 30's we were at HHI $600k. I haven't met a couple living in NW that makes less than $150 in my life, other than a year or so after grad school when friends were in their 20's. Describing a family that can't afford to send their kids to private as middle class is foolish- that alone qualifies you as poor.

Excuse me while i go bang my head against a wall.
You don't get it and apparently never will.
There are many, many, many families in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond who live on less than this in NW DC.
I know many of them. Lovely, very well educated, professional, well-spoken, well-traveled families.

THE WHOLE FUCKING WORLD IN NW DC DOESN'T WORK IN BIG LAW, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, INVESTMENT BANKING OR SUB-SPECIALTY MEDICINE!!!!!

how hard is it to understand that?

+ 1 I can't believe the bubble some of these entitled, ignorant DCUM posters live in!

So not being able to afford the $20k per kid to send them to private school makes you "poor"?! Guess what - 95% of the people can't afford that. Are you saying all Americans, other than the overpaid lawyers and sub-specialty doctors, are poor?

What about the well-educated accountants....architects.....writers.....microbiologists.....who average less than $100,000? Are they all poor? What about me - $110,000 in my 50s, with season theater tickets, biweekly maid service, and trips to Europe? (I posted before.) Am I poor?

What about my friend, who is an assistant professor and earns less than $100,000? She's in Spain right now, on vacation, and drives a premium car. Is she poor?

What about another friend, an editor, who together with her husband pulls in $120,000? Each of her four kids have their own IPhone and Ipad, and the family just went to Disneyworld this week. Are they poor?

Leave your over privileged little enclave and see what middle-class is. YOU, on the other hand, are rich.

Yes dear, you are poor...and sad, because you keep posting about this. Give it a rest. The argument that your poor friends have iPhones and iPads for their kids and went to Disney is a weak one. I work with many people who live in Section 8, are on Medicaid and food stamps, and have iPhones for themselves and their kids. They go to Disney with their tax refunds.

You are crazy. According to you, 98% of Americans are poor, even the ones with $1 million net worth and who enjoy international travel, maid service, and opera tickets.

And I'm not the only one posting about this. You are an out-of-touch snob.

Hm, I've really touched a nerve haven't I? You need to consider why you become so defensive when others express different opinions from yours. I don't know why you keep bringing up random things like opera tickets and travel. Like I said, I work with many people who are on government benefits, and most of them travel and spend money on luxuries now and then. Literally every single one has a smartphone for themselves and their kids. It doesn't mean they're not poor. Face it, most of America is poor.

No...what is touching a nerve is that there is someone who seems to enjoy calling everyone in America "poor" - even those with a seven-figure net worth who live very comfortably. Why do you enjoy calling successful, educated professionals poor? That is not only an extremely snobby and inaccurate portrayal, it's mean. I guess it bothers me that there are bullies who love to tell successful people that they failures.

It would be as if someone with a Ph.D. called people with Master's degrees uneducated, when they probably represent the top 10% in terms of educational attainment.

And most of America is NOT poor. Most of America is lower-middle class. I am upper-middle class. You..in the top 1%....are rich.

If it makes you feel better to say you are UMC, then say it. But it doesnt change the reality that in NW, you are the poors. Look, I feel better if I tell people thag Im an astronaut. But it doesnt change the fact that Im not.

Just read through this thread and this denigrating language is so ugly. "the poors"? really? Does this make you feel good? I doubt it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In DC, any dual income couple in their 30's or older making less than $150k is flat out poor. There is no other way to properly describe that couple. $150k-400k middle. $400-$1 million upper middle. Million plus is affluent. $2 million plus is rich.

http://www.dcfpi.org/interactive-how-does-your-household-income-compare-to-other-dc-households-2-2

So:

1-85% = poor
85-98% = middle class
98-99.9% = upper middle class
99.9%+ = rich

Do you know how ridiculous you sound?

Those stats are for all D.C., not NW. It's ridiculous for a couple that lives in NW and has HHI of $150k to think they are 85% income level by counting bc NE Andy i guarantee any couples who make that in NW do consider themselves poor and rightly so. We are mid-40's - by our mid 30's we were at HHI $600k. I haven't met a couple living in NW that makes less than $150 in my life, other than a year or so after grad school when friends were in their 20's. Describing a family that can't afford to send their kids to private as middle class is foolish- that alone qualifies you as poor.

Excuse me while i go bang my head against a wall.
You don't get it and apparently never will.
There are many, many, many families in their 30s, 40s, 50s and beyond who live on less than this in NW DC.
I know many of them. Lovely, very well educated, professional, well-spoken, well-traveled families.

THE WHOLE FUCKING WORLD IN NW DC DOESN'T WORK IN BIG LAW, GOVERNMENT RELATIONS, INVESTMENT BANKING OR SUB-SPECIALTY MEDICINE!!!!!

how hard is it to understand that?

+ 1 I can't believe the bubble some of these entitled, ignorant DCUM posters live in!

So not being able to afford the $20k per kid to send them to private school makes you "poor"?! Guess what - 95% of the people can't afford that. Are you saying all Americans, other than the overpaid lawyers and sub-specialty doctors, are poor?

What about the well-educated accountants....architects.....writers.....microbiologists.....who average less than $100,000? Are they all poor? What about me - $110,000 in my 50s, with season theater tickets, biweekly maid service, and trips to Europe? (I posted before.) Am I poor?

What about my friend, who is an assistant professor and earns less than $100,000? She's in Spain right now, on vacation, and drives a premium car. Is she poor?

What about another friend, an editor, who together with her husband pulls in $120,000? Each of her four kids have their own IPhone and Ipad, and the family just went to Disneyworld this week. Are they poor?

Leave your over privileged little enclave and see what middle-class is. YOU, on the other hand, are rich.

Yes dear, you are poor...and sad, because you keep posting about this. Give it a rest. The argument that your poor friends have iPhones and iPads for their kids and went to Disney is a weak one. I work with many people who live in Section 8, are on Medicaid and food stamps, and have iPhones for themselves and their kids. They go to Disney with their tax refunds.

You are crazy. According to you, 98% of Americans are poor, even the ones with $1 million net worth and who enjoy international travel, maid service, and opera tickets.

And I'm not the only one posting about this. You are an out-of-touch snob.

Hm, I've really touched a nerve haven't I? You need to consider why you become so defensive when others express different opinions from yours. I don't know why you keep bringing up random things like opera tickets and travel. Like I said, I work with many people who are on government benefits, and most of them travel and spend money on luxuries now and then. Literally every single one has a smartphone for themselves and their kids. It doesn't mean they're not poor. Face it, most of America is poor.

No...what is touching a nerve is that there is someone who seems to enjoy calling everyone in America "poor" - even those with a seven-figure net worth who live very comfortably. Why do you enjoy calling successful, educated professionals poor? That is not only an extremely snobby and inaccurate portrayal, it's mean. I guess it bothers me that there are bullies who love to tell successful people that they failures.

It would be as if someone with a Ph.D. called people with Master's degrees uneducated, when they probably represent the top 10% in terms of educational attainment.

And most of America is NOT poor. Most of America is lower-middle class. I am upper-middle class. You..in the top 1%....are rich.

If it makes you feel better to say you are UMC, then say it. But it doesnt change the reality that in NW, you are the poors. Look, I feel better if I tell people thag Im an astronaut. But it doesnt change the fact that Im not.

Just read through this thread and this denigrating language is so ugly. "the poors"? really? Does this make you feel good? I doubt it.

PP is just stating their opinion. I doubt it's about feeling good. I don't know why you guys get so riled up about what class others put you in. I'm sure plenty of people who make and have more than us would think we are the poors. It is what it is. Everyone has their own perspective.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

Your problem is that you're "thinking" something that is contrary to actual fact. The distribution of income is a mathematical reality. Regardless of how you "feel" about your affluence, you are affluent/rich if your annual HHI is $300K. That figure puts you firmly in the upper echelon in every corner of America, including DC.

I'm guessing you don't "feel" rich because you choose to spend your wealth on things that the vast majority of people who earn much less (including the vast majority of people who live in this area) either (1) pay a lot less for or (2) don't buy at all. That's your choice, but it doesn't make you any less rich.

And you still didn't answer my question: Why are you so determined to avoid being branded wealthy? What is it about your success that shames you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

Your problem is that you're "thinking" something that is contrary to actual fact. The distribution of income is a mathematical reality. Regardless of how you "feel" about your affluence, you are affluent/rich if your annual HHI is $300K. That figure puts you firmly in the upper echelon in every corner of America, including DC.

I'm guessing you don't "feel" rich because you choose to spend your wealth on things that the vast majority of people who earn much less (including the vast majority of people who live in this area) either (1) pay a lot less for or (2) don't buy at all. That's your choice, but it doesn't make you any less rich.

And you still didn't answer my question: Why are you so determined to avoid being branded wealthy? What is it about your success that shames you?

+ 1 I'm one of the PPs - single, just over $100k, with a well-funded retirement account and a very nice lifestyle - whom the snob above is labeling as one of "the poors." So I'd like to piggy-back on your question about why these 1%ers avoid being branded wealthy....I would also like to know why they enjoy branding a successful professional worth $1 million one of "the poors." Why do they take pleasure in offending others?

P.S. To answer another question about politics asked above, I am conservative (although I cringe when Trump speaks.) I think the person (or people) putting down individuals earning in the low six-figures as qualifying for government assistance is/are liberal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

+1. In this area given the high COL a married couple who are mid to high level Feds can exceed $300k. So using PP definition you can become rich working for the government?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

+1. In this area given the high COL a married couple who are mid to high level Feds can exceed $300k. So using PP definition you can become rich working for the government?

A HHI above $300K obviates any real concern about paying for a nice house, cars, daycare, college, or retirement, as well as allowing for luxuries like vacations, nice stuff, and paying for childrens' weddings or down payments. Your point seems to be that 3 percent of DC-area households earn even more and so can afford even nicer stuff and longer vacations. I concede this point, while believing it irrelevant to the well-being of a $300K HHI household such as mine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

+1. In this area given the high COL a married couple who are mid to high level Feds can exceed $300k. So using PP definition you can become rich working for the government?

Anyone who makes a solid salary, doesn't overspend, and saves + invests their money fits this description. Including Feds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

+1. In this area given the high COL a married couple who are mid to high level Feds can exceed $300k. So using PP definition you can become rich working for the government?

Anyone who makes a solid salary, doesn't overspend, and saves + invests their money fits this description. Including Feds.

Absolutely! My neighbor told me that when he started out 30 years ago, he could only afford a $60,000 studio condo. Now, after three decades with the federal government, the last ten as a GS-15, he just told me he bought a second home for $1.2 million. When I looked surprised, he told me that he lives on half his take-home, and has been saving half for many years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

Your problem is that you're "thinking" something that is contrary to actual fact. The distribution of income is a mathematical reality. Regardless of how you "feel" about your affluence, you are affluent/rich if your annual HHI is $300K. That figure puts you firmly in the upper echelon in every corner of America, including DC.

I'm guessing you don't "feel" rich because you choose to spend your wealth on things that the vast majority of people who earn much less (including the vast majority of people who live in this area) either (1) pay a lot less for or (2) don't buy at all. That's your choice, but it doesn't make you any less rich.

And you still didn't answer my question: Why are you so determined to avoid being branded wealthy? What is it about your success that shames you?

Yes, I find this so interesting. Regardless of how one 'feels' about their income, someone who makes more than 95% of the people in the area is clearly, from a mathematical point of view, affluent. What does it gain you by insisting that you are not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

+1. In this area given the high COL a married couple who are mid to high level Feds can exceed $300k. So using PP definition you can become rich working for the government?

Anyone who makes a solid salary, doesn't overspend, and saves + invests their money fits this description. Including Feds.

My dad never made more than $100,000 in his life (and mom didn't work). My parents bought a home that was much less than what he qualified for, and we lived within our means. Today my parents are retired and worth $2 million.

[Anonymous]

A couple of thoughts:

1) People choose to live where they can afford. I am not living in NW DC because I could not afford it. Maybe I could handle the housing costs (I have not looked), but not required 40K/yr for private school.

2) Just because you are in an expensive area and feel tight does not mean that someone earning half of what you do is poor. You may be tight at 400K living in NWDC, paying 80K/yr in private tuition, in 1 million dollar house with 6K/month mortgage, and 1400/month car payments for your two cars, eating up all but 2600 of your monthly take-home pay....I am at 180K, take-home of about 9700/mo. Housing takes out 2K...tuition? 0. FCPS is very good. Cars? $550. (To hell with luxury. I like my Subie). I am at +7K/mo, you are at +2.6K/mo. Before eating, medical care, debt service.

You move to my neighborhood (Vienna), you buy a similar sized house for 700K, or a new house for 1.4 mil, you are looking at 6K/month mort., no private schools required. Suddenly, you have 9200/month for food, medical care, debt service, etc. You are then very affluent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

Your problem is that you're "thinking" something that is contrary to actual fact. The distribution of income is a mathematical reality. Regardless of how you "feel" about your affluence, you are affluent/rich if your annual HHI is $300K. That figure puts you firmly in the upper echelon in every corner of America, including DC.

I'm guessing you don't "feel" rich because you choose to spend your wealth on things that the vast majority of people who earn much less (including the vast majority of people who live in this area) either (1) pay a lot less for or (2) don't buy at all. That's your choice, but it doesn't make you any less rich.

And you still didn't answer my question: Why are you so determined to avoid being branded wealthy? What is it about your success that shames you?

Yes, I find this so interesting. Regardless of how one 'feels' about their income, someone who makes more than 95% of the people in the area is clearly, from a mathematical point of view, affluent. What does it gain you by insisting that you are not?

Because there is no COL adjustment for tax brackets, it matters a lot. My husband and I are both GS 15 and make about $300K together. A 3 bedroom cape in Arlington, purchased in 2004, cost $600K with a mortgage of $2500. The same size/quality of housing in other parts of the country is half that. Other costs are also much higher. Yet because the number is "mathematically" the same everywhere, we are consider affluent and taxed as such, even though the amount we have to contribute to retirement, college savings, etc. is less after paying for housing, food, insurance etc. due to COL (and consequently our disposable income is MUCH less) than in other parts of the country. Around here, two government wage earners should be taxed as if we are middle class, with the middle class tax breaks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can any of you who want us to believe $300K is not affluent tell me why you persist in arguing that you are "middle class"? I've asked this before on DCUM -- why are you so deeply ashamed of what you have?

Is it because you know you only have it for reasons that have nothing to do with your merit?

I'm one who thinks 300k hhi is middle class. It's been clearly explained multiple times on multiple threads why people think 300k is not affluent/rich/whatever. If you want to remain willfully ignorant on why we feel the way we do, that's on you. If you want to believe you're rich on your 100 or 300k income, go ahead. I guarantee most people in this area don't agree with you.

Your problem is that you're "thinking" something that is contrary to actual fact. The distribution of income is a mathematical reality. Regardless of how you "feel" about your affluence, you are affluent/rich if your annual HHI is $300K. That figure puts you firmly in the upper echelon in every corner of America, including DC.

I'm guessing you don't "feel" rich because you choose to spend your wealth on things that the vast majority of people who earn much less (including the vast majority of people who live in this area) either (1) pay a lot less for or (2) don't buy at all. That's your choice, but it doesn't make you any less rich.

And you still didn't answer my question: Why are you so determined to avoid being branded wealthy? What is it about your success that shames you?

Yes, I find this so interesting. Regardless of how one 'feels' about their income, someone who makes more than 95% of the people in the area is clearly, from a mathematical point of view, affluent. What does it gain you by insisting that you are not?

Because there is no COL adjustment for tax brackets, it matters a lot. My husband and I are both GS 15 and make about $300K together. A 3 bedroom cape in Arlington, purchased in 2004, cost $600K with a mortgage of $2500. The same size/quality of housing in other parts of the country is half that. Other costs are also much higher. Yet because the number is "mathematically" the same everywhere, we are consider affluent and taxed as such, even though the amount we have to contribute to retirement, college savings, etc. is less after paying for housing, food, insurance etc. due to COL (and consequently our disposable income is MUCH less) than in other parts of the country. Around here, two government wage earners should be taxed as if we are middle class, with the middle class tax breaks.

OK, I'll go half-way with you here - the taxes hurt more when your COL is higher. However, when you live a stone's throw from a major US city, a detached home + a yard is actually a bigger luxury than it is when you live in Indiana or Montana. Buying a townhome in a major urban area is probably a better rough approximation for what it "means" to own a cape in a rural area.