class question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You all just defined upper class in all these examples not UMC. Wild to think how poor you all think you are.

Couple A owns this house: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Potomac/12609-Steeple-Chase-Way-20854/home/10509024 along with the two usual Japanese midrange cars (assume Accord and Highlander) and this lifestyle probably requires a 300-350k HHI, with each partner making $160-70 each.

Is this upper class? Just curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all just defined upper class in all these examples not UMC. Wild to think how poor you all think you are.

Couple A owns this house: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Potomac/12609-Steeple-Chase-Way-20854/home/10509024 along with the two usual Japanese midrange cars (assume Accord and Highlander) and this lifestyle probably requires a 300-350k HHI, with each partner making $160-70 each.

Is this upper class? Just curious.

DCUM is incredibly out of touch in that their definition of “living paycheck to paycheck” usually includes maxing out their annual 401K, 529, and HSA contributions as well as having 6+ months reserves in savings. But they had to pay a million dollars on a 90s stock home to buy into one of the top pyramids in the county! Yes you’re UMC.

Most people on this site are UMC or even UC, but they’ve been told it’s tacky to admit it.

[Anonymous]

It is absolutely wild how this conversation is, so far, exclusively about income and wealth--and not at all about educational attainment, reputation or life experience (all of which historically have been considered parts of defining class).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Upper end of UMC to me is:

People who can afford nearly every material thing they want but still work full time+ for a living. Awesome house, private schools, fully funding retirement and college funds, nice vehicles, frequent luxury travel etc.

Lower end of UMC is a lot harder to define. But generally to me it means financially comfortable day-to-day, home in a nice neighborhood, saving appropriately for retirement, and can afford SOME nice things but have to budget & pick and choose. And obviously, they work full time+.

And the income thresholds for each will depend on geographic region.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all just defined upper class in all these examples not UMC. Wild to think how poor you all think you are.

Couple A owns this house: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Potomac/12609-Steeple-Chase-Way-20854/home/10509024 along with the two usual Japanese midrange cars (assume Accord and Highlander) and this lifestyle probably requires a 300-350k HHI, with each partner making $160-70 each.

Is this upper class? Just curious.

No. It's not. It's UMC

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lower end of UMC I'd say one person making $350-$400k

Upper end of UMC HHI of $2m.

That's around here. obviously different in different areas.

We make about that "lower range" and I'd describe us as "squarely UMC" not "lower UMC". DC area. Maybe different if you live IN DC though vs the 'burbs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is absolutely wild how this conversation is, so far, exclusively about income and wealth--and not at all about educational attainment, reputation or life experience (all of which historically have been considered parts of defining class).

Because the bolded is meaningless and entirely subjective. Class in the modern world is strictly driven by income and assets, not where you went to college or who your great-great-grandfather was. You're trapped in thinking there is a class hierarchy as of old, with the aristocracy at top, the merchants next, the peasants at the bottom. That class hierarchy was legally ordained and each class had specific rights and power. We don't operate like that any more.

We do have socio-economic cultural groups with their own tastes and preferences but no one group has more or less power or legally enshrined rights over others. Being a graduate of Harvard doesn't confer special status, the vast majority couldn't care less. But a self made owner of a plumbing supply business who made millions garners more respect than a typical Harvard graduate who's the fifth generation to have gone to Harvard and lives anonymously in a boring Bethesda colonial.

[Anonymous]

It’s boring to look at it from a purely income perspective. To me, upper middle class implies a certain level of distinction in education, well read, cultural taste, international travel, social manners and sophistication. I think MAGA is antithetical to all these things, and hence, has no class. Notice I didn’t list fashion. I also think it’s boring and strivers to focus on clothes and brands. You can be preppy and UMC, or dumpy and UMC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is absolutely wild how this conversation is, so far, exclusively about income and wealth--and not at all about educational attainment, reputation or life experience (all of which historically have been considered parts of defining class).

Because the bolded is meaningless and entirely subjective. Class in the modern world is strictly driven by income and assets, not where you went to college or who your great-great-grandfather was. You're trapped in thinking there is a class hierarchy as of old, with the aristocracy at top, the merchants next, the peasants at the bottom. That class hierarchy was legally ordained and each class had specific rights and power. We don't operate like that any more.

We do have socio-economic cultural groups with their own tastes and preferences but no one group has more or less power or legally enshrined rights over others. Being a graduate of Harvard doesn't confer special status, the vast majority couldn't care less. But a self made owner of a plumbing supply business who made millions garners more respect than a typical Harvard graduate who's the fifth generation to have gone to Harvard and lives anonymously in a boring Bethesda colonial.

There is absolutely a cultural and educational aspect to it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is absolutely wild how this conversation is, so far, exclusively about income and wealth--and not at all about educational attainment, reputation or life experience (all of which historically have been considered parts of defining class).

Because the bolded is meaningless and entirely subjective. Class in the modern world is strictly driven by income and assets, not where you went to college or who your great-great-grandfather was. You're trapped in thinking there is a class hierarchy as of old, with the aristocracy at top, the merchants next, the peasants at the bottom. That class hierarchy was legally ordained and each class had specific rights and power. We don't operate like that any more.

We do have socio-economic cultural groups with their own tastes and preferences but no one group has more or less power or legally enshrined rights over others. Being a graduate of Harvard doesn't confer special status, the vast majority couldn't care less. But a self made owner of a plumbing supply business who made millions garners more respect than a typical Harvard graduate who's the fifth generation to have gone to Harvard and lives anonymously in a boring Bethesda colonial.

There is absolutely a cultural and educational aspect to it.

In your mind. And you'd be deluding yourself too. As the PP did with her sneer at MAGA. JD Vance is a Yale law graduate, married to a highly accomplished woman, and is extremely MAGA. And the southern university campuses are packed with young white MAGA fully kitted out in preppy RLP and Sid Mashburn and boat shoes and Nantucket reds and coming from families with nice backgrounds and attainment and what you have it.

What I suspect is trying to be justified is being income limited but having "fine manners" and thinking you're somehow socially superior to people in more expensive houses and flashier lifestyles. My response to such beliefs is to get over it. No one is weeping for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all just defined upper class in all these examples not UMC. Wild to think how poor you all think you are.

Couple A owns this house: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Potomac/12609-Steeple-Chase-Way-20854/home/10509024 along with the two usual Japanese midrange cars (assume Accord and Highlander) and this lifestyle probably requires a 300-350k HHI, with each partner making $160-70 each.

Is this upper class? Just curious.

But there are people with that house and cars making $500k+ too

Again, this crowd is so clueless about people’s network and judge on material items.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all just defined upper class in all these examples not UMC. Wild to think how poor you all think you are.

I'm almost 60. UMC today buys a standard middle class life from the 70s. It's ridiculous how the middle class is shrinking.

55.

Yes!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all just defined upper class in all these examples not UMC. Wild to think how poor you all think you are.

I'm almost 60. UMC today buys a standard middle class life from the 70s. It's ridiculous how the middle class is shrinking.

55.

Yes!

It’s now the donut hole families that get zero aid for college.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You all just defined upper class in all these examples not UMC. Wild to think how poor you all think you are.

Couple A owns this house: https://www.redfin.com/MD/Potomac/12609-Steeple-Chase-Way-20854/home/10509024 along with the two usual Japanese midrange cars (assume Accord and Highlander) and this lifestyle probably requires a 300-350k HHI, with each partner making $160-70 each.

Is this upper class? Just curious.

But there are people with that house and cars making $500k+ too

Again, this crowd is so clueless about people’s network and judge on material items.

No idea what you're trying to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:-lower end of upper middle class
-upper end of upper middle class

Can you define these? lol I'm truly fascinated probably in a bad way.

They are arbitrary propaganda terms. used to manipulate the masses for various reasons. That's your actual definition.