Lower Middle Class VS Upper Middle Class

[Anonymous]

In my personal experience, people from the lower middle class tend to address adults by their first names (and the adults encourage this). In UMC families, adults are addressed by "Mr. and Mrs. so and so" This could also be a cultural phenomenon, however, not just socioeconomic.

I think this is more of a generational and regional thing. For adults I know well (like my mother in law), or who are close to my age (coworkers, neighbors), I refer to them as their first name. For adults much older (senior citizens at church or whatever), I tend to refer to them as "Mr. or Mrs. so and so" (I also tend to do this with childhood friend's parents just out of habit, even if I know them well). For people who I know well who are hung up on formality (like my father-in-law, who insists his grandchildren call him "grandfather") I say "Mr. Blah Blah Blah."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You again?

Before we begin, you must remember that this is dcum.

Lower middle class is a family of 3-4 making between $150,000 and 250,000. The people who are really struggling to get by.

Middle class is a family making in the realm of $300,000 +/- (but usually plus)

Upper middle class is a family making around $400,000-500,000.

Just so we are clear.

I think that this is ALL WRONG.

Over $500,000 is middle class (otherwise known as "comfortable").
$200,000-$500,000 is lower middle class (otherwise known as "struggling").
$125,000-$200,000 is poor (otherwise known as "poor").
Less than $125,000 is either "trailer park" or "ghetto", depending on your race.

There are also, theoretically, families who are rich -- but since they live in small houses and drive old cars, nobody knows who they are.

There is also the minority view that household income has nothing to do with how wealthy you are, since how wealthy you are is a function of what you can afford, and nobody can afford a middle-class lifestyle in the DC area, therefore nobody is middle class even with a household income of over $500,000 -- but let's ignore them for now.

Ah yes. You two. One of you is a double-income Big Law family who lives in McLean and the other is the Investment Banker/Realtor family who lives in Bethesda or Potomac. Both of you are struggling with your HHI's of just over $800K and wondering how anyone can possibly live on less than $500K.

[Anonymous]

Actually, I'm a single-income (on furlough) trailer park family who lives way out past the ends of the earth. Although we live in a small house and drive an old car, so for all anybody knows, we're rich!

[Anonymous]

The biggest difference I have noticed is that upper middle class people are obsessed with providing what they perceive to be the best for their kids...from organic food to limiting screen time, to Suzuki lessons at age 4, to Montessori preschool, to private and/or the best public schools in high SES locations. They are concerned with their kids going to the best fit/most competitive college than can go to irregardless of cost. They also fret about saving in 529s and what corners they can cut so that they can make private high school an option. They consider international travel to be an important, culturally enriching experience that children should have. They fret over whether or not it is damaging to the psyche for their kid to grow up without a yard, or whether it is justifiable to live in a condo so they can ride the metro to preschool and walk to the farmer's market. They tend to be relentless helicopter parents.

Lower middle class tend to be more laid back about junk food, less concerned about THE BEST schools, and more about living someplace that fits the needs and budget and has the right fit for their families. They tend to not freak out about having the TV on all the time and about too much Dora time. They don't think to scour Greatschools.com to figure out all the options they have and whether nor not the greatschools rating is a 9 or a 10, and just move into a nice, middle class neighborhood and sent their kids to the most convenient neighborhood school. They encourage education, but going in state to get in state tuition, rather than freaking out about getting into ivies or if their kid isn't competitive enough to get into ivies "the best fit school." They frequently don't save in 529s, either because they paid for college and they expect their kids to as well with loans, or because they are just making enough to get by, and there isn't any left over to save for college. Sometimes it is taken as a point of pride that their kids have "skin in the game" and not everything "handed to them." The same is said for weddings and other life expenses that are not within their budget--not helping them financially is a mark of developing self-sufficiency.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me start this thread by saying I'm a SAHM that's trying to engage my brain. I took an intense interest in sociology while I was in college and, unfortunately, did not pursue a double major. It doesn't change the fact that I am totally fascinated by the BEHAVIORAL differences between the lower middle class and the upper middle class. It would be lovely if people would talk about their personal life experiences and give specific examples of behavioral differences (and differences in values, morals, child rearing, education, manners, etc.) among these two classes. This is NOT a financial debate. I don't care what bracket you are in or what your HHI is. I am simply talking about how you grew up and how you are raising your children and the differences you notice between these two socioeconomic classes.

I'll give a few of my own examples to start off with:

I've noticed that when people in the lower middle class save enough money to renovate their house, purchase a nice car, go on a vacation, etc. they tend to state the price of everything. My friends from the upper middle class simply don't discuss money matters because it is considered impolite and crass.

In my personal experience, people from the lower middle class tend to address adults by their first names (and the adults encourage this). In UMC families, adults are addressed by "Mr. and Mrs. so and so" This could also be a cultural phenomenon, however, not just socioeconomic.

Where do you live, OP? In DC or in the far suburbs? Makes a big difference.

I assume that you're referring to how children address adults. We live in NW DC and have noticed that the only parents who want to be addressed as Mr./Mrs. SoandSo are white people from the deep south and those who identify strongly as political conservatives. Also some but certainly not all African American parents, especially if they are from the south. Our friends tend to be politically liberal and either completely secular or Jewish, and I can't think of any of them who ask to be addressed as Mr./Mrs.

Sounds like my sister's in-laws. They're very southern proper, I swear her MIL thinks she lives on a goddamn plantation. I can't stand her at family functions...bless her heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You again?

Before we begin, you must remember that this is dcum.

Lower middle class is a family of 3-4 making between $150,000 and 250,000. The people who are really struggling to get by.

Middle class is a family making in the realm of $300,000 +/- (but usually plus)

Upper middle class is a family making around $400,000-500,000.

Just so we are clear.

+

[Anonymous]

I don't see an easy divide in the way you describe, OP. I grew up lower middle class, working class, on the verge of poverty a few times. I've got the cash and education now to be considered upper middle class. I still have some lower middle class traits. I see more difference among people my age who grew up with more money, even though we all now work together, live in similar neighborhoods, have common interests, etc. They had parents who paid for college. They would never have deigned to live in some of the ratty neighborhoods I did when I first moved out on my own. They were taught better money management skills and consequently have better retirements. They value education more than my family ever did. They were taught healthier eating habits than I was. They seem, overall, healthier emotionally and physically, although it's not a huge difference. But noticeable.

It's what I want for my kids. There is a quote from the movie the Descendants. ""You give your children enough money to do something. But not enough to do nothing."

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my sister's in-laws. They're very southern proper, I swear her MIL thinks she lives on a goddamn plantation. I can't stand her at family functions...bless her heart.[/quote]

I love how people from the South end anything negative they have to say with "bless her heart" (in-laws are from the South). Like "she had the ugliest baby I've ever seen, bless her heart."

[Anonymous]

Wait, I live in upper NW DC and all the children I know call me "Larla's mom," what does that mean?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, I live in upper NW DC and all the children I know call me "Larla's mom," what does that mean?

Trailer park.

(And Larla is a stripper name.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wait, I live in upper NW DC and all the children I know call me "Larla's mom," what does that mean?

It means that your kids are very young, and, like most of us, you'll have to pick a new moniker soon because elememtary-aged kids don't refer to their friends' parents as "Larla's mom."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Look, people are constantly bringing socioeconomic class into conversations on DCUM. I simply wanted to start a thread for it. If you don't want to contribute to the conversation, click on a different thread, simple as that.

I don't see how this is actually about socioeconomics. Instead, it comes across as your judgment of people you perceive as a lower class than yourself based on anecdotes from your own experiences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait, I live in upper NW DC and all the children I know call me "Larla's mom," what does that mean?

Trailer park.

(And Larla is a stripper name.)

m

You must be new around here, aren't you? Bless your heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You again?

Before we begin, you must remember that this is dcum.

Lower middle class is a family of 3-4 making between $150,000 and 250,000. The people who are really struggling to get by.

Middle class is a family making in the realm of $300,000 +/- (but usually plus)

Upper middle class is a family making around $400,000-500,000.

Just so we are clear.

I think that this is ALL WRONG.

Over $500,000 is middle class (otherwise known as "comfortable").
$200,000-$500,000 is lower middle class (otherwise known as "struggling").
$125,000-$200,000 is poor (otherwise known as "poor").
Less than $125,000 is either "trailer park" or "ghetto", depending on your race.

There are also, theoretically, families who are rich -- but since they live in small houses and drive old cars, nobody knows who they are.

There is also the minority view that household income has nothing to do with how wealthy you are, since how wealthy you are is a function of what you can afford, and nobody can afford a middle-class lifestyle in the DC area, therefore nobody is middle class even with a household income of over $500,000 -- but let's ignore them for now.

I think that the aticle cited to divide rich vs middle class is the following which basically states the middle class ends at 500k a year in the DC area.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality
"it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000,"

Also if you read this article about 20-25% of the population in the DC are has an HHI of $195K HHI or higher.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/census-high-income/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You again?

Before we begin, you must remember that this is dcum.

Lower middle class is a family of 3-4 making between $150,000 and 250,000. The people who are really struggling to get by.

Middle class is a family making in the realm of $300,000 +/- (but usually plus)

Upper middle class is a family making around $400,000-500,000.

Just so we are clear.

I think that this is ALL WRONG.

Over $500,000 is middle class (otherwise known as "comfortable").
$200,000-$500,000 is lower middle class (otherwise known as "struggling").
$125,000-$200,000 is poor (otherwise known as "poor").
Less than $125,000 is either "trailer park" or "ghetto", depending on your race.

There are also, theoretically, families who are rich -- but since they live in small houses and drive old cars, nobody knows who they are.

There is also the minority view that household income has nothing to do with how wealthy you are, since how wealthy you are is a function of what you can afford, and nobody can afford a middle-class lifestyle in the DC area, therefore nobody is middle class even with a household income of over $500,000 -- but let's ignore them for now.

I think that the aticle cited to divide rich vs middle class is the following which basically states the middle class ends at 500k a year in the DC area.
http://articles.washingtonpost.com/2012-04-21/local/35451899_1_household-income-income-data-income-inequality
"it takes a household income far above the national average of $387,000. The gateway for the region is $527,000. In the District, the top 1 percent of households bring in at least $617,000; in Montgomery County, more than $606,000; and in Fairfax County, $532,000,"

Also if you read this article about 20-25% of the population in the DC are has an HHI of $195K HHI or higher.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/nation/census-high-income/

sorry I mean 191,469 HHI or higher