is household income $220,000 lower middle class for DCUM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No. It's not. Not lower middle class for DCUM or for anywhere in the whole world.

You're rich! Congratuations OP. You're a wealthy individual. Not poor, but in fact rich.

Compared to my household and many, many others here on DCUM and especially in your region.

Thank your lucky stars! You made it! YOU WIN!!!!

With the cost of daycare, mortgage, cars, retirement savings, day to day expenses, etc., it doesn't seem like a lot. Not rich. Middle or lower middle class for the DC area within your demographic.

[Anonymous]

Depends on where you live in the DMV. That seems low for UMC/UC. You would be on the lower income living in any affluent neighborhood or you would be priced out and not live there. You would be stretched for private school.

You would be fine living in neighborhood like Burke or Springfield. Both those places are lovely and great for kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I make a lot more than that. But it’s a good income. People on this site get carried away and I think a lot exaggerate.

Income is also just one side of the ledger. I know a lot of people making my income and more who have 200k+ of student loan debt at 7-8% interest for the next 15 years. Plus people also consume a lot and buy cars and houses that leave them with less flexibility

At 220k you make enough to have flexibility if you spend carefully.

So, I wouldn’t worry about how much others are making and spending, but rather how much flexibility your current income affords you now and in the future.

This. Your mortgage and other costs matter a lot. Big difference between someone looking to buy their first home, $250K net worth, and paying for daycare or a nanny vs. someone who owns a $1.5M home that they bought for $750K back in the day with a 3% mortgage, $5M net worth, and kids in great public schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel rich with that income.

Same. I make $83k and was just starting to feel wealthy.

[Anonymous]

It is not your income it is your assets that divide people

[Anonymous]

Definitely “middle middle class”. Not rich but not lower.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:please stop with all the class threads!!!

Poors should not be so touchy!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No. It's not. Not lower middle class for DCUM or for anywhere in the whole world.

You're rich! Congratuations OP. You're a wealthy individual. Not poor, but in fact rich.

Compared to my household and many, many others here on DCUM and especially in your region.

Thank your lucky stars! You made it! YOU WIN!!!!

With the cost of daycare, mortgage, cars, retirement savings, day to day expenses, etc., it doesn't seem like a lot. Not rich. Middle or lower middle class for the DC area within your demographic.

And, yet, many of us live just fine on much less. And, save for college.

[Anonymous]

I think the same 100 or so people post on this particular forum to be honest. The DC area is vast and diverse ... and most people don't make nearly that much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:is household income $220,000 lower middle class for DCUM?
Family of 4, IS $220,000 poor FOR DCUM? I feel like I am the poorest person using this site.

You middle class because you work for money. Money needs to work for you DCUM or not.

This. And it also applies to people with higher incomes who spend most of what they earn, so they have to keep working to maintain the lifestyle, don't grow wealth and don't put effort into having their savings work for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I make a lot more than that. But it’s a good income. People on this site get carried away and I think a lot exaggerate.

Income is also just one side of the ledger. I know a lot of people making my income and more who have 200k+ of student loan debt at 7-8% interest for the next 15 years. Plus people also consume a lot and buy cars and houses that leave them with less flexibility

At 220k you make enough to have flexibility if you spend carefully.

So, I wouldn’t worry about how much others are making and spending, but rather how much flexibility your current income affords you now and in the future.

This. Your mortgage and other costs matter a lot. Big difference between someone looking to buy their first home, $250K net worth, and paying for daycare or a nanny vs. someone who owns a $1.5M home that they bought for $750K back in the day with a 3% mortgage, $5M net worth, and kids in great public schools.

Those with NW of 5 mil who live in a house worth only 1.5 mil likely have their money invested and producing extra income. If their job earnings are the same as OP's this doesn't mean their actual HHI is the same. If this HHI is all investment income and not from job earnings, then these people are on a different level, as they are financially independent and do not have to earn a living. Like someone already said it's also what you spend, having a life where you do not need to work for a living is closer to the wealthy classes in principal even if a lot more modest consumption wise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In 2022, the median household income for a family of 4 in DC was $182,068.

You are higher than the middle.

That's not what OP is asking, they are asking where they stand in DCUM universe, which we know is higher than DC.

But also OP, I think a lot of people on this site lie lie lie about their salary and net worth. You think someone making $1m a year has enough time to sit here, browse the pages, and make long detailed posts about their finances? I think that DOES happen, but not as often as it's portrayed. My BIL makes over $1m, told me about DCUM when in law school, but now is working over 60 hours a week. He's not making posts at 3pm about how to get your 3 year old to poop in the toilet.

People with money probably have more time on their hands than those without money, just because you make 100x as much doesn’t mean you work 100x as hard. Generally it’s the opposite

No it’s not. It only gets busier and no amount is ever enough. Why does Elon work 16 hour days?

Finally, a question I can answer!

It’s the cocaine.

[Anonymous]

$250k HHI with about a 2 mil net worth and we feel very much like lower middle class in DC, especially when we attend school events. Perspective has been reinforced after looking on DCUM and interacting with parents at our private. It depends on your social circle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$250k HHI with about a 2 mil net worth and we feel very much like lower middle class in DC, especially when we attend school events. Perspective has been reinforced after looking on DCUM and interacting with parents at our private. It depends on your social circle.

Shame on you for writing such a sorry post, you have plenty of money, it’s your choice that you decided to hobnob with the rich.

There are people out there with actual problems in life, what is wrong with you people??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$250k HHI with about a 2 mil net worth and we feel very much like lower middle class in DC, especially when we attend school events. Perspective has been reinforced after looking on DCUM and interacting with parents at our private. It depends on your social circle.

What on earth? You are extremely wealthy.