When your kid asks, are you "middle class," "upper-middle," something else?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think we can all agree that we are ALL middle or upper middle class. Am I right, folks? It's an important part of Washington beltway culture. Just be sure to always throw in a comment about how not-at-all-rich your family is (we don't own a second home, we don't have American Girl dolls, we don't have a full-time nanny, etc.). You'd think everybody was running for President or something.

You forgot to mention we shop at Target.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:"Your mother and I are rich. You have nothing."http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rO35dhxNjYI

Or, more helpfully, this interactive graphic from the NYTimes may help you (go to the components of class tab)
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_CLASS_GRAPHIC/index_03.html

I usually give a variation of this response to my 7 yo when he asks, if we are rich? But I also ask why she wants to know.

I can't imagine what it would feel like to hear from my parents that they had everything and I had nothing (we're rich, you're poor? really).

Our kids stand to inherit a millions of dollars. But they'd never know it and they wouldn't learn it by googling the value of our house versus their friends houses (as another pp suggested). Lots and lots of their friends live in far nicer houses and drive nicer cars. But our kids certainly feel comfortable to ask us for certain opportunities, be it traveling abroad at spring break or getting tutoring help in French.

Give me a break, a 7 yo does not plan vacations or make decision about tutors.

My kids are in high school and college. Only parents of 7 yr olds can answer? So many rules. And, btw, why are you so angry?

Dingbat, you responded to my post, so it not unreasonable for me to assume that you were questioning my response.

Wrong. Try again. And I see you still haven't simmered down.

[Anonymous]

Our kids stand to inherit a millions of dollars. But they'd never know it and they wouldn't learn it by googling the value of our house versus their friends houses (as another pp suggested). Lots and lots of their friends live in far nicer houses and drive nicer cars. But our kids certainly feel comfortable to ask us for certain opportunities, be it traveling abroad at spring break or getting tutoring help in French.

The "faux poor" are so odd to me. Are you ashamed? Why not be who you are? You don't think anyone questions why you are spending so much money on spring break? Frankly, I don't believe you. I do not believe that there are all these rich living like tha po' folks but saving up the millions, no multiple millions, no it's more than you could even count... But it is a BIG secret! Just is not believable. Living beyond your means -- that is believable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Our kids stand to inherit a millions of dollars. But they'd never know it and they wouldn't learn it by googling the value of our house versus their friends houses (as another pp suggested). Lots and lots of their friends live in far nicer houses and drive nicer cars. But our kids certainly feel comfortable to ask us for certain opportunities, be it traveling abroad at spring break or getting tutoring help in French.

The "faux poor" are so odd to me. Are you ashamed? Why not be who you are? You don't think anyone questions why you are spending so much money on spring break? Frankly, I don't believe you. I do not believe that there are all these rich living like tha po' folks but saving up the millions, no multiple millions, no it's more than you could even count... But it is a BIG secret! Just is not believable. Living beyond your means -- that is believable.

What are you talking about? We are exactly who we are. We don't want to live in a mansion so we don't. We have very nice cars but my kids' friends' parents have Maseratis and Ashton Martons. We're not interested in $100,000+ cars. And no I don't think anyone cares our kids go to Europe with the French club over spring break. You should read The Millioaire Next Door. You'd be amazed. No one cares what you believe or don't believe. That, you can take to the bank.

[Anonymous]

This has come up for us twice. Once was when my then Kindergartener told me he wished we were "rich". His definition of "rich" at that point was having a swimming pool in the backyard. I sat him down and told him that he was a very lucky boy, that he had a bike, and his own bedroom, and all the food he needed or wanted, and that when he needed a doctor or new shoes we could go right away and not wait until I got paid. I told him that compared to almost all the children in the world that was "rich". I agreed that a swimming pool would be lots of fun, but that he had lots of fun things too.

More recently, during the most recent election, my now 12 year old asked me if we were who the politicians meant when they talked about the "middle class". I told him that we were. That we have everything we need, and some carefully chosen luxuries, like an apartment that's in a great school district, and sports for him, and a college savings plan, and that, along with my income ($80K) puts us pretty close to the middle for this area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Our kids stand to inherit a millions of dollars. But they'd never know it and they wouldn't learn it by googling the value of our house versus their friends houses (as another pp suggested). Lots and lots of their friends live in far nicer houses and drive nicer cars. But our kids certainly feel comfortable to ask us for certain opportunities, be it traveling abroad at spring break or getting tutoring help in French.

The "faux poor" are so odd to me. Are you ashamed? Why not be who you are? You don't think anyone questions why you are spending so much money on spring break? Frankly, I don't believe you. I do not believe that there are all these rich living like tha po' folks but saving up the millions, no multiple millions, no it's more than you could even count... But it is a BIG secret! Just is not believable. Living beyond your means -- that is believable.

What are you talking about? We are exactly who we are. We don't want to live in a mansion so we don't. We have very nice cars but my kids' friends' parents have Maseratis and Ashton Martons. We're not interested in $100,000+ cars. And no I don't think anyone cares our kids go to Europe with the French club over spring break. You should read The Millioaire Next Door. You'd be amazed. No one cares what you believe or don't believe. That, you can take to the bank.

... an active imagination. I too, drive a Maserati, but I keep it hidden in our barn with the racehorses. That is the Millionaire next door ...yawn...not the multimillionaire next door.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Our kids stand to inherit a millions of dollars. But they'd never know it and they wouldn't learn it by googling the value of our house versus their friends houses (as another pp suggested). Lots and lots of their friends live in far nicer houses and drive nicer cars. But our kids certainly feel comfortable to ask us for certain opportunities, be it traveling abroad at spring break or getting tutoring help in French.

The "faux poor" are so odd to me. Are you ashamed? Why not be who you are? You don't think anyone questions why you are spending so much money on spring break? Frankly, I don't believe you. I do not believe that there are all these rich living like tha po' folks but saving up the millions, no multiple millions, no it's more than you could even count... But it is a BIG secret! Just is not believable. Living beyond your means -- that is believable.

What are you talking about? We are exactly who we are. We don't want to live in a mansion so we don't. We have very nice cars but my kids' friends' parents have Maseratis and Ashton Martons. We're not interested in $100,000+ cars. And no I don't think anyone cares our kids go to Europe with the French club over spring break. You should read The Millioaire Next Door. You'd be amazed. No one cares what you believe or don't believe. That, you can take to the bank.

... an active imagination. I too, drive a Maserati, but I keep it hidden in our barn with the racehorses. That is the Millionaire next door ...yawn...not the multimillionaire next door.

No one has any idea what you're typing about. If you're trying to make a point, why not describe it and we'll try to help you out?

[Anonymous]

I asked my mom when I was about 13 and learning about classes in school.

She said "Upper middle class", which we were compared to everyone else in our podunk East Texas town. Moved here and realized we were dirt poor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To the two PP's, you realize that $300K and above are top 1% of the income earners nationwide and $365K is the top 1% of the income earners in the DC metro area.

So, how do you consider $100-999K or $450K middle class? What are the middle of? Middle of the wealthiest earners in the nation?

Just because the out of touch Congress (of whom, virtually all are multi-millionaires) was only able to get consensus to tax the $450K and above HHI earners the highest tax bracket, doesn't make them the only ones above middle class. It makes them the highest tax bracket of the income scale, nothing more. It doesn't change the definition of middle class.

450K is rich , it's the law. Below that and above poverty is middle class.

[Anonymous]

Does upper middle class in Chevy Chase = upper middle class in Odenton?

How much of this is living above, at, or below your means?

[Anonymous]

The truth - that we're stinkin' freakin' rich!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The truth - that we're stinkin' freakin' rich!

Exhibit A - that money can't buy you class.

[Anonymous]

I agree, money cannot buy class.

Those of you from wealthy backgrounds who acknowledge the advantages you have received, are you ok with this inequality?
Is it ok to you that even today a child can be underpriveledged? Do you ever wonder if this should be changed or would you rather keep things this way, to ensure privelidge to your kids. Not that your kids have done anything to deserve that priveledge

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The truth - that we're stinkin' freakin' rich!

Exhibit A - that money can't buy you class.

Oh I am classy honey chile'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree, money cannot buy class.

Those of you from wealthy backgrounds who acknowledge the advantages you have received, are you ok with this inequality?
Is it ok to you that even today a child can be underpriveledged? Do you ever wonder if this should be changed or would you rather keep things this way, to ensure privelidge to your kids. Not that your kids have done anything to deserve that priveledge

Because everyone has a right to be classy? I'm confused as to the point you're trying to make. Fisrt you say money can't buy class. Then you seem to urge that those with money give it to others so that everyone can have class. Really?