Why do so many affluent people insist they have "middle class" values?

[Anonymous]

So any "self-made" rich person is "middle class" because they have "drive"? Nonsense.

[Anonymous]

Of the so-called "1%" made 20% of that - at most - could be called "idle rich."

[Anonymous]

This whole concept of faking "down" (middle class) rather than "up" (upper middle) is sort of interesting. It feels like in DC most people are trying to look rich rather than middle class, particularly in affluent neighborhoods. I wonder how many wealthy people are hiding out in middle class neighborhoods - or alternatively how many people on affluent neighborhoods are barely scraping by. Seems like a lot of DC is about the perception of wealth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So any "self-made" rich person is "middle class" because they have "drive"? Nonsense.

I love how you had to use three sets of quotation marks to make your point. Oh, excuse me, your "point".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This whole concept of faking "down" (middle class) rather than "up" (upper middle) is sort of interesting. It feels like in DC most people are trying to look rich rather than middle class, particularly in affluent neighborhoods. I wonder how many wealthy people are hiding out in middle class neighborhoods - or alternatively how many people on affluent neighborhoods are barely scraping by. Seems like a lot of DC is about the perception of wealth.

We work really hard, so we know that while our income is substantial, it doesn't come easy. It seems that a lot of people have a "there's plenty where this came from" mentality, as if they can sustain their income indefinitely. So they spend a lot of what they make. When their income decreases, they have no choice but to downsize everything. If we lived like that, we could probably be in a 5M home, not one that's 1/2 that price and paid off. We could probably drive 100k+ cars, rather than $40-50k cars. We could probably vacation in Europe, rather than a $1500 food and theater weekend in NY. We could shop a lot more at Tysons 2, than outlet malls.

[Anonymous]

A lot of rich people say they're "middle class" because they adjust their spending to match their income.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're making $200 or 300K a year, you're in the top 5%. Yet so many people with these incomes insist they live a "middle class" lifestyle and have "middle class values." Why? Because you vote Democrat instead of Republican? Because you're not a member of a country club? Because you can't afford (like 99.99% of Americans) to fly by private jet?

Because somehow we have the Idea that rich equals unethical jerk.

This! The rich are despised! Look at how the media treats the news that Hilary Clinton, Jen Bush, and Chris Christie have been busily socking away fortunes over the past few years. What is so wrong with that?!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're making $200 or 300K a year, you're in the top 5%. Yet so many people with these incomes insist they live a "middle class" lifestyle and have "middle class values." Why? Because you vote Democrat instead of Republican? Because you're not a member of a country club? Because you can't afford (like 99.99% of Americans) to fly by private jet?

Because somehow we have the Idea that rich equals unethical jerk.

This! The rich are despised! Look at how the media treats the news that Hilary Clinton, Jen Bush, and Chris Christie have been busily socking away fortunes over the past few years. What is so wrong with that?!

Totally unrelated.
People think rich politicians are out of touch. And they are right.

[Anonymous]

Middle class values and middle class aren't necessarily the same thing as other posters pointed out. Probably the biggest reason I would define myself as middle class is because I grew up in a working class/lower middle class background. I never had the security net of family help. I had to learn to live without designer anything and not depend on those things for my happiness, and I know how easily fortunes can change with job loss, medical issues, or divorce - things that have nothing to do with hard work/valuing education/making good choices. I also respect and love my parents and for me there is a balance of doing better than my parents and honoring what they did that made that possible and yet not feeling like I am in a life so different that we have nothing in common.

I will admit though, my kids are middle/upper middle class. They take very nice summer vacations - a few involving planes. We pay a decent amount for activities and nice summer camps. They are now in parachiol school and may go private for high school. They know we have put away money for college for them albeit for an in-state college. We will likely contribute something to their weddings someday. And these things are not at the expense of our retirement/financial stability. They have to use their own money for things but that is more that we want them to learn to manage money and it is something that isn't a necessity versus it being that we don't have the money. The ultimate middle class symbol, they have an American Girl doll, though that was a gift from grandparents that we said okay. Never in my childhood would I have had a doll that costs $100 and said doll costs as much to dress as a person. Did I want the Barbie Townhouse as a kid (heck yeah, who wouldnt't). No our Barbies lived in the more affordable camper trailer that I shared with siblings and we were thrilled we got that. So while my kids won't have designer clothes, a lot of expensive toys, or an expensive car or a big house, they pretty much have all the experiences of middle/upper class childhood and feeling a financially secure childhood.

[Anonymous]

because your income doesn't fully describe your values. Your values don't change overnight w/ your income

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole concept of faking "down" (middle class) rather than "up" (upper middle) is sort of interesting. It feels like in DC most people are trying to look rich rather than middle class, particularly in affluent neighborhoods. I wonder how many wealthy people are hiding out in middle class neighborhoods - or alternatively how many people on affluent neighborhoods are barely scraping by. Seems like a lot of DC is about the perception of wealth.

We work really hard, so we know that while our income is substantial, it doesn't come easy. It seems that a lot of people have a "there's plenty where this came from" mentality, as if they can sustain their income indefinitely. So they spend a lot of what they make. When their income decreases, they have no choice but to downsize everything. If we lived like that, we could probably be in a 5M home, not one that's 1/2 that price and paid off. We could probably drive 100k+ cars, rather than $40-50k cars. We could probably vacation in Europe, rather than a $1500 food and theater weekend in NY. We could shop a lot more at Tysons 2, than outlet malls.

$2.5M house, $50k cars and $1500 jaunts to NYC is not really the hallmark of the middle class life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole concept of faking "down" (middle class) rather than "up" (upper middle) is sort of interesting. It feels like in DC most people are trying to look rich rather than middle class, particularly in affluent neighborhoods. I wonder how many wealthy people are hiding out in middle class neighborhoods - or alternatively how many people on affluent neighborhoods are barely scraping by. Seems like a lot of DC is about the perception of wealth.

We work really hard, so we know that while our income is substantial, it doesn't come easy. It seems that a lot of people have a "there's plenty where this came from" mentality, as if they can sustain their income indefinitely. So they spend a lot of what they make. When their income decreases, they have no choice but to downsize everything. If we lived like that, we could probably be in a 5M home, not one that's 1/2 that price and paid off. We could probably drive 100k+ cars, rather than $40-50k cars. We could probably vacation in Europe, rather than a $1500 food and theater weekend in NY. We could shop a lot more at Tysons 2, than outlet malls.

You're funny.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:because your income doesn't fully describe your values. Your values don't change overnight w/ your income

I could guarantee mine would if you gave me a 2.5 m budget for a house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This whole concept of faking "down" (middle class) rather than "up" (upper middle) is sort of interesting. It feels like in DC most people are trying to look rich rather than middle class, particularly in affluent neighborhoods. I wonder how many wealthy people are hiding out in middle class neighborhoods - or alternatively how many people on affluent neighborhoods are barely scraping by. Seems like a lot of DC is about the perception of wealth.

We work really hard, so we know that while our income is substantial, it doesn't come easy. It seems that a lot of people have a "there's plenty where this came from" mentality, as if they can sustain their income indefinitely. So they spend a lot of what they make. When their income decreases, they have no choice but to downsize everything. If we lived like that, we could probably be in a 5M home, not one that's 1/2 that price and paid off. We could probably drive 100k+ cars, rather than $40-50k cars. We could probably vacation in Europe, rather than a $1500 food and theater weekend in NY. We could shop a lot more at Tysons 2, than outlet malls.

Not so much humble brag as angry brag.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Middle class values and middle class aren't necessarily the same thing as other posters pointed out. Probably the biggest reason I would define myself as middle class is because I grew up in a working class/lower middle class background. I never had the security net of family help. I had to learn to live without designer anything and not depend on those things for my happiness, and I know how easily fortunes can change with job loss, medical issues, or divorce - things that have nothing to do with hard work/valuing education/making good choices. I also respect and love my parents and for me there is a balance of doing better than my parents and honoring what they did that made that possible and yet not feeling like I am in a life so different that we have nothing in common.

I will admit though, my kids are middle/upper middle class. They take very nice summer vacations - a few involving planes. We pay a decent amount for activities and nice summer camps. They are now in parachiol school and may go private for high school. They know we have put away money for college for them albeit for an in-state college. We will likely contribute something to their weddings someday. And these things are not at the expense of our retirement/financial stability. They have to use their own money for things but that is more that we want them to learn to manage money and it is something that isn't a necessity versus it being that we don't have the money. The ultimate middle class symbol, they have an American Girl doll, though that was a gift from grandparents that we said okay. Never in my childhood would I have had a doll that costs $100 and said doll costs as much to dress as a person. Did I want the Barbie Townhouse as a kid (heck yeah, who wouldnt't). No our Barbies lived in the more affordable camper trailer that I shared with siblings and we were thrilled we got that. So while my kids won't have designer clothes, a lot of expensive toys, or an expensive car or a big house, they pretty much have all the experiences of middle/upper class childhood and feeling a financially secure childhood.

The only people who wear designer clothes are vapid poors who watch too much TV.