Plenty of hicks have a ton of money, so you can never tell.

"Socio" doesn't necessarily go hand in hand with "economic." What we're really talking about here is class.

We've gotten to the point, like it or not, that some of the old reliable indicators are no longer so reliable. For example, men, especially, pick awful leisure clothing even at a relatively high SE level.

Given that, I think speech/vocabulary is the No. 1 indicator.

This thread is funny. What is the deal with teeth? DH and I both have yellow teeth (mine way more than his), not because of smoking or drinking coffee/tea (we do none of these/never did) but because we were born with yellow teeth. We have super healthy teeth (haven't had dental work in over 25 years). Both of us had braces though, so we have nice, but very yellow teeth (and we are not going to start bleaching). We also wear pretty cheap shoes, usually from TJ Maxx, Ross, or a similar place. Both of us have 3 pairs of shoes each. I buy most of my clothes at TJ Maxx. Our household income puts us in the top 1%, and we bought a 1 million dollar house at age 31 (first time home buyers with all our own money--no parent contributions), but I'm sure one look at our yellow teeth and cheapo shoes and no one would think that. We choose to spend our money on other things than teeth bleaching and shoes.

Teeth is so true and such a good/overlooked one.

Manners. Smoking. Teeth.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manners.

+1

Class is how one treats other people (not by speech, but in action).

And this has nothing to do with how much money you have. I'm guessing OP was wondering more about indicators that someone has some money to spend.

It's neither. Socio-economic class has nothing to do with "being classy" and everything to do with savings/investment income/financial stability and education/prestige of occupation, etc.

It's not a matter of please-and-thank-you manners so much as mannerisms.

I disagree. Higher SES, from my experience in old money (dirty word, I know) areas, treats people well - it is how they act. It is less tangible than OP would like to think it is. However, in this area, I am given the strong impression that people equate certain clothes and shallow behavior with money or high SES.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manners.

+1

Class is how one treats other people (not by speech, but in action).

And this has nothing to do with how much money you have. I'm guessing OP was wondering more about indicators that someone has some money to spend.

It's neither. Socio-economic class has nothing to do with "being classy" and everything to do with savings/investment income/financial stability and education/prestige of occupation, etc.

It's not a matter of please-and-thank-you manners so much as mannerisms.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:shoes

What about shoes?

Shoes are a dead giveaway.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Manners.

+1

Class is how one treats other people (not by speech, but in action).

And this has nothing to do with how much money you have. I'm guessing OP was wondering more about indicators that someone has some money to spend.

Anonymous wrote:Manners.

+1

Class is how one treats other people (not by speech, but in action).

Manners.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the presence of tattoos, hairstyle.

You've never been to LA, Miami, or Vegas.

Maybe types of tattoos, more specifically? I know a lot of preppier white girls in their 20s and 30s who have gotten into ankle and wrist tats.

Anonymous wrote:Non-verbal: teeth, fried/over-processed hair (for women), if they are a smoker.

Verbal: speech and articulation. This is the biggest giveaway, IMO.

+1. Yet as a young professional I'm consistently surprised by how many of my well off, educated peers under 35 drunk smoke or buy a pack of Parliaments regularly.

Skin: Lack of acne in middle-class or higher teens and 20-somethings as their parents can afford for them to go to the dermatologist. In older people, no premature signs of aging caused by smoking and tanning.

Healthy weight

Teeth are straight and white

Non-verbal: teeth, fried/over-processed hair (for women), if they are a smoker.

Verbal: speech and articulation. This is the biggest giveaway, IMO.