Anonymous wrote:Y’all are overthinking this. Do you use the top of your fridge as extra storage? You’re middle class. Is your fridge cabinet depth? You rich.

What? No. Lots of middle class people have cabinet depth fridges with wood surrounding it. All new construction has this, even starter townhomes.

Anonymous wrote:At what HHI did you stop feeling middle class?

Answer: Your current income x 150%

Hedonic adaptation...

This.

Y’all are overthinking this. Do you use the top of your fridge as extra storage? You’re middle class. Is your fridge cabinet depth? You rich.

At 1.5mill hhi

When we got married we were at $85k and didn't feel deprived but things were tighter. Once we hit $185k things felt very very comfortable.

We were at $250 with 2 kids in college and 2 in day care. Things were tight then. We’re now at $750, the older kids are on their own, we have 1 in private and 1 in non public placement. The house has been paid off.

I’m now at the point where when Intook the car in for an oil change and ended up needing brakes and tires, it didn’t phase me. I used to think we would buy a bigger house in a different neighborhood or buy fancier cars. But now I question the value of the fancy car and the house is just fine. We spend a lot of money on family vacations. Trips for 6 aren’t inexpensive and often the older 2 usually bring a guest.

At what HHI did you stop feeling middle class?

Answer: Your current income x 150%

Hedonic adaptation...

We lived well below our means for many years which allowed our children to graduate from college and med school debt free. Until then we lived the MC life and it was fine. So it wasn’t a level of HHI, it was really feeling a sense of relief that our biggest expense was behind us and we could loosen the purse strings with nicer vacations and eventually a vacation home.

150

$400k. That allows to save a boatload for college and retirement and also buy all the UMC trappings we want (Peleton, nice vacations, etc.) at the same time. Before that, always trade offs.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The idea of socioeconomic class around here creates confusion as realistically the average HHI is significantly higher than elsewhere in the nation or even abroad. We are among the richest people in the world, here in the DC area. And yet when you look at your life, living in a small townhouse in a regular suburb driving a practical car like Subaru and sending your kids to public school, you feel like you’re just another regular American. The money doesn’t go far. A young couple bringing in 250k feel less than when really that’s top income globally.

At what point do you feel, well, not middle class?

400k

My husband and I make $435 and I feel very middle class (we are in our mid 30s). I’d say closer to $600K.

You are already wealthy and well beyond middle class.

My HHI is $163k with a net worth of $800k and pension. Not a lot for this area but solidly in the middle income range. This would be considered upper middle class nationally.

I grew up lower to mid middle class. I felt like I had a better lifestyle than my parents once we hit about $125k without childcare expenses.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:600k and I feel like we are finally out of middle class and in the UMC range.

Same

Doesn’t the MC in UMC stand for “middle class?”

If you are feeling upper middle class, you still feel middle class.

Anonymous wrote:600k and I feel like we are finally out of middle class and in the UMC range.

Same

Anonymous wrote:125. You all are scary wealthy and not middle class.

Wrong. They are UMC in this area.