We live in Bevery Hills, and by the time we pay the mortgage on our ordinary 4-bedroom house, the private school tuition, and the upscale dining, we have to fly coach on our European vacations. We're not rich. /s

Sure, I can stop saying that. But it doesnt change the fact that you're rich and living in a bubble in which you can't seem to recognize that you have it better than 99.99 percent of people living on this planet. My husband and I typically make more than that - though only about half of that this year as he left a job to start a business -- and have two young children in DC public schools. We live downtown, have one car, and basically have what we want in life -- nice enough vacations, eating out but nothing fancy whenever we want, etc. And we are super grateful because we choose to see ourselves as LUCKY and RICH! My parents came to America from a developing country --back then known as the third world. My dad was an orphan. And the made MUCH less than $300K and sent my brother and I to the best schools and universities, with minimal financial aid, due to saving and scrimping. We had lessons, family vacations (nothing lavish, but always fun -- eg Lake George, Disney/Epcot, Yosemite). And they never made us feel poor. Take a bit of advice and look outside your bubble and see how good you have it.

Anonymous wrote:Hedonic treadmill in action, people.

I know through my extensive thought experiments about what I'd do if I won the lottery that no amount of money is ever really enough to never think about money again. And if you don't have to think about money, you'd still worry and stress about other things (if you're the worrying type). For example, NO amount of money takes away my concerns about making sure my DS has a happy, fund childhood, learning with a good group of friends. (In fact, money seems to make that more complicated on some levels, after a certain point.)

The OBJECTIVE fact is that 300k puts you well into the top 10% in this region. But if you're comparing yourself to people in the top 1% then you feel "middle class." The PP who talked about "poor rich" was on to something!

Here, here!

For the PP who said that $300k is middle class not only in DC, but just about anywhere in the country, it's time to open your eyes and realize how privileged you are. The cut off for being in the top 10% (per household) is $160,000; and if you're earning $300,000, you're in the top 2%.

I'd classify households in the top 2% as rich.

https://dqydj.com/household-income-percentile-calculator/

Hedonic treadmill in action, people.

I know through my extensive thought experiments about what I'd do if I won the lottery that no amount of money is ever really enough to never think about money again. And if you don't have to think about money, you'd still worry and stress about other things (if you're the worrying type). For example, NO amount of money takes away my concerns about making sure my DS has a happy, fund childhood, learning with a good group of friends. (In fact, money seems to make that more complicated on some levels, after a certain point.)

The OBJECTIVE fact is that 300k puts you well into the top 10% in this region. But if you're comparing yourself to people in the top 1% then you feel "middle class." The PP who talked about "poor rich" was on to something!

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

+1 I enjoyed this, PP.

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Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

But you don't get it. On $300k in NW DC you don't get a nice house or private schools. You get a small 1940s era colonial that constantly needs work and your two kids go to public.

I weep for you.

NP- Whatever, I agree with PP. 300k is middle class in DC, and anywhere in the country for that matter. Clearly, others disagree. I'm not complaining or asking you to weep for me, but just stating my opinion.

Average HHI in this country is $56,000. You're earning nearly 6x the average.

And you think $300k is middle class nearly anywhere in the country? In most places, that will buy you a mansion.

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Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

But you don't get it. On $300k in NW DC you don't get a nice house or private schools. You get a small 1940s era colonial that constantly needs work and your two kids go to public.

But you are still rich.

Our HHI is less than $200k. I still think we are wealthier than the vast majority of people. We certainly have richer friends with nicer, bigger houses, and newer, fancier cars. But we want for nothing and are able to save and do things we'd like. We aren't going 5 stars to Aruba yearly, but we can more than pay our bills. To me, that's wealthy.

I agree with you -- but apparently its all about your outlook. Some people will cry poverty no matter what apparently. we live on 100k HHI and we don't really want for anything either. I feel very lucky.

Count me in. I earn slightly over $100k (single) and actually feel rather wealthy. I'm putting away 10% for retirement, drive a premium car, go on nice vacations, give generously to charity, and still have left over.

And we've touched on this before, but these woe-is-me types saying $300k isn't rich sound like entitled, clueless snobs to the rest of America.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

But you don't get it. On $300k in NW DC you don't get a nice house or private schools. You get a small 1940s era colonial that constantly needs work and your two kids go to public.

I weep for you.

NP- Whatever, I agree with PP. 300k is middle class in DC, and anywhere in the country for that matter. Clearly, others disagree. I'm not complaining or asking you to weep for me, but just stating my opinion.

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

But you don't get it. On $300k in NW DC you don't get a nice house or private schools. You get a small 1940s era colonial that constantly needs work and your two kids go to public.

But you are still rich.

Our HHI is less than $200k. I still think we are wealthier than the vast majority of people. We certainly have richer friends with nicer, bigger houses, and newer, fancier cars. But we want for nothing and are able to save and do things we'd like. We aren't going 5 stars to Aruba yearly, but we can more than pay our bills. To me, that's wealthy.

I agree with you -- but apparently its all about your outlook. Some people will cry poverty no matter what apparently. we live on 100k HHI and we don't really want for anything either. I feel very lucky.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

But you don't get it. On $300k in NW DC you don't get a nice house or private schools. You get a small 1940s era colonial that constantly needs work and your two kids go to public.

I weep for you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

But you don't get it. On $300k in NW DC you don't get a nice house or private schools. You get a small 1940s era colonial that constantly needs work and your two kids go to public.

But you are still rich.

Our HHI is less than $200k. I still think we are wealthier than the vast majority of people. We certainly have richer friends with nicer, bigger houses, and newer, fancier cars. But we want for nothing and are able to save and do things we'd like. We aren't going 5 stars to Aruba yearly, but we can more than pay our bills. To me, that's wealthy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

But you don't get it. On $300k in NW DC you don't get a nice house or private schools. You get a small 1940s era colonial that constantly needs work and your two kids go to public.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Absolutely this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Our HHI is $2 million. We are mid 40's. Both work full time. I think of us as middle class- couple kids in private, live in NW. We both have graduate degrees, but everyone in DC has graduate degrees and is highly intelligent and ambitious. I just figured everyone had seven figure HHI. How can a 40's plus couple, both working full time, both smart and ambitious with graduate degrees have a $300k HHI or a $500k HHI? I bet the stats people are quoting here are from single earner households and many dont have college degrees.

LOL. I have a Bachelors and am a VP. I make about $200k a year, single earner.

Director-level, and $115k. One level down, senior manager, I was at $96k. These are typical - and good - salaries.

...and by the way, that $115k makes me affluent. Live in the NoVa suburbs near a metro, in an upscale townhouse. You people who are complaining that $300k isn't rich could move a few stops into the suburbs, and live extremely well.

Did you read the title of the post? We are talking about "in" DC. Not Reston. Not Falls Church. Not Chantilly.

Talk about the entitled elites living in a bubble! You still don't get it.

The fact that you are even ABLE to live in NW, in a nice house, sending your kids to private school, qualifies as rich. The middle class can't afford that, and either lives in the suburbs or in a cheaper part of the city.

Since when has anyone discussed cost of living in a major city without considering the surrounding commuting area?