Wearing (expensive) sneakers to work with your sportcoat. At least in STEM fields, it means you're on trend and innovative, but still important (see sportcoat).

Shopping at the farmer's market

Making your own baby food

Traveling to do a particular kind of race
Traveling to a film/music festival (Coachella, Sundance)
Montessori preschool
Elite sports for 7 year olds

Anonymous wrote:Competing in triathlons, marathons, etc. It's trickling down a bit, but still largely belongs to upper middle class and up. Although they are show-offy pursuits, it's athletic prowess that's being shown off; I don't think most participants do it to flaunt wealth. Therefore, unintentional status symbols.

Yes! Great observation.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Competing in triathlons, marathons, etc. It's trickling down a bit, but still largely belongs to upper middle class and up. Although they are show-offy pursuits, it's athletic prowess that's being shown off; I don't think most participants do it to flaunt wealth. Therefore, unintentional status symbols.

Yes plus the free time to train et

And people underestimate the costs that go into it. I don't have the money for the kind of clothing and shoes that would make that level of training safe. I also have only catastrophic health insurance, so it would be reckless of me to regularly do something that could cause injuries to my joints. If something happened, I wouldn't necessarily be able to get it checked out right away, and it might end up being a huge health problems later. Don't get me wrong, I still work out, but low impact is a priority partly for financial reasons.

Let's not forget the spouse who does all of the other work around the house and with the kids to be "supportive"/abandoned every weekend while the triathlete takes a 6 hour break to train. I wonder if this is when the au pair fills in more...

Anonymous wrote:Driving to a store that's less than a mile away.

Paying anything for kindergarten.

Taking medication that makes your eyelashes thicker or injecting toxins to make your forehead smooth.

Waxing parts of your body that no one but your waxer will ever actually look at.

This is all wrong. These things are either intentional status symbols (private school) or just insecurity (botox).

The topic is UNINTENTIONAL symbols of status. The person who said "competing in Ironman triathlons" got it right. Not because the competitor is really fit or hot or something, but because only the upper echelon of people can take the time and have the income to train for that.

Those in the know, know this. You need nannies to watch your kids for the HOURS it takes to train, big bucks to fly all around the US, expensive equipment and food, personal trainers/ coaches, elective medical procedures, sports massages, and on and on and on. A good tri bike alone costs $5,000. Look it up.

Joe Schmoe, GS-11 commuting from Burke, Va. and married to Julie Schmoe, GS-10, with 2 kids in daycare at that closes at 6:30, SHARP, is going to have a hell of a time carving out the hours a day to prepare.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Competing in triathlons, marathons, etc. It's trickling down a bit, but still largely belongs to upper middle class and up. Although they are show-offy pursuits, it's athletic prowess that's being shown off; I don't think most participants do it to flaunt wealth. Therefore, unintentional status symbols.

Yes plus the free time to train et

And people underestimate the costs that go into it. I don't have the money for the kind of clothing and shoes that would make that level of training safe. I also have only catastrophic health insurance, so it would be reckless of me to regularly do something that could cause injuries to my joints. If something happened, I wouldn't necessarily be able to get it checked out right away, and it might end up being a huge health problems later. Don't get me wrong, I still work out, but low impact is a priority partly for financial reasons.

Anonymous wrote:Walking to the grocery store because you simply cannot abide having to freeze some chicken.

Owning a Vitamix, a Sodastream, and a Nespresso.

Not wearing make-up.

I totally agree with this.

Anonymous wrote:Competing in triathlons, marathons, etc. It's trickling down a bit, but still largely belongs to upper middle class and up. Although they are show-offy pursuits, it's athletic prowess that's being shown off; I don't think most participants do it to flaunt wealth. Therefore, unintentional status symbols.

Yes plus the free time to train et

Competing in triathlons, marathons, etc. It's trickling down a bit, but still largely belongs to upper middle class and up. Although they are show-offy pursuits, it's athletic prowess that's being shown off; I don't think most participants do it to flaunt wealth. Therefore, unintentional status symbols.

Anonymous wrote:Don't you dare touch my nespresso !! How is this a status symbol? It's really good coffee. It uses real milk, not powdered stuff. I'm dropping off kids with my own cup in hand - not a Starbucks cup. And I order the coffee online, so I'm not even going into Bloomingdales to buy it.

Now those soda stream people ... yeah they're crazy !

Don't you dare touch my Penguin shaped soda stream -- my kids beg to drink water now and insist on getting it for themselves!

The starbucks cup is also a status symbol.

Don't you dare touch my nespresso !! How is this a status symbol? It's really good coffee. It uses real milk, not powdered stuff. I'm dropping off kids with my own cup in hand - not a Starbucks cup. And I order the coffee online, so I'm not even going into Bloomingdales to buy it.

Now those soda stream people ... yeah they're crazy !

A kid who has his/her own Starbucks order (This may be more UMC).

A preschooler who can hail a cab.

Not knowing what public school your address is zoned for, since it was never considered an option.

Inviting the entire class to the birthday party.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SAHMS period.

That is just silly. Plenty of people without a lot of money SAH.

But the thread title is unintentional status symbols. They could work most anywhere, but don't need to work anywhere. It is an unintentional announcement of the status of the family (or HHI, rather).

I just don't follow your logic. I SAH because I was a teacher and teachers barely earn more than nannies in this town. Any daycare center or nanny would have taken the vast majority of my earnings. Thus I feel like in my case staying at home is indicative of how little earning potential I have.

I agree with you since I am in the same situation. I have very low earning potential to justify paying QUALITY childcare. However, I also see the other point because at least I have the choice of SAH v. working 2 jobs (alternating schedule with DH so there would be minimal need of payed childcare - like my manicure does) or working some low wage job and have very "iffy" (to say the least) childcare. Millions of woman do it because they just can't afford to SAH, even if it means making very little and having less than ideal childcare. Think office workers, cashiers, sales associates, etc.

That is exactly why you staying home is NOT a status symbol. If you were a doctor, you SAHMing would be an "unintentional status symbol".

A manicure.