Anonymous
06/01/2026 14:02
Subject: Re:People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re flying to Australia in economy. We can afford the business tickets, but I just cannot justify it for a family of 5. I think it would have been about 15k more.
I’m also not ready for my kids to get used to business lol. I have a feeling we’re all going to be regretting it.
So if your kids are old enough to sit together without you, put them in economy and you go business. We have done that since the kids were old enough to manage (8 and 12 sitting
together)
That doesn't send a very good message in my opinion. I am the PP who is traveling to Europe with adult kids and we intentionally bought economy so we could sit together. Starting the trip off separated like that just seems selfish on our part and creates the wrong tone. We will all suffer together!! We are staying in some pretty decent hotels though! That is one area I do not like to be cheap about. And I don't like AirBnB unless we are staying somewhere long term (more than just a few days).
I managed to sleep pretty solidly on my last trip to Europe in economy. Just took a Klonipin and I was out for a few hours and feeling rested upon arrival. No need for a larger seat for that!
I guess you you. Not sure why it sends a bad message to let teens sit in economy (or economy plus) while the parents who earned the money sit in business.
Once my kids earn their own money they can have the luxuries. I was 29 before I went to Europe...they first went at 8 and 12. I'd say they should consider themselves lucky.
And yes my teens and now 20 something's are just fine with their seats. One is on a college grad trip with friends. Everyone else is in economy (not even economy plus). My kid and one friend are in premium select. That reminds them how lucky they are. And everyone in economy has never been to Europe before (or only once if they studied abroad in college). Whereas my kid has been 8 times previously. And if they didn't appreciate it (and complained about premium select or economy plus I'd put them back in economy)
You sound like a tyrant. I feel sorry for your kids.
Nothing wrong with economy when you’re young and fit. It gets harder as you’re older
Anonymous
06/01/2026 13:54
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Grew up poor. My mom would ask me to borrow cash from a job I had at age 15, busing tables. Paid via cash at the job. Needed cash to pay for groceries. At that time, my younger sibling was in elementary school. Dad became disabled in his middle-class job and had to retire. I went to college and professional school all through loans. So did my younger sibling.
Now, my spouse and I have a net worth of above $8M. My sibling has a net worth of $20M.
We worked hard and told ourselves that growing up poor is not gonna happen to our families. Have passed this knowledge to our children, and they understand and are aware of what hard work is all about.
Now, my spouse and I have a net worth of above $8M. My sibling has a net worth of $20M.
We worked hard and told ourselves that growing up poor is not gonna happen to our families. Have passed this knowledge to our children, and they understand and are aware of what hard work is all about.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 06:10
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:$6M HHI and we generally don't fly business class. We have kids though.
Our philosophy is this -- we don't want business class to feel normal - because then economy feels like deprivation. In our eyes, this is horrible to inflict on kids -- what does this mean for them when they are grown adults, have their own careers, and can't stomach paying for economy?
If they can’t stomach it you haven’t raised them well. If they need to live it to stomach it that’s not resiliency or learning to budget to live within means. Otherwise, never buy the big house, go on vacation, or buy the nice pens. They might feel deprived later.
Anonymous
05/31/2026 04:48
Subject: Re:People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re flying to Australia in economy. We can afford the business tickets, but I just cannot justify it for a family of 5. I think it would have been about 15k more.
I’m also not ready for my kids to get used to business lol. I have a feeling we’re all going to be regretting it.
So if your kids are old enough to sit together without you, put them in economy and you go business. We have done that since the kids were old enough to manage (8 and 12 sitting
together)
That doesn't send a very good message in my opinion. I am the PP who is traveling to Europe with adult kids and we intentionally bought economy so we could sit together. Starting the trip off separated like that just seems selfish on our part and creates the wrong tone. We will all suffer together!! We are staying in some pretty decent hotels though! That is one area I do not like to be cheap about. And I don't like AirBnB unless we are staying somewhere long term (more than just a few days).
I managed to sleep pretty solidly on my last trip to Europe in economy. Just took a Klonipin and I was out for a few hours and feeling rested upon arrival. No need for a larger seat for that!
I guess you you. Not sure why it sends a bad message to let teens sit in economy (or economy plus) while the parents who earned the money sit in business.
Once my kids earn their own money they can have the luxuries. I was 29 before I went to Europe...they first went at 8 and 12. I'd say they should consider themselves lucky.
And yes my teens and now 20 something's are just fine with their seats. One is on a college grad trip with friends. Everyone else is in economy (not even economy plus). My kid and one friend are in premium select. That reminds them how lucky they are. And everyone in economy has never been to Europe before (or only once if they studied abroad in college). Whereas my kid has been 8 times previously. And if they didn't appreciate it (and complained about premium select or economy plus I'd put them back in economy)
Hey thanks for the spiel. I am the PP with UHNW who booked economy for ourselves and our adult children. You inspired me to take a look at our outgoing seats to Rome. I certainly was being cheap and at the time of booking, I didn't even want to spend the extra $200 to get preferential location, so our seats were three rows from the back near the bathrooms. Upon further reflection, I decided to splurge using points to upgrade to a better spot. Thanks DCUM! FWIW, upgrading to business would have cost $6K per person and to premium would have caust $700 per person. Nope!
If you’re actually UHNW and worth $30M plus you should realize that $700 pp is probably less than your daily portfolio gains.
we are more than twice that, but dh will not splurge on business for our college kids
So... what are you doing with your $65M?
Jesus - If I had $65 million dollars, our family (kids and all) would be flying first class. Flying economy is hell.
Seriously. I used to work with a guy who would fly first class and make his wife and children fly economy because “he works hard”. I mean what is the point of earning all that money if you can’t enjoy it with your family.
Anonymous
05/30/2026 23:29
Subject: Re:People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re flying to Australia in economy. We can afford the business tickets, but I just cannot justify it for a family of 5. I think it would have been about 15k more.
I’m also not ready for my kids to get used to business lol. I have a feeling we’re all going to be regretting it.
So if your kids are old enough to sit together without you, put them in economy and you go business. We have done that since the kids were old enough to manage (8 and 12 sitting
together)
That doesn't send a very good message in my opinion. I am the PP who is traveling to Europe with adult kids and we intentionally bought economy so we could sit together. Starting the trip off separated like that just seems selfish on our part and creates the wrong tone. We will all suffer together!! We are staying in some pretty decent hotels though! That is one area I do not like to be cheap about. And I don't like AirBnB unless we are staying somewhere long term (more than just a few days).
I managed to sleep pretty solidly on my last trip to Europe in economy. Just took a Klonipin and I was out for a few hours and feeling rested upon arrival. No need for a larger seat for that!
I guess you you. Not sure why it sends a bad message to let teens sit in economy (or economy plus) while the parents who earned the money sit in business.
Once my kids earn their own money they can have the luxuries. I was 29 before I went to Europe...they first went at 8 and 12. I'd say they should consider themselves lucky.
And yes my teens and now 20 something's are just fine with their seats. One is on a college grad trip with friends. Everyone else is in economy (not even economy plus). My kid and one friend are in premium select. That reminds them how lucky they are. And everyone in economy has never been to Europe before (or only once if they studied abroad in college). Whereas my kid has been 8 times previously. And if they didn't appreciate it (and complained about premium select or economy plus I'd put them back in economy)
Hey thanks for the spiel. I am the PP with UHNW who booked economy for ourselves and our adult children. You inspired me to take a look at our outgoing seats to Rome. I certainly was being cheap and at the time of booking, I didn't even want to spend the extra $200 to get preferential location, so our seats were three rows from the back near the bathrooms. Upon further reflection, I decided to splurge using points to upgrade to a better spot. Thanks DCUM! FWIW, upgrading to business would have cost $6K per person and to premium would have caust $700 per person. Nope!
If you’re actually UHNW and worth $30M plus you should realize that $700 pp is probably less than your daily portfolio gains.
we are more than twice that, but dh will not splurge on business for our college kids
So... what are you doing with your $65M?
Jesus - If I had $65 million dollars, our family (kids and all) would be flying first class. Flying economy is hell.
Anonymous
05/30/2026 21:36
Subject: Re:People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re flying to Australia in economy. We can afford the business tickets, but I just cannot justify it for a family of 5. I think it would have been about 15k more.
I’m also not ready for my kids to get used to business lol. I have a feeling we’re all going to be regretting it.
So if your kids are old enough to sit together without you, put them in economy and you go business. We have done that since the kids were old enough to manage (8 and 12 sitting
together)
That doesn't send a very good message in my opinion. I am the PP who is traveling to Europe with adult kids and we intentionally bought economy so we could sit together. Starting the trip off separated like that just seems selfish on our part and creates the wrong tone. We will all suffer together!! We are staying in some pretty decent hotels though! That is one area I do not like to be cheap about. And I don't like AirBnB unless we are staying somewhere long term (more than just a few days).
I managed to sleep pretty solidly on my last trip to Europe in economy. Just took a Klonipin and I was out for a few hours and feeling rested upon arrival. No need for a larger seat for that!
I guess you you. Not sure why it sends a bad message to let teens sit in economy (or economy plus) while the parents who earned the money sit in business.
Once my kids earn their own money they can have the luxuries. I was 29 before I went to Europe...they first went at 8 and 12. I'd say they should consider themselves lucky.
And yes my teens and now 20 something's are just fine with their seats. One is on a college grad trip with friends. Everyone else is in economy (not even economy plus). My kid and one friend are in premium select. That reminds them how lucky they are. And everyone in economy has never been to Europe before (or only once if they studied abroad in college). Whereas my kid has been 8 times previously. And if they didn't appreciate it (and complained about premium select or economy plus I'd put them back in economy)
You sound like a tyrant. I feel sorry for your kids.
Anonymous
05/30/2026 21:33
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Today's rich is middle class no difference
lol There is a difference. A big difference.
Anonymous
05/30/2026 21:04
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Today's rich is middle class no difference
Anonymous
05/30/2026 21:04
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Life is not changing.
People treat me the same as I am discreet.
I tip more than I used to.
People treat me the same as I am discreet.
I tip more than I used to.
Anonymous
05/30/2026 20:55
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t change our lifestyle but does give peace of mind for retirement and any emergency that could come up. Also we can afford any college for our kids.
This is us. We still do not travel first class...though we could. I still shop sales at the grocery store. How else do you menu plan???
Why would you need to shop sales to menu plan? I just make what I want to make.
Pretty sure that PP was being a bit tongue-in-cheek. But I often plan meal prep around what is on sale in the weekly Harris Teeter circular, and purposely buy what is on sale. And I could buy everything in the store if I wanted to. Why do I do this? Because I feel like it. We eat really well, we aren't wanting for anything because I buy things when they are on sale. I learned this kind of frugality from grandparents who had more money than God, but didn't waste it. Midwestern values, and all that. How I grocery shop is about values, not just access to money. It's just how I was brought up to do things.
Frugality isn't a value. It's either a necessity or a character trait.
Said the fool with new money.
You need to get out more. It most certainly is a value, especially in parts of the Midwest and New England.
Why are new englanders so cheap?
Interesting question and I don't know!! I am from New England and am very cheap!! And I love being around other frugal people. Can't stand show offs with money (and we have a lot of it).
Same. It’s the Yankee Congregationalist influence. The denomination’s relevance has mostly faded but the values stayed the same.
Anonymous
05/30/2026 08:13
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:It doesn’t change our lifestyle but does give peace of mind for retirement and any emergency that could come up. Also we can afford any college for our kids.
This is us. We still do not travel first class...though we could. I still shop sales at the grocery store. How else do you menu plan???
Why would you need to shop sales to menu plan? I just make what I want to make.
Pretty sure that PP was being a bit tongue-in-cheek. But I often plan meal prep around what is on sale in the weekly Harris Teeter circular, and purposely buy what is on sale. And I could buy everything in the store if I wanted to. Why do I do this? Because I feel like it. We eat really well, we aren't wanting for anything because I buy things when they are on sale. I learned this kind of frugality from grandparents who had more money than God, but didn't waste it. Midwestern values, and all that. How I grocery shop is about values, not just access to money. It's just how I was brought up to do things.
Frugality isn't a value. It's either a necessity or a character trait.
Said the fool with new money.
You need to get out more. It most certainly is a value, especially in parts of the Midwest and New England.
Why are new englanders so cheap?
Interesting question and I don't know!! I am from New England and am very cheap!! And I love being around other frugal people. Can't stand show offs with money (and we have a lot of it).
Anonymous
05/30/2026 08:10
Subject: Re:People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re flying to Australia in economy. We can afford the business tickets, but I just cannot justify it for a family of 5. I think it would have been about 15k more.
I’m also not ready for my kids to get used to business lol. I have a feeling we’re all going to be regretting it.
So if your kids are old enough to sit together without you, put them in economy and you go business. We have done that since the kids were old enough to manage (8 and 12 sitting
together)
That doesn't send a very good message in my opinion. I am the PP who is traveling to Europe with adult kids and we intentionally bought economy so we could sit together. Starting the trip off separated like that just seems selfish on our part and creates the wrong tone. We will all suffer together!! We are staying in some pretty decent hotels though! That is one area I do not like to be cheap about. And I don't like AirBnB unless we are staying somewhere long term (more than just a few days).
I managed to sleep pretty solidly on my last trip to Europe in economy. Just took a Klonipin and I was out for a few hours and feeling rested upon arrival. No need for a larger seat for that!
I guess you you. Not sure why it sends a bad message to let teens sit in economy (or economy plus) while the parents who earned the money sit in business.
Once my kids earn their own money they can have the luxuries. I was 29 before I went to Europe...they first went at 8 and 12. I'd say they should consider themselves lucky.
And yes my teens and now 20 something's are just fine with their seats. One is on a college grad trip with friends. Everyone else is in economy (not even economy plus). My kid and one friend are in premium select. That reminds them how lucky they are. And everyone in economy has never been to Europe before (or only once if they studied abroad in college). Whereas my kid has been 8 times previously. And if they didn't appreciate it (and complained about premium select or economy plus I'd put them back in economy)
Hey thanks for the spiel. I am the PP with UHNW who booked economy for ourselves and our adult children. You inspired me to take a look at our outgoing seats to Rome. I certainly was being cheap and at the time of booking, I didn't even want to spend the extra $200 to get preferential location, so our seats were three rows from the back near the bathrooms. Upon further reflection, I decided to splurge using points to upgrade to a better spot. Thanks DCUM! FWIW, upgrading to business would have cost $6K per person and to premium would have caust $700 per person. Nope!
Rome is for the masses now like many big cities in Europe. Have fun jostling around thousands of tourists. No thanks. You have to think out of the box when it comes to vacationing in Europe and certainly not in the summer. In the meantime, we’re heading to the Seychelles for a month. Life is good.
That's quite a journey PP...enjoy! Sorry you feel our trip to Italy is for the masses. We have been many times...DH is Italian and speaks fluently, so it makes the experience very authentic and fun. We don't stay in Rome the entire time. And because we've been to the main tourist places like Positano, Venice, Florence, and Tuscany, we will explore the Umbria region during this trip and visit friends in the area. I hope you enjoyed touting yourself as being the more sophisticated traveler. You certainly are!! But honestly, resorts and beach vacations have never been our thing. We like authenticity and prefer to have interesting experiences in urban environments.
Anonymous
05/30/2026 02:34
Subject: People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:$6M HHI and we generally don't fly business class. We have kids though.
Our philosophy is this -- we don't want business class to feel normal - because then economy feels like deprivation. In our eyes, this is horrible to inflict on kids -- what does this mean for them when they are grown adults, have their own careers, and can't stomach paying for economy?
It doesn’t work that way if you’re not obsessed with money and luxuries. Sounds like you are.
Sounds like you have a lot of perspective to share here with your instant judgement of our situation. Want to share more?
Anonymous
05/30/2026 00:19
Subject: Re:People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re flying to Australia in economy. We can afford the business tickets, but I just cannot justify it for a family of 5. I think it would have been about 15k more.
I’m also not ready for my kids to get used to business lol. I have a feeling we’re all going to be regretting it.
So if your kids are old enough to sit together without you, put them in economy and you go business. We have done that since the kids were old enough to manage (8 and 12 sitting
together)
That doesn't send a very good message in my opinion. I am the PP who is traveling to Europe with adult kids and we intentionally bought economy so we could sit together. Starting the trip off separated like that just seems selfish on our part and creates the wrong tone. We will all suffer together!! We are staying in some pretty decent hotels though! That is one area I do not like to be cheap about. And I don't like AirBnB unless we are staying somewhere long term (more than just a few days).
I managed to sleep pretty solidly on my last trip to Europe in economy. Just took a Klonipin and I was out for a few hours and feeling rested upon arrival. No need for a larger seat for that!
I guess you you. Not sure why it sends a bad message to let teens sit in economy (or economy plus) while the parents who earned the money sit in business.
Once my kids earn their own money they can have the luxuries. I was 29 before I went to Europe...they first went at 8 and 12. I'd say they should consider themselves lucky.
And yes my teens and now 20 something's are just fine with their seats. One is on a college grad trip with friends. Everyone else is in economy (not even economy plus). My kid and one friend are in premium select. That reminds them how lucky they are. And everyone in economy has never been to Europe before (or only once if they studied abroad in college). Whereas my kid has been 8 times previously. And if they didn't appreciate it (and complained about premium select or economy plus I'd put them back in economy)
Hey thanks for the spiel. I am the PP with UHNW who booked economy for ourselves and our adult children. You inspired me to take a look at our outgoing seats to Rome. I certainly was being cheap and at the time of booking, I didn't even want to spend the extra $200 to get preferential location, so our seats were three rows from the back near the bathrooms. Upon further reflection, I decided to splurge using points to upgrade to a better spot. Thanks DCUM! FWIW, upgrading to business would have cost $6K per person and to premium would have caust $700 per person. Nope!
If you’re actually UHNW and worth $30M plus you should realize that $700 pp is probably less than your daily portfolio gains.
we are more than twice that, but dh will not splurge on business for our college kids
So... what are you doing with your $65M?
They’re cosplaying as middle class because American culture glorifies middle class values.
Anonymous
05/29/2026 22:17
Subject: Re:People who grew up middle class but then became rich, what does it feel like?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:We’re flying to Australia in economy. We can afford the business tickets, but I just cannot justify it for a family of 5. I think it would have been about 15k more.
I’m also not ready for my kids to get used to business lol. I have a feeling we’re all going to be regretting it.
So if your kids are old enough to sit together without you, put them in economy and you go business. We have done that since the kids were old enough to manage (8 and 12 sitting
together)
That doesn't send a very good message in my opinion. I am the PP who is traveling to Europe with adult kids and we intentionally bought economy so we could sit together. Starting the trip off separated like that just seems selfish on our part and creates the wrong tone. We will all suffer together!! We are staying in some pretty decent hotels though! That is one area I do not like to be cheap about. And I don't like AirBnB unless we are staying somewhere long term (more than just a few days).
I managed to sleep pretty solidly on my last trip to Europe in economy. Just took a Klonipin and I was out for a few hours and feeling rested upon arrival. No need for a larger seat for that!
I guess you you. Not sure why it sends a bad message to let teens sit in economy (or economy plus) while the parents who earned the money sit in business.
Once my kids earn their own money they can have the luxuries. I was 29 before I went to Europe...they first went at 8 and 12. I'd say they should consider themselves lucky.
And yes my teens and now 20 something's are just fine with their seats. One is on a college grad trip with friends. Everyone else is in economy (not even economy plus). My kid and one friend are in premium select. That reminds them how lucky they are. And everyone in economy has never been to Europe before (or only once if they studied abroad in college). Whereas my kid has been 8 times previously. And if they didn't appreciate it (and complained about premium select or economy plus I'd put them back in economy)
Hey thanks for the spiel. I am the PP with UHNW who booked economy for ourselves and our adult children. You inspired me to take a look at our outgoing seats to Rome. I certainly was being cheap and at the time of booking, I didn't even want to spend the extra $200 to get preferential location, so our seats were three rows from the back near the bathrooms. Upon further reflection, I decided to splurge using points to upgrade to a better spot. Thanks DCUM! FWIW, upgrading to business would have cost $6K per person and to premium would have caust $700 per person. Nope!
If you’re actually UHNW and worth $30M plus you should realize that $700 pp is probably less than your daily portfolio gains.
we are more than twice that, but dh will not splurge on business for our college kids
So... what are you doing with your $65M?