https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 14 Apr 2026 10:20:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/6#post-378432 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 07:06:05 +0000 BKCaribBaby 378432@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@plantains: Good to know, Plantains! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/6#post-377212 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 01:15:40 +0000 plantains 377212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BKCaribBaby: I'm a 33 year old black New Yorker and an FTM to a 4 month old, so you have company! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/6#post-371880 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:18:41 +0000 calsmom 371880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would say that the wealthy class here would be considered 150k on up. Where we used to live? That would be considered upper middle class. It is much cheaper where we live now than where we used to live. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/6#post-371853 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 11:13:10 +0000 kml636 371853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: I agree. Some of my family is at the $250K mark and I don't consider them "rich" at all. </p> <p>If DH was making that much, nothing much would change in our lives except I would be able to be a SAHM without worrying about also saving for college, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/6#post-371613 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:41:36 +0000 ladyfingers 371613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@yoursilverlining: I guess I should feel grateful. As much as we grouse about not being able to do as much fun stuff as we'd like, there are clearly people closer to the median who can't even have the things we have that we take for granted (cable, Internet, lawn service, a house, etc.). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/6#post-371600 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:37:35 +0000 mrsjyw 371600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think what I constitute middle class from what I see in actual people around us, vs the actual stats of what middle class is here in MI is vastly different.</p> <p>DH and I are well above a lot of the ranges listed here and I still don't consider us anywhere near "rich." and more middle-class. Even though, I know that statistically, we are the anomaly for where we live geographically. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371522 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 09:11:50 +0000 yoursilverlining 371522@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: "It sucks because we're obviously upper middle class for our area but it certainly doesn't feel like it. I worry about money constantly. It makes me wonder if we're doing something wrong."</p> <p>I feel *exactly* like this too. We make 3x what the median household income in our city is, but we are definitely, definitely not “well off” or “wealthy”, at all. We’re doing ok for sure, but I constantly feel like we should be doing better than we are. I know most would say we are comfortable, but I rarely feel financially comfortable :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371395 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 08:12:01 +0000 winniebee 371395@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: Agree. upper 100's is comfortable here.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371362 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:37:25 +0000 JoJoGirl 371362@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: Agree, around here $250K combined would be comfortable (ie can afford a small house in a nice neighborhood) but definitely not rich. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371346 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 07:23:04 +0000 MrsTiz 371346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: Wooh, if I had 250k I would be absolutely RICH. I'm talking cars paid in full, house paid off, expensive clothes, etc. Just from one year, so it def. varies by location! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371237 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:47:04 +0000 SugarplumsMom 371237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd like to add that if DH was making what he does now back in my hometown, we would be struggling to <u>eat</u>! But if income was adjusted to the amount of pay he'd receive there, then we'd be in the higher tax bracket for sure. It's all relative. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371227 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:31:16 +0000 SugarplumsMom 371227@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also agree that it's hard to put a monetary figure on "middle class" -- it's not just about how many children you have but the cost of living vs salary where you live. For instance, my hometown of San Diego has a disproportionate level of salaries to cost of living (mainly housing cost). Companies in SD just don't pay as much as other places, yet rent and the (often) long commute to work makes it an expensive city to live. According to the Census Bureau, median household income is $63,069 and homes are $486,000. It's been written about how our housing economy is untraditional because people take in other means of income to purchase a home. That's one of the reasons why lenders were authorized to be so lax and one of the reasons for their demise! Though I don't know how it is now, after the bubble burst, that's how it was back then.</p> <p>As for my own definition, I'd say if you're online now and reading this, chances are you're not struggling to eat. On the other extreme, no matter how much debt you have, if you own a yacht or neighbors with someone that owns one, you're likely not middle-class. If your family works for a living (doesn't matter what job) and you shop sales, can't just buy anything you want, and need to save for big expenses, <b>then you're middle-class</b>. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371220 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 01:25:27 +0000 BSB 371220@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always thought middle class was 70-100K for a couple.<br /> For a single person, I think middle class would be 50-60K. </p> <p>Also, I think it depends on their 'baggage' too. I might look good on paper but I grew up with not a lot of money so I have a lot of student loans. It would be great to make the money that I do and not have to worry about student loans but it wasn't in the cards for me. Guess I just have to be thankful for my education and my job. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371138 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:49:21 +0000 Grace 371138@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ladyfingers: I don't consider us to be upper middle class either, but I think that just goes to show how a lot of people have a lot less. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371120 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:27:30 +0000 ladyfingers 371120@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I live on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Median household income for our county is $43,882. Median house value is $169,100.</p> <p>I can tell you that if we made $43,000 as a household, I don't know how we'd live. We make twice that right now and I'd consider us middle class. After bills (including 1 student loan, 1 credit card payment, and 1 auto loan), we can put a little in savings and have a bit left over. But we still have to watch our pennies and we can't get crazy. And by that I mean, we can eat out once a week and pick up random stuff from the drugstore, maybe buy a book or take a trip to the farmers market. But if I decide I need some clothes and spend $100 or we get a car repair bill, then we can't put anything in savings. It sucks because we're obviously upper middle class for our area but it certainly doesn't feel like it. I worry about money constantly. It makes me wonder if we're doing something wrong. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371113 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:13:36 +0000 photojane 371113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: if we made $250k we would definitely be rich! i cannot even fathom having that much money. we make about 1/8th of that, and manage to pay our bills. if we made 8 times as much, i don't know what i would do with myself... ha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371106 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:10:09 +0000 sunny 371106@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: yes totally agree. $250k in one part of the country means something totally different in other parts. In the Bay Area you need to be making at least that in order to just afford to RENT there.... Never mind buy a place. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371104 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:04:32 +0000 photojane 371104@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: it really is all because of northern virginia! the rest of virginia isn't so wealthy. here in southeastern virginia, it's much more in line with the rest of the country. and, central virginia is particularly affordable!</p> <p>the median household income in my town is about $70k. it's a little higher than other areas of virginia due to the huge, huge military presence. but, if that's middle class, i can't imagine we'll ever be there. since i view my parents and in-laws as middle class, i definitely wouldn't begin to give us that same label. right now we're broke as a joke, but we get along just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371081 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:45:00 +0000 Freckles 371081@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: I think no matter how much you make, whether you're rich or middle class, you will be worrying about your finances. There was this article in a Toronto magazine that featured families who makes 170-200k and none considered themselves to be wealthy at all! I think household income dictates class, but is not indicative of what they can afford. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-371029 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:16:18 +0000 Mrs. Cowgirl 371029@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Coco Bee: yep, it's a little ridiculous. I am almost certain all of our friends make more money than us, even those on one income. 56% of residents over 25 (in our county) have a college degree and many, if not most, also have masters degrees. Most of the jobs come from government contracting or IT, so there's really good job security...the hubs had I were talking recently about what a bubble this area is! </p> <p>What's interesting is that I teach at a title I school in our county, so I see the other side of things from our student population. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370998 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:06:58 +0000 littlek 370998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe it's just me but I don't think making $250k makes someone rich. Where I live most dual income families make that and don't consider themselves rich. I am a tax accountant and have prepared returns for very wealthy people and its not so much how much money they make but their total assets. Most very wealthy people don't have w2 income they have money from investments, partnerships, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370989 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 21:05:16 +0000 Mrs. Pen 370989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Cowgirl: whoa that's crazy! Also crazy that according to that list Virginia counties are all near the top! I had no idea that Virginia was one of the wealthiest states in the US. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370976 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:57:30 +0000 Mrs. Cowgirl 370976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>the median income in our county is $120k per family, $108k per household (not sure what the exact distinction is). when i was working full time, we were close to that, but now that i'm working half time, not so much. </p> <p>apparently, our county is the second wealthiest in the country. 7 years ago, our 1500 sq. ft. condo was going for $500k. the bubble burst and we got our place for considerably less, but it's amazing what we could have bought for that price elsewhere! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370881 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:10:11 +0000 mrs. bird 370881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love the masshole thread jack!! Too funny! </p> <p>I'm in a much less $$ part of the state :) which is good, 'cause I'm po! It's all good though, I am used to being surrounded by people with far more money than I could ever dream of having, lol. Median household income in my county is $ 64,152. Median home $282,800. 32.9% hold bachelors degrees or higher. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370774 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:30:53 +0000 Mrs.M57 370774@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is a really interesting thread to read through. I guess when I think of middle class I think of educated people with professional jobs, owning a decent home. The median income level for my county is $47,961 which is lower than the national median income. You can get a decent house for between 100-150K around here. </p> <p>I would consider DH and I to be middle class, although our household income is over the median for our county. Some of the numbers on here are like wow to me! It's interesting how different perspectives are in different regions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370634 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:12:15 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 370634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting thread. I don't know what constitutes middle class, and I don't think there is a sufficient definition to really capture it... but I do know to be in the "1%" you need to be making something over 300K... so I'm going to throw that out as a number... and Obama says the rich folks who he'll increase taxes on are above 250K... so there's another number. </p> <p> I do have a friend who makes over the 1% mark, but with several kids and I don't think of them as particularly rich... so I think you have to take family size into account as well. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370625 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 18:07:35 +0000 birdofafeather 370625@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i looked it up and the median family income is $78,104 for our city, which sounds about right to me. i think we make about that pre-tax with all my jobs, but we are definitely not well off, probably because we would like to be saving more, etc. but i can't complain because we live so close to the beach and we really have everything we need and more! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370598 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:42:19 +0000 Mrs. Pen 370598@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: very good point!!! If my DH made what my dad makes right now we'd be more comfortable for sure. But my dad had six kids at that income. Even though half are moved out, he had made some bad decisions so he's still not making a lot. Right now as a small family of three - it would seem like a nice amount of $$ but for my parents, you're right, their needs changed so it's totally different. </p> <p>I hope that DH's raises can keep up with our evolving needs :-P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370545 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:08:14 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 370545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PrincessBaby: good point. I am sure our needs will change a lot over the years too (I am 24 and DH is 29).<br /> I didn't think u came across as snaky at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-do-you-consider-middle-class/page/5#post-370538 Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:03:31 +0000 PrincessBaby 370538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rainbow Sprinkles: I actually edited it because I didn't want to sound snarky by posting about kind of being desensitized:) </p> <p>But yes- everyone's perspective can be so different! I think age can be a factor too, after seeing the age thread today...Especially since I am so old, lol:) I remember that my ideas of where I would like to have my family financially were a lot different when I was in my early to mid 20s, even when I was toward my late 20s, than my ideas today! It was a lot lower back then, but as we got older, jobs got better and houses got bigger, etc..- As we grew, our financial needs and goals grew as well, and if you would have told me 10 years ago (I'm 32) that our financial needs and goals would be what they are, I would have thought that was insane. But we've grown over the years! </p>