Hellobee Boards

Same.

The actual number depends on where you live.

I do not think you can just define it based on what you can afford. You can have gajillions of dollars but not have the right last name and you are still middle class. The elite have to let you in, if you know what I mean? You can be penniless, but if your last name is Rockefellar, you're upper class.

Wealth alone isn't an indicator.

I agree with your definitions, @mrbee! And I agree with @Navy_Mommy that the actual numbers depend on where you live.

@mrbee: kind of. Class to me is more social than it is economic. It can not be economic alone, because then you would have regional differences.

That's called cost of living and has nothing to do with your class level.

@looch: I agree.

When I think of upper class, I think of power and status.

@looch: I think you are speaking to a very real class system that exists in the US. It is harder for Americans to break out of the "class" that they were born in than those living in the European Social Democracies. For as much as we'd like to think of ourselves as upwardly mobile... We are really not. And class has a lot to do with that.

@littlek: It most certainly is. I've dealt with family offices before, it's a whole different ball game and something most of us will never be a part of.

Does the working class still exist? What about the people who have jobs and can afford their basic needs, but are living paycheck to paycheck? I wouldn't define that as being middle class.

@mrbee: Your definitions make sense though I also agree with @looch: that it's not just about wealth.

@looch: @littlek: It's definitely an alternate universe/reality of which most people are not even aware! And yeah, it can have absolutely nothing to do with net worth.

My parents started out in the poverty category when they were first married and are now upper class!

@mrbee: yes.

The NYT ran this years ago, and I think it's a great indicator of "class". It combines occupation, education, income and wealth. http://www.nytimes.com/packages/html/national/20050515_CLASS_GRAPHIC/index_01.html

ETA: using my income alone I'm in the 79th percentile. I have a master's degree and a well paying job in the tech field, but comparatively low savings.

@looch: I don't think that regions matter much either . . . while cost of living factors in to how far your money may stretch, it doesn't change your profession, education, net worth, or income.

@MsLipGloss: I agree with that, but I think regional differences do change what those things MEAN--working in finance can something different in Iowa versus NY, and making 200k a year can also mean something different, depending on where you live.

@yoursilverlining: just curious, why do you think that is?

@MsLipGloss: Okay, thanks for clarifying.

@MsLipGloss: hmm ok, so another words the technical definitions are constant, even though people's interpretations might change? I would agree with that!

I consider us middle class, but DH says that according to our household income we are more in line with lower middle class. We can afford all of our basic needs, and we have no debt other than our mortgage. We don't have much in savings besides what we put into our 401k. DH's definition is more in line with income and tax bracket instead of standard of living.