<p>Also, take into account the kids that are on CC mostly have household incomes of 80k+. I’ve seen ALOT of 150k+ as well on here. I live in a nice community that has a bit more money than some of the areas around us, but I’ve heard people in my town categorized as upper-middle class-- I can totally agree, even though money is still a concern *(only child, single parent 100k+). The more money your family has, you’ll spend a proportional amount of money on things you need. I have a hard time, as I’m sure many of you do, understanding just how many households in the US make less than 80k. The number is very large, but we just aren’t exposed to it or really consider it because of how many real people we know who are better off.</p>
<p>Some interesting things going on here…</p>
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<li><p>People from wealthy families “feel like” they aren’t wealthy, because they’re exposed to people from similar or even better off backgrounds. Basically, their idea of what’s normal has been completely skewed.</p></li>
<li><p>People are explaining their family’s high income with the fact that they’re in an area with high COL. I think a lot of people are confusing living in an affluent area with living in an area that’s just expensive. If you live in, say, Watts, it is going to be fairly expensive, but it’s certainly not a wealthy area. If your suburb is expensive, it’s because you live in a very wealthy area.</p></li>
<li><p>People are confusing being upper class with the type of mega-wealth in shows like Arrested Development and Running Wilde.</p></li>
<li><p>I think people are reluctant to describe themselves as upper class because they don’t want people to see them as born with a silver spoon, even if it’s an accurate characterization.</p></li>
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<p>That’s not really true. Households with lower incomes spend a much higher proportion of it.</p>
<p>^^It depends on where one lives in Marietta. I live in suburban Atlanta too (smh) and there are some richass places in Marietta.</p>
<p>Like in my county (unincorporated areas woooo), the people who live in the North are of the redneck variety. In the south, people are rolling in 3mil houses. Bundled together we look like a normal-ish place</p>
<p>200k+ is clearly upper class. You are really disconnected from the rest of America and if you think otherwise. It’s ****in hilarious when people say “I don’t feel upper class at all heehawheehaw.” There is no tingly feeling when your parents are making bank. The crap you see in the media is essentially the super-rich. You guys are also rich, just not filthy rich.</p>
<p>^^ I live in east cobb. So ****ing rich in that part of Marietta.</p>
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<p>You couldn’t be more wrong. I feel that the reason my family does not feel rich even though we make ~$250K is that we save a lot of our money (which post-tax, isn’t nearly as much as it seems). Part of the reason why our neighbors (who make significantly less money) have a higher standard of living is that, like most of America, they are content to go paycheck to paycheck. My parents, who came to this country with literally the clothes on their backs, have had to work for every cent they’ve ever made, and with that comes a spending attitude that reflects the true value of money.</p>
<p>And while sometimes I’m not happy with the fact that my friends get much more than I do in terms of materialistic goods, I will get something far more valuable. A debt-free start to life once I graduate from college. And for that, I would like to thank my parents.</p>
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<p>They haven’t bought any new clothes in this country?</p>
<p>My family makes about 120k a year (admittedly we used to make ~200k) and I would definitely consider myself upper class. We live in an area with a fairly average cost of living. We own multiple rental properties, go to private schools (only 7k a year admittedly), are full pay for college, and have 0 debt. I mean we aren’t big spenders (big investors maybe) but we definitely live nicely with a big screen tv, a used BMW, a cleaning service once a month, etc. </p>
<p>I think what economic class you’re in may have more to do with how your family spends and saves than your AGI.</p>
<p>6 figure incomes are usually doctors, lawyers, engineers, and that kinda stuff. 7 figure incomes and above are filthy rich, such as celebrities, CEO’s, and things in that nature. Anyone in that category shouldn’t be complaining about being poor.</p>
<p>^ Precisely. Six figure wage earners are hard working, honest people who deserve all that they make, due to the sacrifices and dedication they put in to get to that point. They are not “wealthy.”</p>
<p>Hahaha being hard working doesn’t make them any less wealthy. Just because you don’t like the connotation doesn’t make it any less true.</p>
<p>Debt to income ratio anyone?</p>
<p>My idea of “wealthy” does not involve typing up this response on a 6 year old computer, connected to a 13 year old monitor, with a PlayStation 2 EyeToy MacGyver’d into a webcam. </p>
<p>If this is “wealthy,” then my goal for the future is to be “ultra rich.” Because I am not satisfied with this standard of living. Don’t get me wrong, I love my life, but I want far more out of life.</p>
<p>My family makes about ~250k, I guess we’re upper-middle class. I live in North Jersey so our COL is pretty high, plus I have three other siblings. We’re comfortable.</p>
<p>^ Comfortable is the perfect word to describe our families lifestyles.</p>
<p>No, we do not live “wealthy” at this income level. But we can manage to live a decent life, debt free. I believe we live almost identical to other upper middle class families, just with no debt.</p>
<p>Like BigKev and toxic, I feel as if to be classified as wealthy, you would either have to be born into money or be a celebrity, ceo, etc. </p>
<p>My dad, an internist, has had to work every Christmas for as long as I can remember. He definitely loves us, and I’d like to think he would do anything for us, but he can’t help it when people get sick. My mom always sleeps in the guest room because his pager wakes her up at night. He’s always, always, always tired. Wealth is something that heiresses and people from ‘old-money’ have. They are the definition of upper class. I’m not denying that my family makes upper-class money (~600,000), but, due to additional factors, we don’t live that kind of lifestyle. We’re comfortable, and that’s mostly it. </p>
<p>Sidenote: My dad’s cardiologist friend lives in Paradise Valley, AZ. They are so rich, it’s scary. He lives in a 11.2 million dollar mansion in the mountains, complete with a guest house, a tennis court, and an extensive roman garden (with imported sculptures, waterfalls, and columns up the wazoo). They gave us, each, $500 dollar giftcards for Eid, and we’re not even Muslim! I think that they don’t know what to do with all that money, so they spend it on stupid things.</p>
<p>Coming from an upper-middle class family adds pressure for you to make even more money. My parents make ~300K and my brother and I are expected to make at least ~500k simply because of the idea that if my parents could that we can too. The pressure’s not always the best, but I’m definitely extremely grateful for everything I have. And to those people who are wealthy, but don’t feel like it, I think it’s just a lack of perspective. If I hadn’t stepped out of my neighborhood I’d probably have felt the same way, but just across the street are people who struggle to put food on their tables, which makes it a heluva lot easier to be thankful for my parent’s work. (This is completely random, but my friend’s neighborhood used to have a cannibal living there, like twenty or so years ago. xD)</p>
<p>Ah… the old money new money thing…</p>
<p>Reminds of the Great Gatsby.</p>
<p>An income of 250k puts you in the top ~1.5% of households in the United States, and well into the top 1% in the world. If that’s not upper class, nothing is.</p>
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<p>How much do you think your parents will pay for your college education?</p>