Comments on: An Interactive Definition Of Upper, Middle, and Lower Class http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/ Tips for living frugal while still having a life Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:15:45 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: class conscious http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-38131 class conscious Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:43:28 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-38131 Lastly, the difference between the upper-middle class and the true upper class is that the true upper class own significant amount of assets that generate a high income for them, whereas the upper-middle must rely on their job salaries. Lastly, the difference between the upper-middle class and the true upper class is that the true upper class own significant amount of assets that generate a high income for them, whereas the upper-middle must rely on their job salaries.

]]> By: class conscious http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-38130 class conscious Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:41:17 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-38130 I think there is some truth to what marci is stating. Ultimately, true material wealth is measured by the assets that you hold. Many in the middle class attempt to live like upper-middle, and those in the upper-middle attempt to live like the upper class, resulting in unsustainable debt so the result is, they are actualy quite poor. Too many are simply living beyond their means. I think there is some truth to what marci is stating.

Ultimately, true material wealth is measured by the assets that you hold.

Many in the middle class attempt to live like upper-middle, and those in the upper-middle attempt to live like the upper class, resulting in unsustainable debt so the result is, they are actualy quite poor. Too many are simply living beyond their means.

]]> By: marci http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-37365 marci Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:51:08 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-37365 Can't see where the education has much to do with it... here in rural areas many many people have no college, some didn't even finish high school, yet are the richest people in the county. (Way above the upper middle class levels_ Still say income should not be the deciding factor, but net worth should! What good is a big income with a negative net worth? These charts don't take into effect debt load and no debt :) Can’t see where the education has much to do with it… here in rural areas many many people have no college, some didn’t even finish high school, yet are the richest people in the county. (Way above the upper middle class levels_

Still say income should not be the deciding factor, but net worth should! What good is a big income with a negative net worth? These charts don’t take into effect debt load and no debt :)

]]> By: class conscious http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-37363 class conscious Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:22:49 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-37363 The NY times article is outdated, it's 14 years old. The salaries need to be adjusted for inflation. The NY times article is outdated, it’s 14 years old. The salaries need to be adjusted for inflation.

]]> By: class conscious http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-37361 class conscious Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:51:06 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-37361 EDUCATION Upper Middle Class = Graduate degree Middle Class = Bachelors Degree Lower Middle Class = Anything less than Bachelors PERSONAL SALARY Upper Middle Class = $65,000 and above Middle Class = $35,000 - $64,0000 Lower Middle Class = Below $35,000 HOUSEHOLD INCOME Upper Middle Class = $85,000 and above Middle Class = $45,000 - $84,0000 Lower Middle Class = Below $45,0000 Everyone wants to think they are upper middle class, but unless you fall under these criteria, you're not yet there. EDUCATION

Upper Middle Class = Graduate degree
Middle Class = Bachelors Degree
Lower Middle Class = Anything less than Bachelors

PERSONAL SALARY

Upper Middle Class = $65,000 and above
Middle Class = $35,000 – $64,0000
Lower Middle Class = Below $35,000

HOUSEHOLD INCOME

Upper Middle Class = $85,000 and above
Middle Class = $45,000 – $84,0000
Lower Middle Class = Below $45,0000

Everyone wants to think they are upper middle class, but unless you fall under these criteria, you’re not yet there.

]]> By: Rajeev SIngh http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-25698 Rajeev SIngh Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:10:15 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-25698 Nice post... Education degree is not an indicator of class in India as there are hundreds and thousands of graduates and post graduates who are either unemployed or underemployed.. here money is the real indicator... Debt though is not such a great problem with most of the people..interesting to know how things differ.. Nice post… Education degree is not an indicator of class in India as there are hundreds and thousands of graduates and post graduates who are either unemployed or underemployed.. here money is the real indicator… Debt though is not such a great problem with most of the people..interesting to know how things differ..

]]> By: Michele http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-25630 Michele Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:43:06 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-25630 Wow, it says I am in the top fifth overall. And here I am shopping at thrift stores! :-) Wow, it says I am in the top fifth overall. And here I am shopping at thrift stores! :-)

]]> By: Dana Booth http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-25597 Dana Booth Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:25:40 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-25597 I concur with Neal and Squeaky. I did see where the chart would put us and it was all over the board. I think it does speak volumes that it puts our income as upper middle class yet we barely make our bills and get food on the table (and I cook our meals 99% of the time). Our rent is extravagent but our house is far from it (2br,2ba) and our soso health insurance just increased by $130/month bringing it to almost $850/mo! I don't feel anywhere close to "upper middle". I'm currently job hunting (interview tomorrow!) not because I want to, but because I have to. I would much rather stay at home with the kids (3, 5, and 7). It is also irksome to me that the NY Times would even try and parse us out into classes rather than trying to bring people together. They obviously haven't taken home the lesson of increased popularity in Twitter and other social media. People want to be brought together as a community, not divided up into classes. I concur with Neal and Squeaky. I did see where the chart would put us and it was all over the board. I think it does speak volumes that it puts our income as upper middle class yet we barely make our bills and get food on the table (and I cook our meals 99% of the time). Our rent is extravagent but our house is far from it (2br,2ba) and our soso health insurance just increased by $130/month bringing it to almost $850/mo! I don’t feel anywhere close to “upper middle”. I’m currently job hunting (interview tomorrow!) not because I want to, but because I have to. I would much rather stay at home with the kids (3, 5, and 7).

It is also irksome to me that the NY Times would even try and parse us out into classes rather than trying to bring people together. They obviously haven’t taken home the lesson of increased popularity in Twitter and other social media. People want to be brought together as a community, not divided up into classes.

]]> By: Squeaky http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-25589 Squeaky Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:12:36 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-25589 I was always under the impression that class had more to do with manners and decisions than wealth. According to my grandmother, class was about how people treated one another. Different classes have different standards and traditions. For example, in some classes it's acceptable for people to shout at each other or to use certain kinds of unprintable language. In others, it's not that shouting or bad language doesn't exist, but it's the exception to the rule and if it happens, something bad is going on. Also, given an unlimited supply of money, people from different classes make different choices about what to wear, how to decorate the home, whether they will work, etc. Simply making a person wealthy (or taking all his or hear wealth away) does not give the person courtesy or consideration if they lack it. Nor will it take away the ingrained habits of a lifetime. I was always under the impression that class had more to do with manners and decisions than wealth. According to my grandmother, class was about how people treated one another. Different classes have different standards and traditions.

For example, in some classes it’s acceptable for people to shout at each other or to use certain kinds of unprintable language. In others, it’s not that shouting or bad language doesn’t exist, but it’s the exception to the rule and if it happens, something bad is going on. Also, given an unlimited supply of money, people from different classes make different choices about what to wear, how to decorate the home, whether they will work, etc.

Simply making a person wealthy (or taking all his or hear wealth away) does not give the person courtesy or consideration if they lack it. Nor will it take away the ingrained habits of a lifetime.

]]> By: marci http://frugaldad.com/2009/06/01/definition-of-upper-middle-lower-class/comment-page-1/#comment-25588 marci Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:43:01 +0000 http://frugaldad.com/?p=2764#comment-25588 I found the graph interesting - mostly in that I am all over the board :) What they failed to take into account is the cost of living in the area a person lives in. Meaning, it doesn't take much here, so I do fine. What amazed me is that while my job and education put me in upper middle, my income (by my choice I earn very little) puts me in lower middle. And then - it amazed me that ANYONE WITH OVER $100,000 in Net worth is in the TOP FIFTH!!!??? Doesn't take much these days to be in the top 5th then! So guess it doesn't matter that my income is in the lower bracket as long as my net worth is in the Top Fifth.... I have always felt that net worth was a better indicator than income. Of course, I feel that way due to my frugal nature :) Seems like there are too many factors that are not taken into account - and it doesn't really matter to me anyway what others think :) It was interesting and thought provoking to look at tho - thanks for the link! I found the graph interesting – mostly in that I am all over the board :) What they failed to take into account is the cost of living in the area a person lives in. Meaning, it doesn’t take much here, so I do fine.

What amazed me is that while my job and education put me in upper middle, my income (by my choice I earn very little) puts me in lower middle. And then – it amazed me that ANYONE WITH OVER $100,000 in Net worth is in the TOP FIFTH!!!??? Doesn’t take much these days to be in the top 5th then! So guess it doesn’t matter that my income is in the lower bracket as long as my net worth is in the Top Fifth…. I have always felt that net worth was a better indicator than income. Of course, I feel that way due to my frugal nature :)

Seems like there are too many factors that are not taken into account – and it doesn’t really matter to me anyway what others think :) It was interesting and thought provoking to look at tho – thanks for the link!

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