What social class are you (2 options if you're moneyflexible), and how does it affect your life



*set the bar at 70K because 70K is known as the lowest denominator for happiness in finances

The dollar amounts can depend on the area you live in. Here in Northern, NJ just across from NYC, $70k/year is lower middle class, but in TN it would be upper middle class due to differences in the cost of living.

I am unbelievably fortunate and truly blessed that I'm able to effect my legal and social transitions this year, without any real risk of losing my job.  It's made my choices a lot easier, and I almost feel like things were "fast-tracked," especially given the nature of law and medicine here in California, and in the Aerospace industry.  I imagine that I could have been very miserable somewhere else, and maybe never made it this far at all. 

Erin

Under 25k last year drawing disability SSA and a small pension after about 45 years as a good highly trained computer technician. I was laid off before being classed disabled due to cancer. And could find a decent full time job because of age. I call it forced retirement.

I'm more upper working class at the moment, at times just working class. I make about 26k, but it'll be 28k (salary) next month (but my housing, food bills are covered). I'll declare myself middle class when my 28K is "X" at 40k. By X, I meant the variable that matches 40K but it needs to be adjusted for cost of living.

I have no debt.*which to a lot of people is a huge factor*. But my disposal money is decreasing (but I have a decent roth (savings) right now.

Money isn't something I stress about as far as living, trying to keep food on the table or anything... but I also don't have kids. I stress about other things though.

I want kids... but I know my "bohemian" lifestyle is kind of over, if I did.

I don't think I'll ever have kids though... too many factors against me. (gender to begin with)

It also depends on obligations. I am married with 5 kids. We'd never make on my salary of 45k. My wife makes 6 figures. I'd consider us middle class to slightly upper middle class here. If we still lived in Iowa, upper middle class and back in ny, middle class.


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I can't really relate to "classes" as defined.  I have never made 70K in my life (and I'm talking Canadian dollars).  These days, my wife and I live on a mix of pensions and some investment income.

Challenging poll to answer accurately.  Moving up the social status ladder for many is a function of age as for many year there is a pretty solid correlation between experience and income.  It is the investing along they way that determines financial success as that compound interest add up over time. 

If one lives within their means and invests wisely, they will move up the status ladder.   

One thing that I have noticed though, many of the solidly wealthy I have met are not all that obvious about it.
Nice homes and cars, but not extravagant, and little or no debt. 

So yes, I can afford many of the things I want, almost all that I need, and still invest for the future. 
I do not feel a member of any particular class though. 

I am in between as of now.  Today is my last official day of work.  I am taking my 14 days of vacation, and then staying PRN for a while.  I haven't found a new job yet, so I am actually pretty worried about my future.

Living in the Midwest and making $60k we were in really the upper middle class. I'm now 6 weeks into a worker comp injury with no real relief anywhere in sight. Also next to no chance of going back to that same line of work ever again. So very quickly my family will be dropping into the lower working class lifestyle. My wife is going to nursing school and has it all basically paid for by vocational rehab program so that's a big plus. My injury could be prolonged by years the way work comp wants to do things. Other damage to my back makes going into another physically taxing field no longer an option. There's a good chance I might end up on disability for a time. If nothing else it may give me the chance to actually finish a college degree if it all works that way. I have other technical skills but without a degree my resume is usually kicked out before it's even looked at.

I'm trying not to let things get me to down these days. Transition was really going to lead to a new life in a way. I'm still trying to find out what I really want in life. Things like what do I like, instead of what I thought I'm supposed to like to appear as a man and all that.

It doesn't matter how much you make, what matters is how much money is left after you paid all the bills. A couple years ago, I was making 6 digits (in Midwest) and had barely enough money left after friendly IRS would take 70% of my paycheck net (back taxes + child support) just to feed myself and pay for gas. I was living on 2k per month (had to pay rent from this money and feed me and pay for gas - it was truly hand to mouth survival, last few days before the paycheck I would clean up my refrigerator to bare shelves).

I would fit the category of"challenged". Between my disability and my husband's income, we might bring in 20K a year. That is after his promotion and pay raise. Thankfully, we live in rural Texas, where the cost of living in relatively low, especially in comparison to the major cities.

As another NNJ denizen like Sydney I can say without a doubt I have no F'n idea how half the people can afford their homes on my block. I moved in 20 years ago and eeked by. Today, by some accounts I am in the big league. In NNJ, I barely scrape by between mortgage, $9000/year realestate taxes, and the rest that most of us pay... Oh, and caring for an invalid wife who never really worked in her life.

Life circumstances, where you live, and cost of living makes $/year nearly impossible to compare beyond the guy/gal next door.

My family is going through a good period economicaly, but I'm unemployed. Dose that mean I'm a transclas person?

Retired at 45...that was 7 years ago.

Hubs and I are going off grid soon, so our need for money will drop big time.

22, quit my full-time warehouse gig today so that I can get a part-time job, finish my AA, and finally get cooking on university. I'm three years behind schedule, and now it looks like at best I'll get the doctorate I need by 32 with maybe 40k in student loan debt.

I'm naturally comfortable with a very frugal lifestyle, so even the low wage I made at the warehouse (22k/year) basically made the wealthiest person in my social circle, since I only need less than half of that for daily bills. I'm 5k in debt on my new car though.

Retired on disability