• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Where You Live, Which Economic Class Do You Fall Into?

Where you live, which economic class do you fall into?

  • Upper class

    Votes: 1 2.8%
  • Upper-middle class

    Votes: 9 25.0%
  • Middle class

    Votes: 10 27.8%
  • Lower-middle class

    Votes: 9 25.0%
  • Lower class/poverty

    Votes: 7 19.4%

  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
I actually feel I fall between the bottom two. I'm considered lower class, but I find it hard to consider myself living in poverty, even if government standards say I am. I get state insurance(which is for low income folks), and sometimes things are hard and we have to juggle finances, but I'm not hungry.
 

VoidCat

Pronouns: he/him/they/them
I'm on government assistance as in I get disability money and just started working $8.25 an hour. Im probably considered lowerclass
I actually feel I fall between the bottom two. I'm considered lower class, but I find it hard to consider myself living in poverty, even if government standards say I am. I get state insurance(which is for low income folks), and sometimes things are hard and we have to juggle finances, but I'm not hungry.
This is how I feel about my situation.
 

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
I picked upper-middle class; I'm quite well off compared to most in my country. It used to be lower up until a few years ago, but a few things, combined with the fact that my field often generates a solid income compared to other fields, have changed that.

Inflation has definitely been noticeable, though.
 

Wildswanderer

Veteran Member
It varies by country and sometimes even by state/city, hence the "where you live" part in the question.
Okay, so supposedly I would fall in the middle class ( barely) now, assuming these numbers are accurate:

"For a single individual, a middle-class income ranges from $30,000 - $90,000 per year. For a couple it starts at $42,430 up to $127,300; for a family of three, $60,000 - $180,000; and four $67,100 - $201,270."

But previously when I had several kids at home I would have been considered under the poverty level, at the same income level. But the ironic thing about that, is that now I have to pay more taxes, so it's actually harder to make ends meet.

It also seems like they need to update the numbers because expenses have increased dramatically in the last 2 years.
 

MikeF

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I consider my family solidly upper-middle class. I'm not sure where upper-class begins. The concept feels like it refers to the very wealthy or even aristocratic in some countries. I bet many who live in gated, golf community neighborhoods do not consider themselves upper class (we do not live in such) but I could see how a poor person might characterize them as such.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
Is there some broad definition we are rolling by?
I went with middle as a best guess.

[Edit]
Kinda more upper middle, based on some quick research. My wife doesn't work at the moment, and hasn't for 2 years, so it's all just my wage right now, but she'll be back to part time in the next month or so, and that seems to move us to upper middle, for whatever that is worth.
[/Edit]
 

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
The poll is but the comments are not anonymous.

Yes, anyone posting can choose to stay anonymous by only voting in the poll or directly post their answer in the thread. I just made the poll anonymous to give people the option to answer without identifying themselves if they would prefer that.
 

lewisnotmiller

Grand Hat
Staff member
Premium Member
I consider my family solidly upper-middle class. I'm not sure where upper-class begins. The concept feels like it refers to the very wealthy or even aristocratic in some countries. I bet many who live in gated, golf community neighborhoods do not consider themselves upper class (we do not live in such) but I could see how a poor person might characterize them as such.

Yeah...I just live in the burbs, in a good size house, but it's 50 years old.
Work hard, middle management, ferry kids to sport, etc.

I'm not anything like what some might see as 'upper-middle' but I make a decent income if I include yearly bonuses.
 

Sand Dancer

Crazy Cat Lady
I have been all levels through my life and I have learned to live happily, no matter what. Being raised in a lower level helped me to understand what really matters and it's not stuff. I still prefer to buy used instead of new. It makes me happy.
 
Last edited:

Debater Slayer

Vipassana
Staff member
Premium Member
Is there some broad definition we are rolling by?
I went with middle as a best guess.

[Edit]
Kinda more upper middle, based on some quick research. My wife doesn't work at the moment, and hasn't for 2 years, so it's all just my wage right now, but she'll be back to part time in the next month or so, and that seems to move us to upper middle, for whatever that is worth.
[/Edit]

No broad definition that I can think of, since the ranges can vary so much depending on where one lives. I would just go by where you live, as the question specifies.
 

MikeF

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I have been all levels through my life and I have learned to live happily, no matter what. Being raised in a lower level helped me to understand what really matters and it's not stuff.

I had similar lean beginnings when my parents divorced when I was 6. My mom stayed home with four kids and insufficient child-support for our pre-teen years.
 

Sand Dancer

Crazy Cat Lady
I had similar lean beginnings when my parents divorced when I was 6. My mom stayed home with four kids and insufficient child-support for our pre-teen years.

I hope you were able to get what you needed. We didn't save a lot but I always had what I needed and some things I wanted. It really puts things in perspective though.
 

MikeF

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
I hope you were able to get what you needed. We didn't save a lot but I always had what I needed and some things I wanted. It really puts things in perspective though.

Indeed. We qualified for subsidized lunch at school, but really, I look back fondly on those years. We had bikes and freedom to roam, just not the latest and greatest in clothes or toys/gadgets. Never hungry.
 

Sand Dancer

Crazy Cat Lady
Indeed. We qualified for subsidized lunch at school, but really, I look back fondly on those years. We had bikes and freedom to roam, just not the latest and greatest in clothes or toys/gadgets. Never hungry.

Same here. Even though I lived in a wealthy city around wealthy kids, it never bothered me not to have fancy stuff. My brother, on the other hand, resented that we were not "fat cats" and still has a chip on his shoulder about the fact that he never "lived well." My other brother and I still get a big kick out of seeing how much we can buy at Goodwill without spending over $20.
 

MikeF

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
Same here. Even though I lived in a wealthy city around wealthy kids, it never bothered me not to have fancy stuff. My brother, on the other hand, resented that we were not "fat cats" and still has a chip on his shoulder about the fact that he never "lived well." My other brother and I still get a big kick out of seeing how much we can buy at Goodwill without spending over $20.

What's fascinating to me, is my kids (upper middle-class) steal my clothes (especially my worn jeans and t-shirts) and also shop at salvation army and goodwill. Most of their nice clothes come as birthday or christmas gifts (as teens).
 
Top