MSN Money

9 ways to know if you're middle class

There's no hard-and-fast definition, but surveys show what kind of income and lifestyle you're likely to have if you -- and others -- think you're middle class.

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VIDEO ON MSN MONEY

809Comments
Dec 7, 2012 2:37PM
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Most who think they are middle class are actually working class. 

Upper Class - We all wish we were and think they got there by chance
Middle Class -  We all think we are here and they worked hard and got some good breaks to get here
Working Class - We actually are here and work hard but perhaps not smart or don't have the connections
No Class - Blame every class above for their woes and think government should fix it by taking money from those above and give it to them.
Dec 7, 2012 2:37PM
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Just about everyone is middle class.  If you are upper class, believe me, you know you are and you don't know very many people who are not.  If you are lower class, you know that too.

The other millions who are literate, work/are retired/in training, own/plan on owning houses/condos, get out the "good" china for holiday meals and have expectations that their children will exceed their own lifestyles fall into the great American Middle Class. 

Dec 7, 2012 2:34PM
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In The United States of America there are nine levels of classes; lower-lower, middle-lower, ................ ..............middle-upper, upper-upper! I think lower-lower starts with Honey Bo Bo and upper-upper ends with not Bill Gates, those that have had multi-millons of dollars for at least three generations.

God doesn't care and I don't either. Good People come from all levels and all walks of life!

 

Dec 7, 2012 2:33PM
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THERE IS NO CLASS SYSTEM IN AMERICA!!!

We are all individual citizens who are out to achieve what is best for us and our families.  Where in the Consitituion does it speak of a caste system?  We must reject the language of the left.

Dec 7, 2012 2:31PM
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THERE IS NO CLASS SYSTEM IN AMERICA!!!

We are all individual citizens who are

Dec 7, 2012 2:25PM
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As for me, I really detest any labels. I buy what I can afford. I enjoy having even a little bit of what I  earn put away. It could be $10.00 or $110.00.  I shop at Target, sure do. For a number of reasons. One would be, Wal-Mart charges more for printer ink. We use our printer a lot. I haven't been in a "class", since I was in high school. 
Dec 7, 2012 2:23PM
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Lots of Bush voters in this thread.  Why aren't you guys are freerepublic, Fox, or kkk.com?
Dec 7, 2012 2:19PM
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I bet King Obuma had them write this artical so it would make everybody feel better ! So you better watch out you better not cry Barrack-A -Clause is coming to town or should I say Vay-Cay !
Dec 7, 2012 2:18PM
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If you shop at WalMart you are not only hurting yourseof but you are hurting the entire country.  WalMart's products consist of about 85% "Made In China".  That will NOT solve our economic problems in this country.  Demand that the store where you do your shopping bring in more "Made in America" products, products that will last and not be junk in a few weeks.  Does anybody remember when you could hand down clothes?  Not when they are made in China, they are for the most part crappy, cheap, junk.  And DO NOT buy your pets food, treats, toys, or even bedding that has been made in China, it will harm them and may even kill them.  Bedding you can wash but hang outside, after washing, in fresh air for a day or two to get the bad chemicals out. 

 

 There is nothing wrong with being labeled middle class but shopping at WalMart puts you into the stupid class!

Dec 7, 2012 2:17PM
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I am sick of this label.  I am a high class person with a middle income.  Have you noticed that we never hear of the low class people or the high class people?
Dec 7, 2012 2:17PM
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No one mentioned that IF you are actually middle class (by money standard) you will get 25 K a year in SS when you are 66, since you made all that money and paid the SS taxes.

As  far as college, find out if you are within the IQ of over 110 so you are actually college material (about 30-35 %) otherwise save your money, instead of trying college and dropping out, it is worse for you not to complete college, if you come to me for a job, because you either can not because your IQ is under 100 (50 % of all) or you are not stable, and I do not need that for my engineering shop at all, I do not have time for daily babysitting!--AND hopefully you have not made a big college debt----I unfortunately I see a lot like that, DO NOT GO TO COLLEGE, IF YOUR IQ IS NOT MENT FOR IT!

Dec 7, 2012 2:17PM
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Such a silly article, I'm guessing the teenage inmates are running the asylum at MSN. The "Middle Class"  was buried a very long, long time ago, along with that group they took decent journanlism, original ideas, class and decorum... p.s. But um, like we totally know what you vote and where you shop, but I FEEL like, you forgot to mention um where you like, buy your coffee... like Starbucks you are sooo middle class congrats! ... thanks Gen Y fascinating incite!

Dec 7, 2012 2:16PM
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Wells Fargo got that last comment right, I will no longer put my money in any investments, stocks, MM or anything else, since the economic downturn over the last 4 years, and then taking what little taxpayer money I have coming out of a paycheck in order to help those that got us in this very mess in the first place. I will not help them re-grow. I'm keeping my money under the mattress. LOL not in a bank, and not in a corporation so they can steal it from me again.
Dec 7, 2012 2:15PM
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Seems to me the person that wrote this has no class.
Dec 7, 2012 2:15PM
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This is the dumbest article ever.  It's like saying:  you know youre alive if youre breathing, if you require water to function, if you move your bowels...lame

Dec 7, 2012 2:13PM
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WTF kinda crap is this?!?
Even if I was a Billionaire I'd still shop at these stores, because I'm a down to earth, modest person that doesn't need to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a piece of clothing like Gucci or Versali, etc. (wonder if I even spelled those correctly) to make myself feel good or try to be better than anyone else! I'm a guy so I dunno if these are mens clothing companies or just for women! lol

Dec 7, 2012 2:13PM
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Uh, not necessarily, look at Gov. Romney, I just saw a picture of him this week loading up his van in the Costco parking lot. Shopping at any of these discount stores doesn't make you anything , but an American who needs to buy stuff.
Dec 7, 2012 2:13PM
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It's all so relative.  Depends on what you can actually buy with your money.  Which is a lot less than it used to be.  Also, there used to be more government assistance for college.  The loss of this pulls the living standards down for many families and for graduates due to having to start their careers with a huge college loan debt.
Dec 7, 2012 2:12PM
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I'm middle class and proud of it!  Of course, I think the above-referenced description is about as far away from reality as it gets (do ANY of you have your kids college educations all sewn up?)  We are the 99%, babies!  We rock!
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