9 ways to know if you're middle class

Who says?  BS all the way.  Don't believe a thing you read here.  So if you shop a Wal Mart your low class?

Give me a break.  And all the rich folk shop at N. Marcus?  Just what we need in this country, more division.

and you know you are a stupid, arrogant, dosen't give a **** about money or anything else when you  shop full price and designer brand.  how stupid do you think we are?  the "middle" class is the "smart" class, what's left of it anyway .  we have the rich and pathetic and the poor and drowning .. and we have learned how to shop for quality at the best price. like in the "last" depression.  and some people even with money know that a name on the door doesn't mean qualty product.  these articles from msn money are ridiculous and border on tabloid trash.     

i'm poor, college educated, work my **** off all week, have to drive all over which costs me most of my pay check and i shop close to home, look for quality at the best price i can get. i was brought up that way.  and i didn't want for anything when i was a kid.  we shopped smart, bought good things and a good price that would last. shopping smart is a value, has nothing to do with how much money you have or what "class" you are in.  leave it to the media to try to further seperate us and try to make people feel their worth is determined once again by how much money they have and where they shop.  you ****s should be ashamed.  for writing this crap and for assuming that we don't know it's crap. 

Living a Champaign life on a Beer Budget

I earn more money by myself than what the article claims is the family middle class income and my wife also does as well. So I guess that puts me in the VERY LOW end of the 1 percenter's that people say are getting rich. Trust me, I am not even close to rich. However, I see people all around me who I know have much lower income jobs and they are driving two nice cars, larger and nicer homes and all the extra toys like a boat or quads. They are going on yearly vacations to some pretty nice places as well. Me, I am shoveling my money into retirement and making sure my small home is paid off. I am starting to think, "Stupid Me".

So I scratched my head and wondered how are they affording all this when I know with my own pretty good wage that I couldn't afford it all....drum roll please - without going into a lot of debt?It is because these folks are neck high in debt. It part of the reason behind the housing crisis. There was a middle class living way beyond their means and buying an expensive home which put them on the edge of forclosure to begin with. So if one spouse lost their job, it was difficult to make the house payment. So guess what came out of that? A bail out and the same people are now able to go back and apply again for more government loans to get another home! I am starting to think "Supid Me".

Another problem are the people who are scamming the system. Yes, they may report the 'middle class' income of say $50k  a year, but there is a lot of extra fraudulent income being made that is not reported. Cash under the table for construction work is very prevalent. I see the rolls of cash and I have had some of these contractors tell me a good discount is available if I pay cash. I personally know of someone who is making $70k a year and gets food stamps. She claims to be separated from her husband and then she claims head of houshold with four children. She buys them the latest cell phones and electronics. I am starting to think "Stupid Me".

Get rid of all these tax loop holes and the class warfare about raising the taxes on the rich and just go with a flat tax for ALL. Better yet, go with a national sales tax only and that takes care of the under the table transactions to avoid paying taxes and it also eliminates the tax loop holes to begin wth. The more you spend, the more kids you have, the more you pay. Yes, "Stupid Me".