Growing up, my family definitely wasn’t rich. We weren’t jetting off to Europe during the summer or visiting a ski lodge over Christmas break. We might have had one domestic vacation a year, often a road trip, and we’d spend most of our summers at the neighborhood pool doing cannonballs until the sun went down.
But we did have a cluttered garage with an extra refrigerator for drinks, a lawnmower that my dad was proud to use and a grill that cooked more burgers, salmon and veggies than I can count. We were the quintessential middle class family. And, of course, my upbringing wasn't unique; there are millions of other families around the globe who had nearly the exact same experiences.
Redditors have been discussing the tell-tale signs that someone is middle class, so we’ve gathered their most spot-on replies below. Enjoy scrolling through, and be sure to upvote the ones that make you want to have a picnic with your neighbors!
#1
Being able to afford everything you need but not everything you want.
ChuushaHime:
This is where I am now for the first time in my life and I love it. I'm very comfortable, have solid emergency funds, can afford everything that I need as well as small luxuries like the occasional nice restaurant or weekend getaway, but still need to put some effort into saving for trips or similar largescale purchases that make me feel like I earned them. Next financial goal is to move apartments to a more expensive but prettier and more convenient part of town. Looking forward to it :)
ChuushaHime:
This is where I am now for the first time in my life and I love it. I'm very comfortable, have solid emergency funds, can afford everything that I need as well as small luxuries like the occasional nice restaurant or weekend getaway, but still need to put some effort into saving for trips or similar largescale purchases that make me feel like I earned them. Next financial goal is to move apartments to a more expensive but prettier and more convenient part of town. Looking forward to it :)
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33points
#2
Adopted a little boy earlier this year... 6 years old. His background is, erm, rough, shall we say.
Last week we were sat in a Cafè and he described his scone as "delightful". A little later he asked where we were going for dinner.
I suddenly realised we'd ruined him already. 🤦♂️.
Last week we were sat in a Cafè and he described his scone as "delightful". A little later he asked where we were going for dinner.
I suddenly realised we'd ruined him already. 🤦♂️.
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29points
#3
Student loans
Too wealthy for need-based scholarships; not wealthy enough to pay for college.
Too wealthy for need-based scholarships; not wealthy enough to pay for college.
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25points
#4
Family vacations. I remember coming back from summer break and my classmates talking about the trips their families went on and being extremely jealous.
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23points
#6
Spending an entire day from your weekend cleaning your own house and doing your own yard work and going to Costco.
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19points
#8
When your passenger side door handle breaks, you take it to the dealership for repair since it's under warranty, when they send you to the rental company for a loaner car and the only thing they have is a ~~Camero~~ Camaro. When you pull in to the driveway of your suburban home and tell your pregnant wife you're going out to dinner at a nearby sit down restaurant because you need a reason to drive the ~~Camero~~ Camaro around.
Ladies and gentlemen, my husband last week.
Ladies and gentlemen, my husband last week.
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18points
#9
*opens fridge full of tons of diverse fresh food*
There's nothing ~~already cooked and prepared to mindlessly shove in my gullet~~ to eat.
There's nothing ~~already cooked and prepared to mindlessly shove in my gullet~~ to eat.
16points
#10
I'm going to paint my fence China white instead of 1/4 piano white.
My suburb passed a ruling no green fencing...so I'm getting white that has a green hue in it.
I'm just one man fighting against the oppression.
My suburb passed a ruling no green fencing...so I'm getting white that has a green hue in it.
I'm just one man fighting against the oppression.
16points
#11
Those vases that middle class mothers put in the corner of the room with twigs in it.
16points
#14
Helping your children do their homework.
Poor people don't have time for that. Rich people have tutors for that.
Poor people don't have time for that. Rich people have tutors for that.
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15points
#17
A mortgage, a car loan or two, and having to save the entire year (or two) to take a vacation with the spouse and kids.
14points
