quilter68

Upper class - being able to pay for the kids college
Middle class - helping the kids through college
Poor - couldn't go to college, had to support my Mother, myself and my younger sister.
Took me 20 years to finish but I did go to college. 4 out of my five children went to college.
The one that wouldn't go to college always has a job and works very well. The most educated one has been out of work for over a year?
In today's world no one went to jail or a rehab, all are self-supporing, good citizens.
And I have enough money to buy fabric when I want or need. I am retired. What more could I want? ( I own my home.)
edit to add: The only time your name is in the paper is when you are born and when you die. As per my Mother.

Teddybear Lady

With all this input, you should do a great job on your presentation. This board is so helpful, even when it's not a "quilting" question.

DogHouseMom

I look at from a point of view not of what a person spends (on home, toys, vacations) but on what a person EARNS. I always bear in mind that just because someone LIVES in a McMansion, doesn't mean they can AFFORD to live there, and all those toys may not be paid for either. Our housing/mortgage crises has proven that. I saw it coming more than a decade ago when I noticed builders advertising "starter homes" with 2000+ SF.

So I base it on income, and it's a sliding scale dependent on the cost of living in your area.

b.zang

I love the food description :) :) :)
Doesn't it have something to do with where the money comes from, too?
Upper class - inherited
Middle class - earned
I'm curious to know if people believe they can actually move upward from one class to another.

Ellen

My dad used to tell us kids:
The RICH are the uppercrust held together with a little dough.

I've noticed that the people at the top of the totum pole have a lot and want more, more, more. They can't get enough.
The middle class are pretty much satisfied with a home, food, family and a steady job. Isn't that the American Dream?
As far as the poor goes, it's different today than it was years ago. Today, the poor can be quite arrogant if their Gov't check comes late or gets cut. Years ago, we made do or did without. I didn't know until I was in my teens that we were poor....I had a roof over my head and food in my belly. I really related to "A Painted HOuse" by Grishom, life was really like that.

MaryKatherine

upper class was generally inherited wealth, no need to work, and in the "old" country, titled.
Nouveau Rich, accumulated money by working.
We have no upper class in N.A., just the obscenely rich.
MK

scrappylady

That's my opinion also.

Yooper32

I think Yonnika has it pegged right-on.

musicaljan

Wow - according to what most people have written, my family is considered lower class.

I always considered us middle class -- having (barely)enough to get by but nothing left over.

Maybe we are "struggling middle class". We do own a home and have insurance. No credit card debt. I believe credit cards/budgeting is a problem for many. But for us, it's just life. Stuff happens.

jitkaau

I think they are terms invented to make people feel that they are superior to others. If you are not the boss and have to work for a living, then I think you are working class - regardless of your income or perceived 'class'.Some countries have very stifling class systems and the modern class system seems to be based on money rather than position. I would like to think that there may come a time when we are all considered equal - regardless of position,money,colour or creed. I guess I dream the impossible.