What Does It Mean to Live a Middle-Class Life?
The term ‘middle-class’ conjures up images of stability, security, and a comfortable standard of living. While it may not be the most glamorous or exotic lifestyle, middle-class living is a reality for millions of people around the world.
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So, what are the tell-tale signs that someone is living a middle-class life? Redditors have been discussing this very question, and we’ve gathered some of their most insightful and humorous responses below.
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1. Being Able to Afford Everything You Need but Not Everything You Want
For many people, the key to middle-class living is being able to afford the basics but not always being able to indulge in luxuries. As one Redditor put 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 large-scale purchases that make me feel like I earned them.’
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2. Adopting a Middle-Class Lifestyle
Another sign of middle-class living is adopting a lifestyle that is quintessentially middle-class. This might include things like taking a road trip, going to a family vacation, or owning a lawnmower.
3. Having a Mortgage and a Car Loan
For many people, middle-class living means having a mortgage and a car loan. As one Redditor put it, ‘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.’
4. Being Able to Afford a Subaru
Subarus are often seen as a middle-class car, and being able to afford one is a sign that you’re living a middle-class lifestyle.
5. Spending an Entire Day from Your Weekend Cleaning Your Own House and Doing Your Own Yard Work
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford the basics but not always being able to hire someone to do the chores for you. As one Redditor put it, ‘Spending an entire day from your weekend cleaning your own house and doing your own yard work and going to Costco.’
6. Having a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means having a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
7. Planning for Retirement
For many people, middle-class living means planning for retirement. As one Redditor put it, ‘Planning for retirement. The rich don’t have to worry about it, and the poor know they won’t ever reach it.’
8. Having a Toyota Highlander with ‘Frozen’ Playing in the Backseat
For many people, middle-class living means having a Toyota Highlander with ‘Frozen’ playing in the backseat and pulling up to a block party at a master-planned starter home community’s pool where the dads are grilling and the kids are running around everywhere eating freeze pops.
9. Getting into Debt So People Don’t Think You’re Poor
For many people, middle-class living means getting into debt so people don’t think you’re poor. As one Redditor put it, ‘I get into debt so people don’t think I’m poor.’
10. Having Those Silly Little Stick Figure Family Stickers on the Back of Your Minivan
For many people, middle-class living means having those silly little stick figure family stickers on the back of your minivan.
11. Having an Above Ground Pool in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having an above ground pool in your backyard, alone, in the middle of the back yard, with those silly plastic ladders that flail all over the place when you climb them.
12. Having a Company Picnic
For many people, middle-class living means having a company picnic.
13. Having a Tire Swing and/or a Trampoline in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having a tire swing and/or a trampoline in your backyard.
14. Being Able to Afford a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
15. Having a Basketball Hoop in Every Driveway
For many people, middle-class living means having a basketball hoop in every driveway.
16. Using Butter Containers to Store Leftover Beans
For many people, middle-class living means using butter containers to store leftover beans.
17. Having Those Silly Little Stick Figure Family Stickers on the Back of Your Minivan
For many people, middle-class living means having those silly little stick figure family stickers on the back of your minivan.
18. Having a Company Picnic
For many people, middle-class living means having a company picnic.
19. Having a Tire Swing and/or a Trampoline in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having a tire swing and/or a trampoline in your backyard.
20. Being Able to Afford a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
21. Having a Basketball Hoop in Every Driveway
For many people, middle-class living means having a basketball hoop in every driveway.
22. Using Butter Containers to Store Leftover Beans
For many people, middle-class living means using butter containers to store leftover beans.
23. Having Those Silly Little Stick Figure Family Stickers on the Back of Your Minivan
For many people, middle-class living means having those silly little stick figure family stickers on the back of your minivan.
24. Having a Company Picnic
For many people, middle-class living means having a company picnic.
25. Having a Tire Swing and/or a Trampoline in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having a tire swing and/or a trampoline in your backyard.
26. Being Able to Afford a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
27. Having a Basketball Hoop in Every Driveway
For many people, middle-class living means having a basketball hoop in every driveway.
28. Using Butter Containers to Store Leftover Beans
For many people, middle-class living means using butter containers to store leftover beans.
29. Having Those Silly Little Stick Figure Family Stickers on the Back of Your Minivan
For many people, middle-class living means having those silly little stick figure family stickers on the back of your minivan.
30. Having a Company Picnic
For many people, middle-class living means having a company picnic.
31. Having a Tire Swing and/or a Trampoline in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having a tire swing and/or a trampoline in your backyard.
32. Being Able to Afford a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
33. Having a Basketball Hoop in Every Driveway
For many people, middle-class living means having a basketball hoop in every driveway.
34. Using Butter Containers to Store Leftover Beans
For many people, middle-class living means using butter containers to store leftover beans.
35. Having Those Silly Little Stick Figure Family Stickers on the Back of Your Minivan
For many people, middle-class living means having those silly little stick figure family stickers on the back of your minivan.
36. Having a Company Picnic
For many people, middle-class living means having a company picnic.
37. Having a Tire Swing and/or a Trampoline in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having a tire swing and/or a trampoline in your backyard.
38. Being Able to Afford a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
39. Having a Basketball Hoop in Every Driveway
For many people, middle-class living means having a basketball hoop in every driveway.
40. Using Butter Containers to Store Leftover Beans
For many people, middle-class living means using butter containers to store leftover beans.
41. Having Those Silly Little Stick Figure Family Stickers on the Back of Your Minivan
For many people, middle-class living means having those silly little stick figure family stickers on the back of your minivan.
42. Having a Company Picnic
For many people, middle-class living means having a company picnic.
43. Having a Tire Swing and/or a Trampoline in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having a tire swing and/or a trampoline in your backyard.
44. Being Able to Afford a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
45. Having a Basketball Hoop in Every Driveway
For many people, middle-class living means having a basketball hoop in every driveway.
46. Using Butter Containers to Store Leftover Beans
For many people, middle-class living means using butter containers to store leftover beans.
47. Having Those Silly Little Stick Figure Family Stickers on the Back of Your Minivan
For many people, middle-class living means having those silly little stick figure family stickers on the back of your minivan.
48. Having a Company Picnic
For many people, middle-class living means having a company picnic.
49. Having a Tire Swing and/or a Trampoline in Your Backyard
For many people, middle-class living means having a tire swing and/or a trampoline in your backyard.
50. Being Able to Afford a Nice Double Car Garage but No Room for Your Mid-Size SUV or Toyota Sedan
For many people, middle-class living means being able to afford a nice double car garage but no room for your mid-size SUV or Toyota sedan because it’s full of kids’ toys, unopened boxes of random stuff that you haven’t looked at since you moved in, and golf clubs you don’t use often.
