Reply #13: I used to fall into that trap.

[BiggJawn]

No More.
Somebody mentioned $30,000 as being a "middle class" income.
I make $38,000, my girlfriend makes $29,000.
She owns her house (less than 5 kilobuck left owed) has a car and mini-pick-up both paid for (they better be! they're both old enough to VOTE!)and can barely make it.
Property taxes went up here. Her's DOUBLED...Her car has 189,000 miles on it (Honda. go figure) but it's rusting out and she doesn't think she can afford a new car. Her gas bill this month was $200.

she struggles. I don't consider her "middle class"

I had to file bankruptcy 4 years ago to "get away" from a house I hadn't lived in in 2 years, but could not find a buyer for. Presently, I'm paying over HALF my take-home pay for shelter and transport (I have a 2-y-o Ford)

I catalogued all this in another "class" thread so I won't repeat myself, but all I can say is if my GF and I are "middle class", then the middle class is is trouble past it's ass.

We're POOR. OK, maybe we're "getting by", as long as neither of us becomes seriously ill, or the cars don't pack it in, or something happens with her plumbing or electric that i can' fix, or my landlord doesn't raise the rent, or State Farm doesn't raise my insurance.......

But we're damn sure NOT "getting ahead"...

WHAT fucking "American Dream"? My Dad had it a hell of a lot better than me.