How well off financially do you see yourself?

[mvd]

Just curious to see the breakdown at DU. I don’t have an income right now, but still trying to get disability. If you use other income (like from a spouse or family member), consider that in your response. I share my mom’s SS income for now. Not putting income figures in some categories since degree of wealth can vary by region of the US or by country.

47 votes, 1 pass | Time left: Unlimited
	No or low income
	13 (28%)
	Middle class
	18 (38%)
	Upper middle class
	12 (26%)
	Top 1% wealthy (around $500,000 per year average in US)
	0 (0%)
	Millionaire
	1 (2%)
	Multi-millionaire or more
	2 (4%)
	Other
	1 (2%)
	1 DU member did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Seems to me a measure of self-deception

So not counting on accuracy

[50 Shades Of Blue]

2. Here's a handy dandy calculator!

https://www.pewresearch.org/interactives/are-you-in-the-middle-class/

[mvd]

3. Thanks for that!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

4. :)

[mvd]

5. According to your link, I am definitely lower income now

It is a shame. When I was younger and my dad was alive, we were solidly middle class. My dad worked a long time as a scientist but lost his job earlier than expected and then got cancer.

[50 Shades Of Blue]

10. I am so sorry to hear that. As retired Feds, my husband and get comfortable pensions,

I know we're luckier than many people, but I'm still always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

ETA: We're in the average range.

[jimfields33]

6. Says I'm middle (not upper or lower)

Always average. Lol.

[Yavin4]

8. Should be based on your net worth, not income. n/t

[Ms. Toad]

11. It definitely should take net worth into account -

But probably shouldn't be entirely based on net worth.

My parents' farmland is worth between 3 and 4 million - but as working farmers, my parents income was always close enough to the "free lunch" level that they completed the forms every year during my childhood.

But since none of the kids became farmers, that asset will have a very different value once it is inherited by the kids.

Having millions tucked away in investment accounts is a lot different from having millions tucked away in farmland that (with the investment of back-breaking labor) barely generates enough to live off of.

[DFW]

14. My B-I-L is in the same boat.

His only surviving parent owns what is theoretically some farmland in the Midwest somewhere reputed to have been worth a million or more. Theoretically. When he inherits it, and tries to sell it, if all he can get for it is $45,000, he gets $45,000 in cash and $955,000 worth of theory.

[SYFROYH]

25. Apparently, I'm in the upper income bracket and the majority of people like me are.

Based on your household income and the number of people in your household, YOU are in the UPPER income tier, along with 21% of adults in [my area in GA].

"Among all American adults with your education, age, race or ethnicity, and marital status, 5% are LOWER income, 38% are MIDDLE income and 57% are UPPER income."

[phoenix75]

7. Being "well off" is relative. Compared to what?

I like the quote by Henry Thoreau: "we don't own things, things own us."
I am 75 and retired with Social Security and a modest pension for income, but have never been more content and happy in my life. If someone has food, shelter, clothing, and their health, IMO they have everything and are truly "well off."

[mvd]

9. That's why I used some flexibility here

I didn’t want to restrict it to numbers. I do agree that if you have those things, you can at least be comfortable. Being comfortable is something I still don’t have.

[Elessar Zappa]

12. I'm personally low income (disabled)

but I live with my parents who each have social security and a small pension so I live more like lower middle class.

[mvd]

13. That's good they have the pension

Unfortunately my dad went through his pension and inheritance and never found work again. All that was left was his Social Security, which my mom got when she became a widow.

[Elessar Zappa]

15. That's a tough situation.

You said you’re trying for disability?

[mvd]

16. Yeah, second try

I know they deny a lot the first time. So I am hopeful.

[Elessar Zappa]

17. Get a lawyer.

A good one won’t charge you upfront but instead will take 25% of your back pay if and when you get approved. If you’re not approved, they get nothing.

[Takket]

19. Also... write your congressperson

My wife was denied. We got a lawyer. It languished for months. When we wrote our congressperson I don’t know what their office did but it got approved almost immediately. That was back in 2002 I believe.

Hopefully your rep is a Democrat because if they are a rethug good luck getting them to give a shit about a disabled person seeking what you are entitled to.

[mvd]

28. Yep, my rep is a Dem

That definitely is a good thing!

[elocs]

18. It depends on what you mean by "well off".

I'm retired and poor, under the 100% Federal Poverty Rate. But after I pay my bills each month I have money left over. I have plenty of food and never go hungry. I have good health insurance that doesn't cost me a dime and actually gives back to me. I have a credit score of over 800 and am in excellent health. Being "well off" financially is a comparison because I am not as well off as many and far more well off than many others. Technically I am poor, but content.

[Sympthsical]

20. You make a good point

Sometimes just putting numbers on things isn't really getting the picture. My mom is retired and widowed. She let go of the house after my father died. Now, she lives in an apartment in a senior community as a renter. However, she has social security and part of my father's pension. She's not struggling to pay her bills or cover her medical costs.

While the strict numbers might put her in a lower income, she's living a perfectly comfortable life.

Compare that to younger people who live and work in the Bay Area. I have friends who make six figures who are renters with home ownership out of reach and many of them have been paying student loans their entire working lives. When you put together cost of living and debt, they could be one medical crisis away from having their situations upended.

Even though we might see, "Oh, you're making this much money and have this job. You must be doing awesome!" we never really know what anyone's individual circumstances might actually be.

[Sympthsical]

21. This is weird

No offense, but when repeatedly asking for money and following up by asking what people are holding is kind of weird.

I wouldn't be comfortable answering this question at all given the context.

[Emile]

22. +1

[XanaDUer2]

24. Yup nt

[mvd]

27. I was genuinely curious

Really nothing more to it than that. I don’t feel like I should be entitled to any donations based on any answers. In all my over 21 years here I only asked in one of those years and don’t plan on continuing. Plus I post on all kinds of topics.

[Firehawk]

29. Totally agree this is weird

MVD"s latest cash grab in the Lounge fell flat and now he's pressing everyone about their financial status. Something's not right about this at all.

[ProfessorGAC]

23. Passing, Because...

...more than one apply.
I'd say our retirement income puts us in upper middle class. Yes, our assets are well into 7 digits but when that's income generating capital it doesn't have quite the impact that "multimillionaire" evokes. Besides that word means to 999 million. That covers too much space.
Suffice it to say there will be no tag days for us in our town.

[Victor_c3]

26. I'd label myself as middle class

My income is roughly $125,000 before taxes and about $8,800 a month after taxes and withholdings and whatnot. Out of that, I pay roughly $1,500 a month in alimony and another $1,500 a month in child support. So, I live off of about $5,800 a month.

When I used to live about an hour north of NYC, that wouldn’t be enough to support a family of four at a modest level.

Now that I’m divorced and living in the Toledo, Oh area, that $5,800 a month goes quite far supporting me as a single guy.