#lower middle class

[mattmurdockismyspiritanimal]

[hellshire-harlot]

Categorically, I’m one of the lucky ones. Both my parents are employed, and I have an employment opportunity coming up quite soon. We own our house, I’ve never had to go hungry, and we always have heat, electricity, and Wi-Fi.

and yet. AND YET.

We are barely above the poverty line. Some years I had to go without school lunches because we couldn’t afford the fees. We save money wherever and whenever we can. Going out to eat at a burger joint is a special treat for special occasions because we can’t afford it often. Some of my favorite foods and snacks- pomegranates, veggie straws, chips, hell, even lemonade -are luxuries because we just don’t have the money to spare for it. The attitude has rubbed off on me so much that I go out of my way to avoid spending money and I feel guilty when others spend money on me, even for things like gifts or fucking therapy.

If any of our phones were to break, it would probably ruin us. If any of our cars broke down it would be even worse. One of the reasons I got into achievement hunting and building and exploring in video games is because buying new games is almost always a luxury we can’t afford. I use achievement hunting and making complex builds and finding all the Easter eggs as a way to squeeze out every last bit of enjoyment I can from a game so I can last until we can afford to get new ones. All of our clothes are thrifted or second hand. Same for most of our furniture. We stay in our house all day not only because we don’t like going out often and there isn’t a lot to do, but because WE CANT AFFORD TO DO FUN THINGS MORE THAN A FEW TIMES A YEAR.

I worry constantly about how my basic needs affect my family’s wealth. And we’re the lucky ones, because I’ve never had to worry about being homeless. I don’t consider myself very lucky, actually. My family worries constantly about money. They hate their jobs. They can’t afford to get new jobs because going without a paycheck is too risky. And how would they get new jobs? Neither of them went to college, and we don’t have the money for any of us to go. I’m basically unemployable in my current mental state, and that’s not liable to change. We’re lucky. Most of my friends have it way worse than I do. And yet I don’t feel very fucking lucky.

Everyone talks about poverty in the context of not being able to eat or receive reliable healthcare. Obviously those are huge fucking issues that need to be immediately addressed, and I don’t mean to minimize them. But I hardly see anyone talking about the kind of poverty that gives you just enough to get by a little comfortably- but no more than that. You have the money for your home, your food, your car. But you don’t have money for games. You don’t have money to go out and eat something nice. You don’t have money to buy toys for your kids. You don’t have money to see a movie, or buy that new phone that would be such an improvement over the secondhand one you have now. You don’t have money for anything that would put you at ease. And yet, you’re made to feel lucky, that you should be grateful. You’re not poor, poor people can’t put food on the table. Stop complaining. Be grateful. You could have it so much worse.

No one even addresses that yes it could be worse. But it sure as hell could be a lot fucking better, too. And that kills me.

[generallyunskilled]

One thing about generational poverty that is super useful, that I feel pretty bad for those who are new to being poor and lack, is lower middle class/working class dads always know a guy. In the same way rich parents have connections to get their kids nepo jobs, a poor dad will know a guy that will totally change your oil filter for a case of natty ice. His old buddy at the mill used to be an electrician and can take a look at your breakers for half what a licensed guy would quote.

It’s what’s gotten many working class kid going and managing what would otherwise be a catastrophe, and it’s dying with the loss of community support that’s been happening now, especially in modern areas. But people who maybe lived more comfortable middle class lives, but fell into poverty later (especially youths who have been kicked out or disowned due to being queer or having different political views than their parents) typically lack such an experience. And I think that’s what makes modern poverty so difficult. Being poor in a time where helping out others was welcomed and encouraged is becoming increasingly a thing of the past. There’s no solidarity, even among neighbors.

[omar-toor]

Most people in Georgia are lower middle income/class (compared to other states) ,according to this statistic.

[wordsarefakeokay]

I may not have much

But the rain will always smell like home

[starkie-md]

Did anybody else have this experience growing up? Being in a middle, almost upper middle class family, but being treated/raised as if you, alone, were lower middle class? Like yeah, there was always food on the table, but I would get in trouble if I ate too much. Yeah my mom and dad always had new clothes whenever they needed but I got screamed at and made to feel guilty whenever I outgrew my clothes or they got too worn down so they fell apart and I was told clothes were too expensive so I had to keep wearing what didn’t fit me. Yeah we have OHIP and whenever someone needs to go to the doctor they can go and the government will pay for it but whenever I was hurt, it took a lot of convincing for my mom to take me to have whatever looked at as if it would cost her money directly. And yeah my dad had dental benefits from work and my mom had enough money in general that they could go to the dentist every 6 months but my school threatened to call Child Protective Services on my mom because I had 6 cavities because she hadn’t brought me to the dentist in 3 years and even then she yelled at me for not taking care of my teeth despite knowing that I have very little enamel on both my remaining baby teeth and my adult teeth. Yeah my parents had money for them to go on at least one two week vacation every year without me but I got in trouble when I asked for $20 to go on a school trip or even for some loose change so I could buy something at my school book fair. My mom could get a brand new car every four years but I had the same bedsheets from when I was 7 till I was 12 because bedsheets were too expensive. My mom has new matching furniture sets but all the furniture I have is hand me downs from family, neighbours, friends, etc. Just about everything I own is a hand me down from someone, only my undergarments, socks, and hoodies/sweater are new and only because I bought those when they were on sale or they were birthday gifts. I only have 3 pairs of shoes that were bought new. A pair of sneakers and flip flops from 4 years ago and winter boots my aunt bought me 3 years ago. I live out of friends hand me downs and what I can buy at the thrift store for as cheap as possible that can double as something I can wear for cosplays because cosplaying is expensive and I don’t even have the money to buy myself new clothes for everyday use to begin with. I live like I’m lower middle class meanwhile my mom lives as upper middle class. I make due with whatever money I get from my birthday/Christmas for as long as possible while my mom gets new clothes from lululemon delivered every day and I get yelled at when I ask if she can buy me a pack of new socks. I don’t know, I’m sorry for the long rant but maybe someone else out there relates?

[cree-ruhhnaynayy]

[eowyn-targaryen]

Being a film major, I've realized how expensive it is. Cameras are expensive. Lenses are expensive. You're expected to buy your own props and costumes and makeup too. The school may provide some things, but not enough for poor people. And I'm just lower middle class--not even lower class. I'm living off a disability check from the military.

This whole thing about money has been on my mind for a while because America thinks poor people don't even have a right to be able to improve their situation. Americans complain about poor people treating themselves to a nice meal every once in a while. Can you imagine the outrage if a poor person bought a camera and tried to become a photographer or cinematographer to improve their life?

I'm lucky to have college paid for by the military and a disability check on the side. And that's why poor people go into the military. I just saw a post about never dating anyone who's ever been in the military, and I think the people reblogging that post forget that poor people don't see another way to make their life better. How else can you get tuition paid for? Just be smart? It doesn't work like that. Poor people are being made poorer in this country, and if you want better pay than minimum wage (with your rent paid), you go into the military. That's the best way to make sure you have a future in this country. It's shit, but blaming the people caught in the system for the system's problems doesn't solve anything.