Hello Aluxers! Which of these qualities and habits of the upper middle class do you think you could adopt, and could change your life for the better? Mind Mastery: www.alux.com/mindmastery Get a free audiobook thanks to Audible: www.alux.com/freebook 15 Signs You’re in the Middle Class: y2u.be/tsEdlF2Subw
$100,000 a year is not middle class in Sunny Southern California,3 of Slyvester Stallone daughters blow through $100K like nothing aka slys money on a light day, like I blow through $1K ,luckily I'm a union plumber and still flexing I have minimal Bills and im debt free and no children and my gf is still in the front lines at Walmart post quarantine we are healthy no covid 19 for us shes staying safe at work and so am I, shes going to be moving up soon at walmart.
This is not exactly accurate... You may not stalk celebrities, but you do try to relocate to where celebrities do live, vacation, associate, etc in order to add to your own "clout"(as the kids say these days)... just saying.
I think I belong to the middle class since I have a net worth at around 8 million CAD. But I have the mind set of the rich, I don’t idolize anyone, the only people I truely believe in is myself
The one thing I would slightly disagree with is #7 on credit. The upper middle class still has to take out mortgages, so they depend on credit. However, unlike the rest of the middle and lower classes, the upper middle class has learned how to properly utilize credit to get what they want. They play the credit game correctly - they build a high score and gain access to the benefits credit can offer, while also having the cash to back it up.
@Geoffrey Harris I disagree. Upper middle class are buying homes in the $1-2 million range, but are still part of the ‘professional class.’ They are high paid doctors and lawyers with incomes around $200k or so. If someone is buying a $1.5 million house in cash, they are likely upper class not upper middle.
@@bradzillabrave6856 in my area, Frisco, TX the average income is pushing $220k. Not middle class or even upper at all. That’s almost $100k higher than Austin a fixer upper is $500k!
I think the upper middle class probably are no longer having mortgages as their net worth are substantial to live off from them..maybe around 10-50 millions of more .. they're business people with around few hundred of employees...chairman ceo of mid size corp something... I think they not just knew how to play the credit extremely well but continue expanding it and just about to join the upper class I always thought that upper class as those who are of hundred millions, billionaires, or ultra net worth range..president of global conglomerates, etc..😆
I admire your comment and totally relate. We are comfortable thankful and never forget where we came from. However, I want to keep growing and see how far I can actually get to.
This video is spot on! I was fortunate enough to be born into the upper-middle class and I think one of the biggest differences which you described between the rich and upper-middle is the focus on being EMPLOYED or becoming the EMPLOYER. The upper-middle will usually be the best in their professions (law, medicine, engineering, executive managers) as an employee, usually from achieving top-tier education, but the rich will be those who are employing them. There are pros and cons to both. Also, I completely agree with the point about cultural capital. The upper-middle excel, probably better than the rich, at developing a broader understanding of the world and creating social movements; something I'd personally prioritize more, over only focusing on monetary goals, but it's down to what one value's in life. As always, great video Alux!
"You are the average of the 5 people around you!" Very true and important point. My parents were lower working class immigrants, but I, my sister, and most of my cousins attended private school and went to elite small liberal arts colleges and graduate programs. We all spent at least one semester studying in foreign countries, and I did the Peace Corps. By the time we were in our mid 30s, we had accumulated education, cultural capital (we all speak minimum 2 foreign languages) and a network of friends who provide connections. Most of us work for the State Department or city municipal governments or private equity firms. Vacations are actually Easier and Cheaper when you are well traveled because you will have friends living in foreign countries that you can stay with and you probably already speak the local language so you arent stuck in a resort compound. Ex: I am fluent in French, Arabic, and Turkish so I can travel to regions where these countries are located and can live like locals (the locals you know are usually the upper middle class of that country by the mere fact they speak English well and know an American like You!).
@@juniorjames7076 We are U.S. citizens. Citizens of the United States. The United States is a country but America its not a country America its a continent. The whole entire continent was name America 269 years way before the united states of America became a nation or even existed.
Wholeheartedly agree with this. But the upper/working class generally team up against us and say to hell with all our moral superiority complexes. I think ultimately they have more in common with each other than they do with us. Upper middle class people do quite often position themselves as "above" monetary goals as a way to signal virtue and play for social status. All while continuing to live extremely comfortable lifestyles. I can see why the hypocrisy of this could be utterly nauseating for many people.
The most interesting factor is the one in which the upper middle class excels even over the rich, Cultural Capital. That is the knowledge of art, literature, music, history, geography etc.
Makes sense. The rich often don’t bother with experiences outside of their luxury lifestyle. Why get a hotel room when you have a staffed luxury yacht? Why try a local dish when your chef will whip up your favorite seared steak and goat cheese risotto for lunch? Why take an excursion with other tourists when you can hire a private guide? As a result, it makes sense they would miss out on the cultural experiences by traveling like that.
Most of us built up our cultural capital by educating ourselves, traveling, reading etc. The wealthy simply cash out for a Dali or Picasso and hang them in their living room. And it probably works with the interior design of the room too.
Highly educated from good universities tend to commit themselves more to their profession than starting up a business or coming up with way to generate more income.
Exactly but if I were to start a business it's not exactly raising your own restaurant or shops & real estate but to me I start using money to invest on stock markets, dividends & crypto currency just to name a few using only your mobile phone & laptops
The video covers what you're saying by stating that a lot of ultra-rich individuals don't go through the traditional paths to "success." Those that do, however, still generally enjoy the upper middle-class lifestyle.
@@Manuel-gu9ls That's not starting a business though, that's investing. Also, if you're investing, cryptocurrency is the calling card of the basement jockey. You don't invest in dividends either, instead, they are something that you receive from investments you already own. Not to say that you don't know what you're talking about, but definitely things you would expect the wealthiest man alive to understand.
My parents are upper middle class and everything here is true but for my parents they grew up poor and didn’t get a private education and they put me in a public school
I think most middle, upper middle, & the rich started off broke or poor. But when they do achieve that class, those are the ones to look up to the most since they had to work hard to get there instead of getting help from their parents. Those are the upper middle class that I have always admired. The ones that worked to get there all on their own like your parents did.
Also a lot of upper middle class live in great school systems so the public schools are some of the best in the nation and only problem children went to private school. That was the case where I grew up in NJ and similar to where my fiancé grew up outside of Chicago (north shore).
My boyfriend and I have been having lifestyle compatibility issues. I want to move for my career goals, take risks, and travel because that is what my family does. I have been living this lifestyle since in the womb. He wants the opposite. Watching this makes me realize that we grew up in different social classes. He calls me an idealist and himself a realist.
Depends he may eclipse you and reach the upperclass, to rocket yourself there lowering your lifestyle and aggressively investing the difference is the way to go I make 220k at 30. I could ball out but I save more than half that s year and invest. Combine with my inheritance I will comfortably reach 8 figures and thats when lifestyles differ truly. Living large in your 20's and 30's is the way of fools for men.
Try to talk about what you want to accomplish together and see how to get there. If you don't align, then perhaps you guys need to define your values a bit more. Communication is key. Like for me, I choose work that would allow me to travel, instead of just travelling without earning income. My hubby took me on my first "real" vacation as an adult after our business started growing. You can build your dream life one step at a time. You don't need to take life in all at once. Balance. Being opposites can be a blessing.
@@dohagen2442 Because the woman is giving up their a?? to not be homeless until they're no good not good looking and what not, until then you'll see them homeless. Sorry to say but true.
If he has skills and sees a future with you, it can work out. Sometimes we want people to be ready made when really it's the magic of two committed people coming together that forges major transformations. When I met my husband 5 years ago, he was lower middle class but he had a marketable skill and great work ethic. With my brains and his brawn, we are a solid upper middle class team.
Agreed. It’s hard to be upset about this one. It’s a good problem to have, and other people need it more. At least that’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
15 out of 15. Moved from poverty to upper middle class by working & learning continuously >20 yrs. And still doing so. Eventually, I could dump my initial financial advisors and do things by myself along the way. Also, I increased and improved my perspective on perceived risk towards business and investing activities. So, stay in motion and keep pushing! Climbing the Income ladder or social ladder is a constant process. And you can enjoy the process!😊
Same thing though as not using credit, you don't carry a balance and don't pay interest. You use it like a debit card, and pay the credit card company immediately and don't let them play you. I do the same.
They're referring more to not carrying a balance, instead paying off the balance in full each month. UMC are the people most like to have PRESTIGE cards, yet no CC debt. You all take things too literally.
Oddly, I share many traits with the UMC, without having the income. Grew up poor, but got a very broad education with lots of beyond the average experiences. Money doesn't buy happiness, but poverty sucks.
I know everybody says Money can't buy happiness But it could buy me a boat, it could buy me a truck to pull it It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced-down with some silver bullets Yeah, and I know what they say, Money can't buy everything Well, maybe so, But it could buy me a boat.
@@Speechiegirl1 So true! I want everyone out there to know I am willing to trade a few rolls of toilet paper for gold or high end sports cars. No low balling me on this... this is Charmin, not the cheap stuff.
The defining characteristic of the upper middle class is the ability to think for yourself. Everyone I know, including me, distrusts the mainstream media, and does not use social media. No celebrity worship. No spending on things to 'look' rich.
Being more cultured, there are all kinds of free learning apps that I do instead of social media. I am not upper middle class yet but I have learned more outside of school then in school.
@Monday, Tuesday Is My Weekend clearly didn’t literacy in school. I apologize i was most likely drunk when I wrote this. Clearly didn’t literacy in school
"You don't buy things on credit," for the upper middle class doesn't mean they don't use credit cards. It can mean that they use credit cards to earn rewards, but because they pay the cards off immediately, they do not have any credit card debt. In other words, they have the ability to pay for things with cash, but choose to use credit cards rather than debit cards to earn rewards while keeping credit card balances on their monthly statements at zero.
Yes because they have huge salaries so they can do that. The rest of us meanwhile, have to raise our kids, pay our bills, etc., and sometimes credit is the only way we can survive. There IS nothing left over to save. And the credit card companies and the insurance companies are killing us with their high interest rates and charges. It's impossible for people in our "class" to get anywhere because we get NO breaks, unlike the rich and the poor.
God is good. I grew up in a broken home, got recruited to join gangs and sell drugs when I was 9, avoided them, went to college, got a Mechanical Engineering degree, and now I’m in the upper middle class, have lived all over the world , and I’m dominating my industry And get Recruiter to join companies all over the world. God is good and I want as many of my inner city kids as possible to follow my journey into the upper middle class .
Investing in the stock market is the best option to make a passive income. Virtually all the markets are crazy, most people pay more attention to the shiniest position on the graph, I’m keeping a diversified portfolio.
Surprisingly, there are a lot of hourly union jobs that fall into this category as well, airline pilots for example. They have a lot of time to enjoy life.
@@vickieclark5931 That is because enjoyment does not come from money from those in the upper middle class. The enjoyment comes in achieving their goals. The tides of fortune can always take away your money, but they can't take away your experience that you created that building, established that legal precedent, wrote that award winning novel, or saved those lives on the operating table.
This is important. I am not upper middle class (I barely make middle class) but I moved out of the wealthier suburbs, gave up a well paid job and moved to an obscure small town on the outskirts of the city 25yrs ago, started working for myself and never looked back. I need time for myself more than anything else. I don't make debt, own property and live modestly in every respect. I feel I have something worth more than money.
@@cameronfranklin5004 True! It kind of depends on the area. I live in a small town with high taxes. New York Times did a little article on how backwards we are lol. Our taxes are high her considering it's the south. I have a friend in the next town paying the same taxes for a 3 story brick home across the street from a golf course as I am on a cape cod. Cross the line in Alabama and they barely pay anything. My friend makes $130k and uses coupons. He is single with no kids and taxed very hard. He also maxes out 401k. He brings home 52% of his check after tax, 401k, ins. I make considerably less but I have real estate that comes with tax advantages and $0 debt. Plus a minor child as a tax dependant. Plus a grown child that helps. (He is letting me use his 2010 Altima after his sis totaled my car) He is covering the ins. Most my money goes into a Robinhood account. I have another friend who makes amazing money. Eyeballs deep in debt. Sad. Very sad
This screamed high middle class to me in fifty different languages lmao. I am proud of it though, it's literally what comes before rich and I'm self made (my family is poor). Despite being 20 years old I've accomplished a lot in life by having a different mindset than the average millenial. With these principals, I definately see myself in huge places when I'm 30. 🙏🏽
Please don't take this personally, but these types of comments really get my stomach churning. Most upper middle class people think that pursuing massive wealth is "below them" because they like to be morally superior. Granted, their actions suggest otherwise, but they at least try to make it seem to others like they don't care about money. The upper class/mega rich and working class will applaud you for comments like this. Upper middle class people will look down their nose at it. I really don't mean to be offensive, just telling you the reality.
This fits me to a T. I honestly think upper-middle class is the best class as you get that comfortable life, but you aren't completely ignorant, and can blend well around different people.
"You are the average of the 5 people around you!" Very true and important point. My parents were lower working class immigrants, but I, my sister, and most of my cousins attended private school and went to elite small liberal arts colleges and graduate programs. We all spent at least one semester studying in foreign countries, and I did the Peace Corps. By the time we were in our mid 30s, we had accumulated education, cultural capital (we all speak minimum 2 foreign languages) and a network of friends who provide connections. Most of us work for the State Department or city municipal governments or private equity firms. Vacations are actually Easier and Cheaper when you are well traveled because you will have friends living in foreign countries that you can stay with and you probably already speak the local language so you arent stuck in a resort compound. Ex: I am fluent in French, Arabic, and Turkish so I can travel to regions where these countries are located and can live like locals (the locals you know are usually the upper middle class of that country by the mere fact they speak English well and know an American like You!). Last point: Extra-curricular sports activities are important! Don't just belong to a gym, belong to an Indoor/Outdoor-Rockclimbing Club, Tennis Group, Racquet Ball, Running, Cross-fit, Rugby, etc. Why, not just for the health benefits, but for the DIVERSE network of colleagues and friends you will develop from these activities. If you lose a job, need financial advice, etc, this group of friends can actually help you.
I do too. My thoughts are that I'm not rich enough for a financial advisor to pay enough attention to my investments to make a difference. And what do they know? OK, more than me, but I know me!
I think everyone wants to be upper middle class. They’re comfortable and can afford to take time off and live life. Also way more obtainable goal. I’m not they’re yet but I know I will be. I’m already more than halfway there.
1:Start to invest early in a low cost index fund. Educate yourself on « the compund effect» 2: buy property 3: take care of your mental health ( drink as little alcohol you can), cut out narcissists/toxic losers out of your life. 4: learn proper maners. Learn from the Japanese 5: Be minimalistic, that is don’t hoard junk/stuff. This is the lower class way of trying to convince the world they have status. Buy quality/craftsmans products when you can and maintain them. Brands are ok, but stay away from flashy brands like Gucci etc 6: Respect work and craftsmen. And again always stay polite, specialy to the less privledged and unfortunate in life. 7: Don’t try to « time the market» or « politics» short term. It’s a waste of time. The world change, but human nature never change. Be a long term player. That is stay away from the addictions of « short term gratification». This is the main weakness that over time always make the strivers fall back to the lower relms of the system. That is keep your pleasures simple and you won’t ever need to worry about money. 8: keep your suroundings meticulously orderly and clean. If people around you are messy, then you do the cleaning. Don’t complain or bitch. Self discipline and stoicism is the main trait of the generational upper middle class. 9: have your own style, but don’t brag or be narcissistic about it. If you want a expensive item then try to think if you buy it for the attension of others or if it realy is something you care about. Having a love of watches or designer bags can be cool, but these are not investments but liabillitys. If you must buy it then you might just need to buy the best because reselling value is better. And i bet that you are young, so stay away from the FOMO of buying « stuff». Im in my late 30s and rejected buying a car ( i live in a metropolitain city with great public transport), today i have my own apartment ( im singel), and some investments in stock/index funds and savings separate from all this. And i earn about 70k$.
This video makes it sound like having money is some kind of high aspiration when in reality money is nothing more than a tool one can leverage to buy back their freedom and regain control of their time.
As someone who grew up upper-middle class (private schools, country clubs, want for nothing) I can tell you two things. First, we didn't know we were upper-middle class, at least not us kids, it was just normal for us. Same way poor kids don't know they're poor till they see someone with money. Secondly, no one was wearing a top hat or monocle.
I’m currently knocking on the door of upper middle class and will be there firmly within three years. The odd thing with me is that I only have a community college degree which I don’t even use in the field I’m in. I became very fortunate to get a high paying job in manufacturing. Starting around 70k, topping out at over 100k within five years. So I guess I would consider myself Working Upper Middle class.
I grew up in an upper-middle class household but in the Central Europe. And that makes a HUGE difference. Basically, if my parents did the same job in Germany they would have gotten 5x as much money. Ofc the costs of living are also higher but it would equip them with a greater purchasing power. Thus, when I moved to attend a private uni abroad it was the first time in my life I felt 'poor' and that I have to watch my spendings. During my time in Switzerland, I found out that designer brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton were a common accessory, since the prices of luxury brands did not wary across countries, therefore making their products much more accessible. For reference, minimum wage in my country is $630 per month and Swiss minimum wage is $4200 per month.
We are in the lower upper middle class. My motorcycle is 15 years old (and perfect). My wife makes homemade dog treats. I buy used trucks. My wife has a Saturn to haul the dogs to the dog park. She also has a Mini convertible which we bought new. I pulled a trailer across 4 states to buy it, pick it up, haul it home ( and saved money). I bought my used Escalade 4 states away, flew there to pick it up(saved money). I do oil changes/ tuneups/brake jobs/ complicated repairs at home (save money) . Spent 3 years in Marine Corps, earned GI Bill to cover college. ( 19 months in Vietnam) didn’t get shot ( saved money), we live in a house ....paid for....in a neighborhood ...nice neighborhood...below our means ( saved money). House was 3 years when we bought it. I remodeled the house top to bottom, in and out, did it all myself except for the heating system....not licensed for that. Added huge value to the house ( made money). Instead of buying new trucks, bought used, invested the money I didn’t spend on new. Investments made/are making money. Started my contracting business at age 30 with a rusted out station wagon and $100 worth of tools and a burning desire to never have to work for another knuckle dragging boss....ever again. Spent profits on equipment. I’m flooded with opportunity and have been for 35 years. I don’t give two fucks about bling. I rebuild my used trucks to near perfect condition. One has 160 thousand miles on it....looks new. One has 265 thousand miles on it...runs perfect. Escalade has 90 thousand miles on it.....near perfect. Sounds like bragging. I’m just here to say that if you work your ass off, stay sober, live below your means, pursue a vocation that is in demand and pays well, demand of yourself hi business ethics...i.e.....be honest and provide a high quality product there’s no secret to success. I won’t tolerate whining, excuses, weakness, drunkenness/drug bullshit/ tardiness/ laziness. And I love America. We are approaching “middle” upper middle class. Oh, yea, don’t hang around with assholes (see above list) Also, marry a smart woman. Avoid temptation.Self Discipline is its own reward. Dave Heitman Semper Fidelis.
Sadly, I think you have been misinformed about who become a principal/administrator. Teachers remain teachers because they are passionate and love their jobs. They often become principals when they become disillusioned or realize they can't really handle kids and are afraid to leave education. Becoming an admin is an easy transition for them. This is well known within education.
I guess I am upper middle class. My wife and I are professionals. Our combined incomes, and we make about the same, is $190k per year(plus our investments). I've always lived in the same major city but we are both well travels( 30+ countries). We regularly discuss finances(once a week, usually Saturday morning with coffee. Our circle are other professionals in the same tax bracket. I pay for everything in cash or on a credit card that I pay off at the end of the month. but. I did not go to college. I am an immigrant to the US from Mexico. I did attend private school(Catholic school - in a poor neighborhood) but it didn't seem to make a difference as most of my classmates end up poor or lower middle class.
In San Francisco earning $250,000 per year is middle class. Earning $400,000 is upper middle class. I still feel poor though. I am surrounded by people driving Tesla Model X’s in my neighborhood.
I'm upper middle class but as you say in the video it is not something we obsess about. The video is insightful in explaining what makes the UMC tick. I would add that many of the truly wealthy who are self-made come from UMC backgrounds, for example Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg etc.. Many UMC people such as lawyers, accountants and financial advisors work closely with rich clients and the knowledge and connections this provides can make it easier for someone from an UMC family to move up to the next level.
I thought that we were just middle class until I came across this channel. My family and I match with these signs. We are all educated, we have side hustles that are making us extra money and we love our jobs. After college, I could afford to do volunteer work and my parents supported me the entire time. Thank you for sharing this information. 💕
My husband and I have 2 daughters and I never really realized we fall into upper middle class. He’s a captain pilot for a major freight company, we have a small business on the side in trucking, and I work in software industry from home and make a good salary thankfully plus he gets VA financial income from serving in the Air Force so we have 5 sources of income thank God. I’m not complaining but I will say we bust our chops working so hard and so much that we barely enjoy life. We live nicely and own a beautiful home, drive luxury vehicles but it would be nice to actually enjoy the fruits of our labor sometimes. I’m not complaining though. I feel blessed but hope someday to get to that next level so we can sit back and enjoy life by having more TIME!
I usually disagree with these Alux videos because I’ve seen some that weren’t true, but this video was actually spot on. Every one of these is true. I thought they’d say you have to have a new, nice car to be upper middle class and I was about to call this video out on it, but they actually stuck to the Dave Ramsey principles and I subscribed.
I consider myself a common folk, but I hit every single one of these points here. The part about working hard for the sake of working hard ... not just for the money pretty much hits it home for me.
Its the lifestyle inflation that bites you. especially us asians if you are making a professionals mid executive salary as a man save and invest 50% gross at least. My Indian father went from the rice paddies to me set to inherit 8 figures in one gen. He didnt even work that hard as some of the asians I see, its the saving and diligence thats lost on the showing face asian crowd
This fits me for the most part. Highly formally privately educated, very little debt just a mortgage, management level, no credit card debt, a cushion of savings that would last me at least 18 months with no job, retirement investments growing, a side hustle business that makes a little money, but not enough to live on. I could travel nice places if I liked traveling, but I don't. I have a lot of cultural capital. The only things that don't seem to apply are the parts about traveling and moving from place to place. I'm a creature of habit. I think the list is great.
You forgot the Military Class, the true 1% whom used the GI bill and other tools to climb into the UM or middle class. ALUX needs to explore this class closely.
Odin31b good point. My father was a disabled veteran who used his educational benefits to ease my college burden. I leveraged those benefits to start investing at the age of 20. I’m not rich, but I’m not worried about money. I work out of passion, not necessity.
I was a woman in the military in 68-71 and yes, GI Bill was a big help. However, so was affordable education as well as a good job market in my city when I was discharged. Choices like going to work for Mobil Oil that gave employees free stock and pension, later going to work for another company with pension and profit sharing helped build a great stock and income stream. I always enjoyed my jobs and enjoy retirement and my busy life, even while sheltering in place. Have a life plan and back up plans.
It’s funny. The poor tend to think they are middle classed, while the Upper-middle class tend to think they are middle classed. I always felt like I was middle class, but according to these videos I seem to be in the middle of the upper-middle class and wealthy. Lol
There are a lot of negative stereotypes about the rich and the poor so a lot of people try to pass themselves off as the middle-class when they're not. The negative stereotypes keep people competing for the same degrees and jobs without making people so ambitious that they might try to outdo people at the top. It's very convenient for old money types, they can play one up against the other and grab everything for themselves. It works because most people are stupid.
I’m upper lower class not even middle class yet my parents were poor but we’re slowly but surely growing my dad makes 60,000 $ a year after taxes and billing
I thought so too but do you agree that we all "feel comfortable in oursleves?" I would say that upper middle class people are among the most chronically insecure from a subjective perspective. I think this is why it's always upper middle class people who are heading revolutions to overthrow the elite/ruling classes
I commented that I couldn't relate on the "15 Signs You're in the Middle Class" video. I understood why after watching this video. Because I'm in the upper middle class. After getting a master's degree;; having to have traveled to more than 20 countries; having friends from different walks of life (gosh the cultural capital point is so true!); and having side income etc, I can say that all the points are true! I would like to add one more point: UPPER MIDDLE CLASS READ MORE BOOKS THAN THE MIDDLE/LOWER MIDDLE AND THE POOR.
According to the income range, we are upper middle class in our early thirties. It doesn't feel like it when you have a ton of debt, though. It's our own fault for living off student loans for a couple years. We're chipping away at it steadily though.
I know a lot of welders, plumbers, electricians and contractors who never went to college but own their own businesses and earn deep into 6 and seven figures. A degree can help but it,s not the only way
I’m immigrant who came to this country without speaking English and money, I couldn’t afford any education, but I’m doing well and my business runs very successfully
I adopt mist if not all of the signs you mention. 1. I always pay cash for every thing including houses I have bought 2. Have lived and worked in 17 countries 3. Don't care about names prefer quality 4. I have an honours degree in engineering
“Screw the middle classes. I will never accept them. My father’s other family were middle and we we were kept out of sight, hidden from view in his funeral” - Eva Duarte, Evita.
Cannabis. Burgeoning industry with diminishing risk on the cusp of full regulation that produces a product immune to all market forces. It's hard to imagine another industry that is on pace to produce as many unicorns by 2030 as cannabis.
#7 Alux always mentions it, but there are missing details. 1. I put my car on payments. I had the money to pay for it but put it in an investment which pays monthly and covers almost the entire amount. I get 12% per annum and there was a 16% I felt was too risky. In five years I own the car and I will have all my money back. I could sell it and use that money for a big down payment and do it all over again but thin time retain more of my returns or put a regular down payment and get more monthly because of a higher amount of money invested. 2. Mortgage. You house or an investment property the appreciates whether its paid off or not. Capital in the house cannot compound. A mortgage is the cheapest loan you can get. If you take money on of your house or put minimum down and make lower payments, the growth of the capital outside the property is greater AND you still get the increase of the property value when you sell. I have zero emotions to the feel good attitude of paying a mortgage off. If you spend your life doing that and can't make your last payments, they'll take your house. If you pay for your house and then retire with a fixed income, what happens if you get sick? What happens when the cost of living goes up? You'll have to sell it anyway. If you've amassed a decent investment portfolio your mortgage and life's variations are covered. You could also just take the money and pay the house off. Who is going to give you a sub 3% investment loan? Nobody. A mortgage is that opportunity.
I agree 100% on your mortgage comments. If the mortgage interest is 3.375% and the SP 500 returns average 10% annually, why the hell would you want to pay off the tax deductible home loan.😂
@@williewonka6694 That comment was three years ago. My Audi will be paid off in days. I'm still borrowing because since the rates went nuts, and I lend, it's offsetting the cost of borrowing, which I am writing off anyway. The money in the investments I made with the money from not paying my car off immediately still lives and is compounding (monthly) in a tax free account. It is at a decent enough amount that if I sold my car and put a minimum downpayment and put the rest into the investment account, insurance and car payments are covered. Next round insurance, maintenance and car payments will be covered. To offset borrowing rate increases on , B lenders like me up the rates. they go 2 percent, I go 2 percent. I don't lend towards traditional mortgages, more business mortgages. ROR is as high as 15%. Short term and when the business is stabilized they go conventional. You can't get a conventianal business mortgage without a stabilized business. You get an expesnive short term loan and write off the interest.
We went from poor to upper middle class... and yes we started our own successful business with multiple income streams. That's what you have to do to move up without breaking the bank on student loans. Also, as a financial advisor, you need to build a relationship with a good one and you don't need to be wealthy...Find someone who considers their role as having fudicary duty and have them explain to you how.
Have to disagree about credit. Fearing credit is a sign of the lower middle. The UMC buy on credit because they understand the value of their credit history, but pay it off in full every cycle because they can afford everything they bought.
As a working class 23 year old still living with her mother, this video and its comments are kind of surreal to experience haha. Here are my thoughts: Being upper middle class is not a personality trait. Few people get rich because they have motivation and are likeable, wealth is inherited, be that via the will of a grandparent or the privilege of your complexion - poor people are NOT poor because they aren't trying hard enough. I have more cultural capital than many of my peers, I've been taught never to buy things on credit, I have multiple savings accounts which generate generous amounts of interest, I even invented in crypto for a short while - and profited. I am well liked in my job but I only get minimum wage and ultimately, I work much more than I reap the benefits of working and I must do this to live (just) comfortably. My mental health limits my potential, as well as society's predispositions about me, and also means I need more in way of accommodations (and money, under capitalism). There is constant low-level fear that I am about to crash financially. What I want to say is - if you are upper middle class and live with excess and you think of yourself as a good person, you should be donating that excess because chances are some of it was generated out of the exploitation of others, mine and other working class peoples' ancestors.
The immutable key to this class segment is education. Everything in this video is hinged on it to one degree or another. The drive to advance is also required, but is worthless without the education to back it up. This is the Professional Class. Most professions require a license, and licenses require intelligence and education.
Know this comment is over two years old, but for many people, especially those who got liberal arts degrees or went to schools outside the top 80-100 rankings or so, going to college was the worst financial decision of their lives. And I say this as someone with a Master’s Degree, a six figure income, and no debt.
WOW! Thank you alux, almost my whole life, I thought I was poor or at most middle class, but now I realize that my parents put me 14/15 in upper middle class. Thank you mom and dad. For No. 11, I do not have one and will not need one either. I have been learning and doing it myself. For the Bonus point, I don't really care most of the things going on, but if it is a movement for "0" % income tax to everyone just like before 1913 or eliminating of privately owned federal reserve or Repealing of all the "Bullshit amendments after 1913", I am totally in.
This sounds nice. I must be an this upper-middle-class because I work an 8-5 job and soon going to write Screenplays, Television shows, and a book on the side secretly while I'm working at my regular job.
I live the "grey man" lifestyle, invisible, live well below my means, no visible signs of wealth or status. The only exception is I live in an expensive area, but in one of the more modest homes and not ocean front, the ocean is a five minute walk away. works well for me.
The video is spot on, and accurately describe the UMC and their values. In my onion , the cultural capital is the biggest indicator of the UMC, blending education with life experience. Working and loving your dream job that you spent your university years trying to secure, and setting a good example for your kids to follow. Money comes easy, and you know enough to save and employ fellow college educated professionals to help you make the right choices about investments and asset management. Something they don’t mention is the ability to adapt quickly to changing job markets and circumstances that we are now seeing during the current pandemic.
My wife and I are lower upper class, and everything we buy we use our credit cards and get air miles with star alliance airlines, which includes ANA, and United airlines. Then we just book the hotel on booking.com and use the air miles to book the flights. I have not bought an airline ticket with cash or money for more than 15 years, always air miles. Get a good credit card with air miles and always pay off the entire balance without any interest. Only buy what you can afford to pay off, otherwise you'll fall into debt, and will need that financial advisor.
Nicely put Alux! After all the videos I watched from this channel, I think that I can classify myself as an upper middle class. I am not as mainstream as the poor, nor I can flash the finances that I have like the rich. At the same time, I had not also fallen prey to the typical middle class. Thank you Alux for finding where I sit in the society.
My husband is a Union carpenter. He makes more than I do. I have insurance licenses, but can't find work, so I temp so we are in this class. We invest in Fundrise and I do surveys. We barely have any debt. My car is almost paid off as is our house. Credit cards are almost paid off as well. We have never been on a cruise. Myrtle Beach is a favorite. Glamping is our thing.
I just took the bar exam in February and we find out our results in two weeks 😳🤭😬🤞🏻 I actually identify with most of these points including private school. My judicial unpaid internship with circuit court was supposed to start in May but our courts are closed due to COVID. TBD
I'll say out loud until this day, one of the best channel ever that inspired me to think like a billionaire, build up habits I didn't possess in the past and get outta comfort zone.... Still working and keep working until I go cross eyed
My dad had 5 other siblings. My dad drop out of college, I forgot why. He only moved 1 time from his home state and returned to his home state. He went to a State school. He is in whole different industries than he went to school in. He could retire now if he really really wanted to. He buys stuff on credit he just pays his bill every month. This list is kind of from the view of from the person who looked at Upper Middle Class from the view of research points. My dad has taught me that 401k/Saving builds wealth not how much money you can spend at mall with out being worried about your bills at end of the month. Upper middle class people make a list of what things are most important to them and sink their money in to them. They do not sink all of the money in to every thing. When the most important stuff is up to there standards then the dump there money in to stuff that they do not really need. You need a high paying job to do all of the stuff that you want to do
Excellent comments. The most important thing is saving and investing. Keep this going until you are able each year to make more in profits, than you earn from your Monday through Friday job. When this happens, then you will have true financial freedom.
What we could also mention is that upper middle class usually outsources a lot of their daily chores to help, like cleaning, gardening etc. The difference with the rich would be that upper middle class can afford help maybe 1-2 per week while the rich would have full time staff.
Alux, you always forget accountants as high earners. Most of us have our own businesses or firms. The possibilities are unlimited with a good financial education. I have my hands in lots of things.
Hello Aluxers! Which of these qualities and habits of the upper middle class do you think you could adopt, and could change your life for the better?
Mind Mastery: www.alux.com/mindmastery
Get a free audiobook thanks to Audible: www.alux.com/freebook
15 Signs You’re in the Middle Class: y2u.be/tsEdlF2Subw
Ok
Love yuh vids
YOU CONSIDER 100K TO 500K PER ANUM UPR MIDL CLASS HOW DO U CLASSIFY THE RICH
I do not have 7 years to waste I'm in my damn late 30s not a teeny bopper 😂
$100,000 a year is not middle class in Sunny Southern California,3 of Slyvester Stallone daughters blow through $100K like nothing aka slys money on a light day, like I blow through $1K ,luckily I'm a union plumber and still flexing I have minimal Bills and im debt free and no children and my gf is still in the front lines at Walmart post quarantine we are healthy no covid 19 for us shes staying safe at work and so am I, shes going to be moving up soon at walmart.
One more point for the upper middle class: you don't blindly and crazily stalk celebrities.
This is not exactly accurate... You may not stalk celebrities, but you do try to relocate to where celebrities do live, vacation, associate, etc in order to add to your own "clout"(as the kids say these days)... just saying.
True !!
F Sharp I’m upper middle class and don’t follow anyone but God
I think I belong to the middle class since I have a net worth at around 8 million CAD. But I have the mind set of the rich, I don’t idolize anyone, the only people I truely believe in is myself
This is so nice to know. I see people idolise celebs but I never understood the fascination.
The one thing I would slightly disagree with is #7 on credit. The upper middle class still has to take out mortgages, so they depend on credit. However, unlike the rest of the middle and lower classes, the upper middle class has learned how to properly utilize credit to get what they want. They play the credit game correctly - they build a high score and gain access to the benefits credit can offer, while also having the cash to back it up.
True. They pay their bills on time to rack up their airline miles than take vacation every year. And play the credit card game perfectly.
@Geoffrey Harris I disagree. Upper middle class are buying homes in the $1-2 million range, but are still part of the ‘professional class.’ They are high paid doctors and lawyers with incomes around $200k or so. If someone is buying a $1.5 million house in cash, they are likely upper class not upper middle.
upper middle class are not rich like the upper class , so they have to use mortgage to buy a house
@@bradzillabrave6856 in my area, Frisco, TX the average income is pushing $220k. Not middle class or even upper at all. That’s almost $100k higher than Austin a fixer upper is $500k!
I think the upper middle class probably are no longer having mortgages as their net worth are substantial to live off from them..maybe around 10-50 millions of more .. they're business people with around few hundred of employees...chairman ceo of mid size corp something... I think they not just knew how to play the credit extremely well but continue expanding it and just about to join the upper class
I always thought that upper class as those who are of hundred millions, billionaires, or ultra net worth range..president of global conglomerates, etc..😆
I only want to say I’m a blue collar worker and made 178k in 7 months in 2019. You don’t need a degree at all to do well and be upper middle class.
My Grandparents were immigrants to this country but now own 10 apartment buildings in San Francisco and they are all paid for.
You don’t need a degree, but it help in 2020. Statistically, most wealthy people have university degree.
Congratulations! I hope you prosper even more!
@@olyl3859 That they don’t use or need 👁👄👁
@@themonsterwithin4000 well it help them getting weathier ! So yes they need it
Upper middle class here. Very comfortable with life. 🙌🏿👏🏿💯
But striving to be better!! 🙏🏿✍🏿
David Houston Get it!
@@KingNeutral1 yes sir! 👏🏿
I admire your comment and totally relate. We are comfortable thankful and never forget where we came from. However, I want to keep growing and see how far I can actually get to.
@@chrisskimmerhorn5032 absolutely sir! 🤜🏿🤛🏻
Upper middle class still means not upper class, keep going!
This video is spot on! I was fortunate enough to be born into the upper-middle class and I think one of the biggest differences which you described between the rich and upper-middle is the focus on being EMPLOYED or becoming the EMPLOYER. The upper-middle will usually be the best in their professions (law, medicine, engineering, executive managers) as an employee, usually from achieving top-tier education, but the rich will be those who are employing them. There are pros and cons to both. Also, I completely agree with the point about cultural capital. The upper-middle excel, probably better than the rich, at developing a broader understanding of the world and creating social movements; something I'd personally prioritize more, over only focusing on monetary goals, but it's down to what one value's in life.
As always, great video Alux!
The pitch forks are coming for you
"You are the average of the 5 people around you!" Very true and important point. My parents were lower working class immigrants, but I, my sister, and most of my cousins attended private school and went to elite small liberal arts colleges and graduate programs. We all spent at least one semester studying in foreign countries, and I did the Peace Corps. By the time we were in our mid 30s, we had accumulated education, cultural capital (we all speak minimum 2 foreign languages) and a network of friends who provide connections. Most of us work for the State Department or city municipal governments or private equity firms. Vacations are actually Easier and Cheaper when you are well traveled because you will have friends living in foreign countries that you can stay with and you probably already speak the local language so you arent stuck in a resort compound. Ex: I am fluent in French, Arabic, and Turkish so I can travel to regions where these countries are located and can live like locals (the locals you know are usually the upper middle class of that country by the mere fact they speak English well and know an American like You!).
@@juniorjames7076 We are U.S. citizens. Citizens of the United States. The United States is a country but America its not a country America its a continent. The whole entire continent was name America 269 years way before the united states of America became a nation or even existed.
Makes sense that the rich employs the upper-middle class. Afterall, who else can afford to pay them?
Wholeheartedly agree with this. But the upper/working class generally team up against us and say to hell with all our moral superiority complexes. I think ultimately they have more in common with each other than they do with us.
Upper middle class people do quite often position themselves as "above" monetary goals as a way to signal virtue and play for social status. All while continuing to live extremely comfortable lifestyles. I can see why the hypocrisy of this could be utterly nauseating for many people.
The most interesting factor is the one in which the upper middle class excels even over the rich, Cultural Capital. That is the knowledge of art, literature, music, history, geography etc.
Exactly
Makes sense. The rich often don’t bother with experiences outside of their luxury lifestyle. Why get a hotel room when you have a staffed luxury yacht? Why try a local dish when your chef will whip up your favorite seared steak and goat cheese risotto for lunch? Why take an excursion with other tourists when you can hire a private guide?
As a result, it makes sense they would miss out on the cultural experiences by traveling like that.
Ol' Getty would've have disagreed.😂
Most of us built up our cultural capital by educating ourselves, traveling, reading etc. The wealthy simply cash out for a Dali or Picasso and hang them in their living room. And it probably works with the interior design of the room too.
9) “You are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with”
- “What if we don’t spend time with 5 people?”
Then, you are wholesome.
Highly educated from good universities tend to commit themselves more to their profession than starting up a business or coming up with way to generate more income.
Exactly but if I were to start a business it's not exactly raising your own restaurant or shops & real estate but to me I start using money to invest on stock markets, dividends & crypto currency just to name a few using only your mobile phone & laptops
@@Manuel-gu9ls
Correct
Exactly!
The video covers what you're saying by stating that a lot of ultra-rich individuals don't go through the traditional paths to "success." Those that do, however, still generally enjoy the upper middle-class lifestyle.
@@Manuel-gu9ls That's not starting a business though, that's investing. Also, if you're investing, cryptocurrency is the calling card of the basement jockey. You don't invest in dividends either, instead, they are something that you receive from investments you already own. Not to say that you don't know what you're talking about, but definitely things you would expect the wealthiest man alive to understand.
My parents are upper middle class and everything here is true but for my parents they grew up poor and didn’t get a private education and they put me in a public school
I think most middle, upper middle, & the rich started off broke or poor. But when they do achieve that class, those are the ones to look up to the most since they had to work hard to get there instead of getting help from their parents. Those are the upper middle class that I have always admired. The ones that worked to get there all on their own like your parents did.
In Britain, "Public school" meant a private school like Eaton. That's where people like Boris Johnson went to school. Confusing, isn't it?
@@hornkraft9438 Eton*
Also a lot of upper middle class live in great school systems so the public schools are some of the best in the nation and only problem children went to private school. That was the case where I grew up in NJ and similar to where my fiancé grew up outside of Chicago (north shore).
Yea but they probably had you in the best neighborhood with a high ranking public school
My boyfriend and I have been having lifestyle compatibility issues. I want to move for my career goals, take risks, and travel because that is what my family does. I have been living this lifestyle since in the womb. He wants the opposite. Watching this makes me realize that we grew up in different social classes. He calls me an idealist and himself a realist.
Depends he may eclipse you and reach the upperclass, to rocket yourself there lowering your lifestyle and aggressively investing the difference is the way to go I make 220k at 30. I could ball out but I save more than half that s year and invest. Combine with my inheritance I will comfortably reach 8 figures and thats when lifestyles differ truly. Living large in your 20's and 30's is the way of fools for men.
Try to talk about what you want to accomplish together and see how to get there. If you don't align, then perhaps you guys need to define your values a bit more. Communication is key. Like for me, I choose work that would allow me to travel, instead of just travelling without earning income. My hubby took me on my first "real" vacation as an adult after our business started growing. You can build your dream life one step at a time. You don't need to take life in all at once. Balance. Being opposites can be a blessing.
@@dohagen2442 Because the woman is giving up their a?? to not be homeless until they're no good not good looking and what not, until then you'll see them homeless. Sorry to say but true.
If he has skills and sees a future with you, it can work out. Sometimes we want people to be ready made when really it's the magic of two committed people coming together that forges major transformations. When I met my husband 5 years ago, he was lower middle class but he had a marketable skill and great work ethic. With my brains and his brawn, we are a solid upper middle class team.
Sign 16: you didn’t get a stimulus check
THIS. No check for me, but I would kill for some Purell or toilet paper. Sheesh.
virtualval2001 😆 truth
Hahaha so true... the government thinks I don’t need it, thankfully they are right 👌
Agreed. It’s hard to be upset about this one. It’s a good problem to have, and other people need it more. At least that’s what I keep telling myself anyway.
LMAO
15 out of 15. Moved from poverty to upper middle class by working & learning continuously >20 yrs. And still doing so. Eventually, I could dump my initial financial advisors and do things by myself along the way. Also, I increased and improved my perspective on perceived risk towards business and investing activities.
So, stay in motion and keep pushing! Climbing the Income ladder or social ladder is a constant process. And you can enjoy the process!😊
Accurate, except I use my credit card for EVERYTHING for the cashback rewards and then I pay it back immediately so I don’t owe interest.
Same thing though as not using credit, you don't carry a balance and don't pay interest. You use it like a debit card, and pay the credit card company immediately and don't let them play you. I do the same.
This means you are still poor. But smart as well
@@GonMandal lol I’m not poor. Just love free stuff. 😭
They're referring more to not carrying a balance, instead paying off the balance in full each month. UMC are the people most like to have PRESTIGE cards, yet no CC debt. You all take things too literally.
I sell vacation packages that benefit charity. Then I buy one for myself
Oddly, I share many traits with the UMC, without having the income. Grew up poor, but got a very broad education with lots of beyond the average experiences. Money doesn't buy happiness, but poverty sucks.
money helps to buy happiness and smiles.
I know everybody says
Money can't buy happiness
But it could buy me a boat, it could buy me a truck to pull it
It could buy me a Yeti 110 iced-down with some silver bullets
Yeah, and I know what they say,
Money can't buy everything
Well, maybe so,
But it could buy me a boat.
Poverty screams. Wealth whispers.
Money is nice to make life easier but not happier. Happiness is in family much more than in money.
That just means you still got your destiny unfolding for you my friend. 🙏
Being good with money. Buying quality over name brands. You make smart choices.
I believe I am upper middle class.... I have 6 spare rolls of toilet paper and an extra bag of dog food for the coming weeks. BOOM!
XD LOL
Yes your position in the upper middle class is solid
@@Speechiegirl1 So true! I want everyone out there to know I am willing to trade a few rolls of toilet paper for gold or high end sports cars. No low balling me on this... this is Charmin, not the cheap stuff.
Bar soaps be a mega plus
@@omiplufs256 Now hold on there... we are talking upper middle class... not the 0.1% :P
The defining characteristic of the upper middle class is the ability to think for yourself.
Everyone I know, including me, distrusts the mainstream media, and does not use social media. No celebrity worship. No spending on things to 'look' rich.
Being more cultured, there are all kinds of free learning apps that I do instead of social media. I am not upper middle class yet but I have learned more outside of school then in school.
if you cant stand John Legend and Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, you are upper middle class.
@Monday, Tuesday Is My Weekend clearly didn’t literacy in school. I apologize i was most likely drunk when I wrote this. Clearly didn’t literacy in school
I just found out I am upper middle class. I’m an engineer turned management consultant
That's great news! Love to hear people doing well
Cool! management consultant turned engineer here~ =P
Are you human?
I'm a high end house painter in Nashville, with a degree in sculpture.
@@paulbrimble8204 100% human
"You don't buy things on credit," for the upper middle class doesn't mean they don't use credit cards. It can mean that they use credit cards to earn rewards, but because they pay the cards off immediately, they do not have any credit card debt. In other words, they have the ability to pay for things with cash, but choose to use credit cards rather than debit cards to earn rewards while keeping credit card balances on their monthly statements at zero.
Exactly.
Yes because they have huge salaries so they can do that. The rest of us meanwhile, have to raise our kids, pay our bills, etc., and sometimes credit is the only way we can survive. There IS nothing left over to save. And the credit card companies and the insurance companies are killing us with their high interest rates and charges. It's impossible for people in our "class" to get anywhere because we get NO breaks, unlike the rich and the poor.
Yeah this one isnt fully true because credit, if used correctly, can be highly beneficial
God is good. I grew up in a broken home, got recruited to join gangs and sell drugs when I was 9, avoided them, went to college, got a Mechanical Engineering degree, and now I’m in the upper middle class, have lived all over the world , and I’m dominating my industry And get Recruiter to join companies all over the world.
God is good and I want as many of my inner city kids as possible to follow my journey into the upper middle class .
C Phillips You’re an inspiration!
Investing in the stock market is the best option to make a passive income. Virtually all the markets are crazy, most people pay more attention to the shiniest position on the graph, I’m keeping a diversified portfolio.
In general knowledge without experience, skills, and knowledge the markets indeed can become very inundating.
since the pandemic till today I don’t rely on full time jobs for money cause my partnership with ROCHELLE DUNGCA-SCHREIBER.
ROCHELLE DUNGCA-SCHREIBER actually pay off and I’m passively earning incomes. system has kept my portfolio elevated and healthy.
How do I reach her, you got any possible means of getting more info on her services?
Look up with her name on the web, you will find everything you need to know about her services.
Mostly well-paid salaried professionals. They also tend to be the busiest people around with little time to enjoy the fruit of their proceeds.
You've got a good point. They make great money but can't enjoy most of it.
Surprisingly, there are a lot of hourly union jobs that fall into this category as well, airline pilots for example. They have a lot of time to enjoy life.
@@vickieclark5931 That is because enjoyment does not come from money from those in the upper middle class. The enjoyment comes in achieving their goals. The tides of fortune can always take away your money, but they can't take away your experience that you created that building, established that legal precedent, wrote that award winning novel, or saved those lives on the operating table.
@@vickieclark5931 we do in retirement however!!!!
This is important. I am not upper middle class (I barely make middle class) but I moved out of the wealthier suburbs, gave up a well paid job and moved to an obscure small town on the outskirts of the city 25yrs ago, started working for myself and never looked back. I need time for myself more than anything else. I don't make debt, own property and live modestly in every respect. I feel I have something worth more than money.
A family of 4 making $120,000 a year is in an entire different level than the same family making $485,000.
Depends on how much debt they've created.
@@anniealexander9616 And where they live.....120k in most places in the South is the equivalent of 485k up North
@@cameronfranklin5004 True! It kind of depends on the area. I live in a small town with high taxes. New York Times did a little article on how backwards we are lol. Our taxes are high her considering it's the south. I have a friend in the next town paying the same taxes for a 3 story brick home across the street from a golf course as I am on a cape cod.
Cross the line in Alabama and they barely pay anything.
My friend makes $130k and uses coupons. He is single with no kids and taxed very hard. He also maxes out 401k. He brings home 52% of his check after tax, 401k, ins.
I make considerably less but I have real estate that comes with tax advantages and $0 debt. Plus a minor child as a tax dependant. Plus a grown child that helps. (He is letting me use his 2010 Altima after his sis totaled my car) He is covering the ins. Most my money goes into a Robinhood account.
I have another friend who makes amazing money. Eyeballs deep in debt. Sad. Very sad
This screamed high middle class to me in fifty different languages lmao. I am proud of it though, it's literally what comes before rich and I'm self made (my family is poor). Despite being 20 years old I've accomplished a lot in life by having a different mindset than the average millenial. With these principals, I definately see myself in huge places when I'm 30. 🙏🏽
Good for you! Keep working hard!
It’s so nice to hear and you should be so proud of yourself! 😊😊😊
@Latina_xo Congratulations for your success and best of luck for the future !
Don’t neglect your personal life and happiness just for money.
Please don't take this personally, but these types of comments really get my stomach churning. Most upper middle class people think that pursuing massive wealth is "below them" because they like to be morally superior. Granted, their actions suggest otherwise, but they at least try to make it seem to others like they don't care about money.
The upper class/mega rich and working class will applaud you for comments like this. Upper middle class people will look down their nose at it.
I really don't mean to be offensive, just telling you the reality.
This fits me to a T. I honestly think upper-middle class is the best class as you get that comfortable life, but you aren't completely ignorant, and can blend well around different people.
I’m biased but I agree I don’t feel I need to be rich. My life is great
I definitely fall into this category. Not wealthy enough to be considered super wealthy but better off than middle
"You are the average of the 5 people around you!" Very true and important point. My parents were lower working class immigrants, but I, my sister, and most of my cousins attended private school and went to elite small liberal arts colleges and graduate programs. We all spent at least one semester studying in foreign countries, and I did the Peace Corps. By the time we were in our mid 30s, we had accumulated education, cultural capital (we all speak minimum 2 foreign languages) and a network of friends who provide connections. Most of us work for the State Department or city municipal governments or private equity firms. Vacations are actually Easier and Cheaper when you are well traveled because you will have friends living in foreign countries that you can stay with and you probably already speak the local language so you arent stuck in a resort compound. Ex: I am fluent in French, Arabic, and Turkish so I can travel to regions where these countries are located and can live like locals (the locals you know are usually the upper middle class of that country by the mere fact they speak English well and know an American like You!). Last point: Extra-curricular sports activities are important! Don't just belong to a gym, belong to an Indoor/Outdoor-Rockclimbing Club, Tennis Group, Racquet Ball, Running, Cross-fit, Rugby, etc. Why, not just for the health benefits, but for the DIVERSE network of colleagues and friends you will develop from these activities. If you lose a job, need financial advice, etc, this group of friends can actually help you.
Having a financial advisor... don’t have one, I handle my own investments
Same here!
I do too. My thoughts are that I'm not rich enough for a financial advisor to pay enough attention to my investments to make a difference. And what do they know? OK, more than me, but I know me!
Yeah. Maybe one day in the future if it makes sense.
I think everyone wants to be upper middle class. They’re comfortable and can afford to take time off and live life. Also way more obtainable goal.
I’m not they’re yet but I know I will be. I’m already more than halfway there.
Keep at it. It sneaks up on you. One day you realize you can afford to retire.
Yeah just stat focused. You’ll get there
@R Cruz By your logic, I guess you're not upper middle class either since your comment is full of spelling errors!
1:Start to invest early in a low cost index fund. Educate yourself on « the compund effect»
2: buy property
3: take care of your mental health ( drink as little alcohol you can), cut out narcissists/toxic losers out of your life.
4: learn proper maners. Learn from the Japanese
5: Be minimalistic, that is don’t hoard junk/stuff. This is the lower class way of trying to convince the world they have status. Buy quality/craftsmans products when you can and maintain them. Brands are ok, but stay away from flashy brands like Gucci etc
6: Respect work and craftsmen. And again always stay polite, specialy to the less privledged and unfortunate in life.
7: Don’t try to « time the market» or « politics» short term. It’s a waste of time. The world change, but human nature never change. Be a long term player. That is stay away from the addictions of « short term gratification». This is the main weakness that over time always make the strivers fall back to the lower relms of the system. That is keep your pleasures simple and you won’t ever need to worry about money.
8: keep your suroundings meticulously orderly and clean. If people around you are messy, then you do the cleaning. Don’t complain or bitch. Self discipline and stoicism is the main trait of the generational upper middle class.
9: have your own style, but don’t brag or be narcissistic about it. If you want a expensive item then try to think if you buy it for the attension of others or if it realy is something you care about. Having a love of watches or designer bags can be cool, but these are not investments but liabillitys. If you must buy it then you might just need to buy the best because reselling value is better. And i bet that you are young, so stay away from the FOMO of buying « stuff». Im in my late 30s and rejected buying a car ( i live in a metropolitain city with great public transport), today i have my own apartment ( im singel), and some investments in stock/index funds and savings separate from all this. And i earn about 70k$.
The upper middle want to be "elite" even more than you want to be upper middle
This video makes it sound like having money is some kind of high aspiration when in reality money is nothing more than a tool one can leverage to buy back their freedom and regain control of their time.
I agree
Yup
This video is toxic. I agree w u
This is why this channel is so degenerate
As someone who grew up upper-middle class (private schools, country clubs, want for nothing) I can tell you two things. First, we didn't know we were upper-middle class, at least not us kids, it was just normal for us. Same way poor kids don't know they're poor till they see someone with money. Secondly, no one was wearing a top hat or monocle.
I’m currently knocking on the door of upper middle class and will be there firmly within three years. The odd thing with me is that I only have a community college degree which I don’t even use in the field I’m in. I became very fortunate to get a high paying job in manufacturing. Starting around 70k, topping out at over 100k within five years. So I guess I would consider myself Working Upper Middle class.
Bahamas? I feel like everyone goes there.
I grew up in an upper-middle class household but in the Central Europe. And that makes a HUGE difference. Basically, if my parents did the same job in Germany they would have gotten 5x as much money. Ofc the costs of living are also higher but it would equip them with a greater purchasing power. Thus, when I moved to attend a private uni abroad it was the first time in my life I felt 'poor' and that I have to watch my spendings. During my time in Switzerland, I found out that designer brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton were a common accessory, since the prices of luxury brands did not wary across countries, therefore making their products much more accessible. For reference, minimum wage in my country is $630 per month and Swiss minimum wage is $4200 per month.
We are in the lower upper middle class. My motorcycle is 15 years old (and perfect). My wife makes homemade dog treats. I buy used trucks. My wife has a Saturn to haul the dogs to the dog park. She also has a Mini convertible which we bought new. I pulled a trailer across 4 states to buy it, pick it up, haul it home ( and saved money). I bought my used Escalade 4 states away, flew there to pick it up(saved money). I do oil changes/ tuneups/brake jobs/ complicated repairs at home (save money) . Spent 3 years in Marine Corps, earned GI Bill to cover college. ( 19 months in Vietnam) didn’t get shot ( saved money), we live in a house ....paid for....in a neighborhood ...nice neighborhood...below our means ( saved money). House was 3 years when we bought it. I remodeled the house top to bottom, in and out, did it all myself except for the heating system....not licensed for that. Added huge value to the house ( made money). Instead of buying new trucks, bought used, invested the money I didn’t spend on new. Investments made/are making money. Started my contracting business at age 30 with a rusted out station wagon and $100 worth of tools and a burning desire to never have to work for another knuckle dragging boss....ever again. Spent profits on equipment. I’m flooded with opportunity and have been for 35 years. I don’t give two fucks about bling. I rebuild my used trucks to near perfect condition. One has 160 thousand miles on it....looks new. One has 265 thousand miles on it...runs perfect. Escalade has 90 thousand miles on it.....near perfect. Sounds like bragging. I’m just here to say that if you work your ass off, stay sober, live below your means, pursue a vocation that is in demand and pays well, demand of yourself hi business ethics...i.e.....be honest and provide a high quality product there’s no secret to success. I won’t tolerate whining, excuses, weakness, drunkenness/drug bullshit/ tardiness/ laziness. And I love America. We are approaching “middle” upper middle class. Oh, yea, don’t hang around with assholes (see above list) Also, marry a smart woman. Avoid temptation.Self Discipline is its own reward. Dave Heitman Semper Fidelis.
Sadly, I think you have been misinformed about who become a principal/administrator. Teachers remain teachers because they are passionate and love their jobs. They often become principals when they become disillusioned or realize they can't really handle kids and are afraid to leave education. Becoming an admin is an easy transition for them. This is well known within education.
I guess I am upper middle class. My wife and I are professionals. Our combined incomes, and we make about the same, is $190k per year(plus our investments). I've always lived in the same major city but we are both well travels( 30+ countries). We regularly discuss finances(once a week, usually Saturday morning with coffee. Our circle are other professionals in the same tax bracket. I pay for everything in cash or on a credit card that I pay off at the end of the month.
but.
I did not go to college. I am an immigrant to the US from Mexico. I did attend private school(Catholic school - in a poor neighborhood) but it didn't seem to make a difference as most of my classmates end up poor or lower middle class.
Good for you! In my area, many self employed are well trained but not necessarily college. Plumbers make $90/hr
In San Francisco earning $250,000 per year is middle class. Earning $400,000 is upper middle class. I still feel poor though. I am surrounded by people driving Tesla Model X’s in my neighborhood.
I'm upper middle class but as you say in the video it is not something we obsess about. The video is insightful in explaining what makes the UMC tick. I would add that many of the truly wealthy who are self-made come from UMC backgrounds, for example Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg etc.. Many UMC people such as lawyers, accountants and financial advisors work closely with rich clients and the knowledge and connections this provides can make it easier for someone from an UMC family to move up to the next level.
I thought that we were just middle class until I came across this channel. My family and I match with these signs. We are all educated, we have side hustles that are making us extra money and we love our jobs. After college, I could afford to do volunteer work and my parents supported me the entire time. Thank you for sharing this information. 💕
I'm suprised that a combined income of $100k is upper middle class.
Depends on the cost of living where you live.
Its really not about money at all. Money can buy comfort, not class
I am in the upper-middle class and very happy to be there. Yes, I have aspirations, but love my life.
I started off lower class and ended up here. I don’t have the education, but I do have the income and net worth to qualify.
My husband and I have 2 daughters and I never really realized we fall into upper middle class. He’s a captain pilot for a major freight company, we have a small business on the side in trucking, and I work in software industry from home and make a good salary thankfully plus he gets VA financial income from serving in the Air Force so we have 5 sources of income thank God. I’m not complaining but I will say we bust our chops working so hard and so much that we barely enjoy life. We live nicely and own a beautiful home, drive luxury vehicles but it would be nice to actually enjoy the fruits of our labor sometimes. I’m not complaining though. I feel blessed but hope someday to get to that next level so we can sit back and enjoy life by having more TIME!
I usually disagree with these Alux videos because I’ve seen some that weren’t true, but this video was actually spot on. Every one of these is true. I thought they’d say you have to have a new, nice car to be upper middle class and I was about to call this video out on it, but they actually stuck to the Dave Ramsey principles and I subscribed.
You forgot about us sales people. Successful salespeople tend to be sociable, high income individuals. However, we don't always have higher education.
I consider myself a common folk, but I hit every single one of these points here. The part about working hard for the sake of working hard ... not just for the money pretty much hits it home for me.
Its the lifestyle inflation that bites you. especially us asians if you are making a professionals mid executive salary as a man save and invest 50% gross at least. My Indian father went from the rice paddies to me set to inherit 8 figures in one gen. He didnt even work that hard as some of the asians I see, its the saving and diligence thats lost on the showing face asian crowd
I fully agree! Working hard for fulfillment is very important, in my view.😊
62 retired and very upper middle class and very happy 😃 life is good and enjoy life
This fits me for the most part. Highly formally privately educated, very little debt just a mortgage, management level, no credit card debt, a cushion of savings that would last me at least 18 months with no job, retirement investments growing, a side hustle business that makes a little money, but not enough to live on. I could travel nice places if I liked traveling, but I don't. I have a lot of cultural capital. The only things that don't seem to apply are the parts about traveling and moving from place to place. I'm a creature of habit. I think the list is great.
Technically they are the middle-class with some money to spare
Pretty much..
@@Alvin-xs7db spare to have things mentioned in the video
Exactly. "Glorified rich middle class"
Does $65 dollars matter / count ? Does my badge of alux mean anything or everything 😳 ?
@@Alvin-xs7db around $65
I'm an electrician and I'm up there with doctors when it comes to income. It wasn't easy though.
You forgot the Military Class, the true 1% whom used the GI bill and other tools to climb into the UM or middle class. ALUX needs to explore this class closely.
Odin31b thats a good topic. Alot of people from a military background all seem to be well off bc they advtg of the gi bill
Odin31b good point. My father was a disabled veteran who used his educational benefits to ease my college burden. I leveraged those benefits to start investing at the age of 20. I’m not rich, but I’m not worried about money. I work out of passion, not necessity.
I was a woman in the military in 68-71 and yes, GI Bill was a big help. However, so was affordable education as well as a good job market in my city when I was discharged. Choices like going to work for Mobil Oil that gave employees free stock and pension, later going to work for another company with pension and profit sharing helped build a great stock and income stream. I always enjoyed my jobs and enjoy retirement and my busy life, even while sheltering in place. Have a life plan and back up plans.
Odin31b not enough military members fall into this category. Of all veterans, maybe 0.01% become “rich”. The rest live paycheck to paycheck
It’s funny. The poor tend to think they are middle classed, while the Upper-middle class tend to think they are middle classed. I always felt like I was middle class, but according to these videos I seem to be in the middle of the upper-middle class and wealthy. Lol
What a horrible thing, to separate people by classes. I could not believe the title of this video.
There are a lot of negative
stereotypes about the rich
and the poor so a lot of
people try to pass themselves
off as the middle-class when
they're not. The negative
stereotypes keep people
competing for the same
degrees and jobs without
making people so
ambitious that they might
try to outdo people at the
top. It's very convenient
for old money types, they
can play one up against
the other and grab
everything for themselves.
It works because most
people are stupid.
@@mebcn5850 That’s reality. People are in different classes whether it is specifically labeled, known, and liked or not.
@@markesblack its the reality of a dumb species.
I’m upper lower class not even middle class yet my parents were poor but we’re slowly but surely growing my dad makes 60,000 $ a year after taxes and billing
This is literally my life, from A to Z. All though, my financial advisor sometimes mails me out of his own motivation. So that's nice :)
I thought so too but do you agree that we all "feel comfortable in oursleves?" I would say that upper middle class people are among the most chronically insecure from a subjective perspective.
I think this is why it's always upper middle class people who are heading revolutions to overthrow the elite/ruling classes
If you can afford to survive this crisis, without having to collect unemployment, you’re upper middle class
Not true if your job is essential but low paying u r working
Having more connections. That’s something I need to have.
I commented that I couldn't relate on the "15 Signs You're in the Middle Class" video. I understood why after watching this video. Because I'm in the upper middle class. After getting a master's degree;; having to have traveled to more than 20 countries; having friends from different walks of life (gosh the cultural capital point is so true!); and having side income etc, I can say that all the points are true! I would like to add one more point: UPPER MIDDLE CLASS READ MORE BOOKS THAN THE MIDDLE/LOWER MIDDLE AND THE POOR.
And peer reviewed journals.
True.
According to the income range, we are upper middle class in our early thirties. It doesn't feel like it when you have a ton of debt, though. It's our own fault for living off student loans for a couple years. We're chipping away at it steadily though.
Honestly IMO upper middle class (and even middle middle class) is the sweetest spot in life. This lady is spot on even with her pompous tone haha.
I know a lot of welders, plumbers, electricians and contractors who never went to college but own their own businesses and earn deep into 6 and seven figures. A degree can help but it,s not the only way
Yeah, and when they eventually blow out a knee or herniate a lumbar disc, they’re washed up in their early 50s.
Upper middle class is the perfect class to be, they don’t waste their lives pursuing money and they don’t suffer the struggles for money
I agree!
I belong to this class. Well, I was born in this class. I need to get into this class myself and do even better 😊😉
Well you hace privileges to get wherever you want. That's the only difference between other social classes people were born into.
I’m immigrant who came to this country without speaking English and money, I couldn’t afford any education, but I’m doing well and my business runs very successfully
Next video
15 signs you are lower middle class
I adopt mist if not all of the signs you mention.
1. I always pay cash for every thing including houses I have bought
2. Have lived and worked in 17 countries
3. Don't care about names prefer quality
4. I have an honours degree in engineering
“Screw the middle classes. I will never accept them. My father’s other family were middle and we we were kept out of sight, hidden from view in his funeral” - Eva Duarte, Evita.
Upper middle class here. Happy with my life(parent dependent) but still upgrading constant, spending on needs not wants.
There should be a video on 15 business you can start in upcoming recession
Chinmay Rawool she did.
Cannabis. Burgeoning industry with diminishing risk on the cusp of full regulation that produces a product immune to all market forces. It's hard to imagine another industry that is on pace to produce as many unicorns by 2030 as cannabis.
#7 Alux always mentions it, but there are missing details.
1. I put my car on payments. I had the money to pay for it but put it in an investment which pays monthly and covers almost the entire amount. I get 12% per annum and there was a 16% I felt was too risky. In five years I own the car and I will have all my money back. I could sell it and use that money for a big down payment and do it all over again but thin time retain more of my returns or put a regular down payment and get more monthly because of a higher amount of money invested.
2. Mortgage. You house or an investment property the appreciates whether its paid off or not. Capital in the house cannot compound. A mortgage is the cheapest loan you can get. If you take money on of your house or put minimum down and make lower payments, the growth of the capital outside the property is greater AND you still get the increase of the property value when you sell. I have zero emotions to the feel good attitude of paying a mortgage off. If you spend your life doing that and can't make your last payments, they'll take your house. If you pay for your house and then retire with a fixed income, what happens if you get sick? What happens when the cost of living goes up? You'll have to sell it anyway. If you've amassed a decent investment portfolio your mortgage and life's variations are covered. You could also just take the money and pay the house off. Who is going to give you a sub 3% investment loan? Nobody. A mortgage is that opportunity.
I agree 100% on your mortgage comments. If the mortgage interest is 3.375% and the SP 500 returns average 10% annually, why the hell would you want to pay off the tax deductible home loan.😂
@@williewonka6694 That comment was three years ago. My Audi will be paid off in days. I'm still borrowing because since the rates went nuts, and I lend, it's offsetting the cost of borrowing, which I am writing off anyway. The money in the investments I made with the money from not paying my car off immediately still lives and is compounding (monthly) in a tax free account. It is at a decent enough amount that if I sold my car and put a minimum downpayment and put the rest into the investment account, insurance and car payments are covered. Next round insurance, maintenance and car payments will be covered.
To offset borrowing rate increases on , B lenders like me up the rates. they go 2 percent, I go 2 percent. I don't lend towards traditional mortgages, more business mortgages. ROR is as high as 15%. Short term and when the business is stabilized they go conventional. You can't get a conventianal business mortgage without a stabilized business. You get an expesnive short term loan and write off the interest.
Oh I got it. It was a Sunday video disguised as an April fool
We went from poor to upper middle class... and yes we started our own successful business with multiple income streams. That's what you have to do to move up without breaking the bank on student loans. Also, as a financial advisor, you need to build a relationship with a good one and you don't need to be wealthy...Find someone who considers their role as having fudicary duty and have them explain to you how.
In upper middle class in terms of numbers, but live in an expensive city, so it pushes you down lol
Have to disagree about credit. Fearing credit is a sign of the lower middle. The UMC buy on credit because they understand the value of their credit history, but pay it off in full every cycle because they can afford everything they bought.
I live a frugal and happy life. Classes dont matter to me
As a working class 23 year old still living with her mother, this video and its comments are kind of surreal to experience haha. Here are my thoughts: Being upper middle class is not a personality trait. Few people get rich because they have motivation and are likeable, wealth is inherited, be that via the will of a grandparent or the privilege of your complexion - poor people are NOT poor because they aren't trying hard enough. I have more cultural capital than many of my peers, I've been taught never to buy things on credit, I have multiple savings accounts which generate generous amounts of interest, I even invented in crypto for a short while - and profited. I am well liked in my job but I only get minimum wage and ultimately, I work much more than I reap the benefits of working and I must do this to live (just) comfortably. My mental health limits my potential, as well as society's predispositions about me, and also means I need more in way of accommodations (and money, under capitalism). There is constant low-level fear that I am about to crash financially. What I want to say is - if you are upper middle class and live with excess and you think of yourself as a good person, you should be donating that excess because chances are some of it was generated out of the exploitation of others, mine and other working class peoples' ancestors.
The immutable key to this class segment is education. Everything in this video is hinged on it to one degree or another. The drive to advance is also required, but is worthless without the education to back it up. This is the Professional Class. Most professions require a license, and licenses require intelligence and education.
And entrepreneurship....its only noted once but the key is working hard, having good associations and being smart with your $$$.
Know this comment is over two years old, but for many people, especially those who got liberal arts degrees or went to schools outside the top 80-100 rankings or so, going to college was the worst financial decision of their lives.
And I say this as someone with a Master’s Degree, a six figure income, and no debt.
WOW! Thank you alux, almost my whole life, I thought I was poor or at most middle class, but now I realize that my parents put me 14/15 in upper middle class. Thank you mom and dad.
For No. 11, I do not have one and will not need one either. I have been learning and doing it myself. For the Bonus point, I don't really care most of the things going on, but if it is a movement for "0" % income tax to everyone just like before 1913 or eliminating of privately owned federal reserve or Repealing of all the "Bullshit amendments after 1913", I am totally in.
Same
Hey alux, In addition to the mesmerizing voice, the quality of video is equally pleasing to eyes.
This sounds nice. I must be an this upper-middle-class because I work an 8-5 job and soon going to write Screenplays, Television shows,
and a book on the side secretly while I'm working at my regular job.
I lovd the content. Upper middle class seems to be nice but at the same time it has its own disadvantages.
I'm upper-middle class and come across as lower middle class, and I think I'll keep it that way.
I live the "grey man" lifestyle, invisible, live well below my means, no visible signs of wealth or status. The only exception is I live in an expensive area, but in one of the more modest homes and not ocean front, the ocean is a five minute walk away. works well for me.
The video is spot on, and accurately describe the UMC and their values. In my onion , the cultural capital is the biggest indicator of the UMC, blending education with life experience. Working and loving your dream job that you spent your university years trying to secure, and setting a good example for your kids to follow. Money comes easy, and you know enough to save and employ fellow college educated professionals to help you make the right choices about investments and asset management. Something they don’t mention is the ability to adapt quickly to changing job markets and circumstances that we are now seeing during the current pandemic.
Agree!
My wife and I are lower upper class, and everything we buy we use our credit cards and get air miles with star alliance airlines, which includes ANA, and United airlines. Then we just book the hotel on booking.com and use the air miles to book the flights. I have not bought an airline ticket with cash or money for more than 15 years, always air miles. Get a good credit card with air miles and always pay off the entire balance without any interest. Only buy what you can afford to pay off, otherwise you'll fall into debt, and will need that financial advisor.
Y’all really banging these vids out! I’m waking up to a new one. Atlanta 5am THANKS
Morning!
Upper middle class do buy and need designer items. They just make sure their designer brand stands out when they mix it with a non brand item.
Right! It’s usually done in a classy manner though. Not tacky and loud.
Nicely put Alux! After all the videos I watched from this channel, I think that I can classify myself as an upper middle class. I am not as mainstream as the poor, nor I can flash the finances that I have like the rich. At the same time, I had not also fallen prey to the typical middle class. Thank you Alux for finding where I sit in the society.
pretty much spot on, although I think we'd all agree $100k is very different from $500k, but you have to define it somewhere. Nice job.
Plz make a video on 3 types of middle class.
compan nion I agree...this should a mini-series. Especially most ppl don’t which which subsection of the middle class they fall under
Wow
My husband is a Union carpenter. He makes more than I do. I have insurance licenses, but can't find work, so I temp so we are in this class. We invest in Fundrise and I do surveys. We barely have any debt. My car is almost paid off as is our house. Credit cards are almost paid off as well. We have never been on a cruise. Myrtle Beach is a favorite. Glamping is our thing.
I just took the bar exam in February and we find out our results in two weeks 😳🤭😬🤞🏻 I actually identify with most of these points including private school. My judicial unpaid internship with circuit court was supposed to start in May but our courts are closed due to COVID. TBD
I'll say out loud until this day, one of the best channel ever that inspired me to think like a billionaire, build up habits I didn't possess in the past and get outta comfort zone.... Still working and keep working until I go cross eyed
This should have been Sunday motivational video
This type of video is by far the strongest lane for Alux and is what made me such a fan…
I’d love to see a video on Old Money vs. the Nouveau Riche. My Grandmother always hated how “new money” folks vulgarly show it off. So do I.
My dad had 5 other siblings. My dad drop out of college, I forgot why. He only moved 1 time from his home state and returned to his home state. He went to a State school. He is in whole different industries than he went to school in. He could retire now if he really really wanted to. He buys stuff on credit he just pays his bill every month. This list is kind of from the view of from the person who looked at Upper Middle Class from the view of research points. My dad has taught me that 401k/Saving builds wealth not how much money you can spend at mall with out being worried about your bills at end of the month. Upper middle class people make a list of what things are most important to them and sink their money in to them. They do not sink all of the money in to every thing. When the most important stuff is up to there standards then the dump there money in to stuff that they do not really need. You need a high paying job to do all of the stuff that you want to do
Excellent comments. The most important thing is saving and investing. Keep this going until you are able each year to make more in profits, than you earn from your Monday through Friday job. When this happens, then you will have true financial freedom.
14/15 - Just because I don’t have kids yet. :)
Contestable: I am not privately educated, but I went to a premiere state university. 😊
What we could also mention is that upper middle class usually outsources a lot of their daily chores to help, like cleaning, gardening etc. The difference with the rich would be that upper middle class can afford help maybe 1-2 per week while the rich would have full time staff.
Alux, you always forget accountants as high earners. Most of us have our own businesses or firms. The possibilities are unlimited with a good financial education. I have my hands in lots of things.