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Heather MC

(8,084 posts)
Thu Dec 27, 2012, 10:36 PM Dec 2012

$20,833.00 per month???? [View all]

That equals $250,000 a year, who decided that was middle class?

or $33,333 per month equals 400K per year.


20k is what my mother made per year she raised 4 kids alone on that income. We never had any government aid because we were just above the proverty level and not 4% below it.

It's just odd to me that the starting point middle class has been set so high



ETA the starting point for negotiating tax increases or decrease not where the middle class starts altough if you are looking at this from the top down it is where they think the middle class starts

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$20,833.00 per month???? [View all] Heather MC Dec 2012 OP
I really have no idea. With two grad degrees I'd need three jobs to hit 250K NYC_SKP Dec 2012 #1
I know people who make 250,000K per year, they live on golf courses with elevators Heather MC Dec 2012 #6
It really depends where in the country they are taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #18
Then you are doing something wrong and you are decidedly NOT middle class... Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #23
In one of those cities an experienced firefighter and a nurse, pnwmom Dec 2012 #74
They might consider themselves middle class but they'd be in the 20% of the SF population Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #75
"Class" isn't a term strictly related to income, IMO. People who have an income in that range pnwmom Dec 2012 #101
Upper Middle Class, perhaps, with that as a family income in a high cost city Tom Rinaldo Dec 2012 #87
I agree. We shouldn't be making cuts that hurt people on the other end. n/t pnwmom Dec 2012 #96
Subaru and BMW are high-end cars intheflow Dec 2012 #65
Subarus are high end cars? It depends. I live in Subaru-ville where yes, there are new ones uppityperson Dec 2012 #70
This message was self-deleted by its author intheflow Dec 2012 #88
Subaru? lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #95
W WA, we have our Subaru subculture, don't we? If not a volvo, a subaru. uppityperson Dec 2012 #105
I was looking for an older model Honda nolabels Dec 2012 #107
I am on my 3rd Subaru. pangaia Dec 2012 #154
irregardless is not a word datasuspect Dec 2012 #89
Meh. intheflow Dec 2012 #90
it's a free country datasuspect Dec 2012 #91
I'll consider myself courteously warned, then. intheflow Dec 2012 #108
It's a shame, too, because Beemers are pieces of crap. Fawke Em Dec 2012 #102
yes - solid upper middle class taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #121
professional class - accountants, physicians, engineers, geologists, elehhhhna Dec 2012 #10
Do you have any data? Two income households. DINKS. I'm single... I'd need two times the income. NYC_SKP Dec 2012 #11
I have a phd and a great job... a la izquierda Dec 2012 #2
My DH has a Masters Degree a full time job in the Military and several part time jobs one as a Heather MC Dec 2012 #4
$20,833.00 per month!!! my gosh trueblue2007 Dec 2012 #3
The 2003 Median Income of US households was $45,000. Coyotl Dec 2012 #52
It's interesting how there's a dip in the 75 - 100k range CJCRANE Dec 2012 #80
This chart shows where the middle class ends with that dip, in my view. Coyotl Dec 2012 #86
I get $18000 a year on SS and we hear the chained CPI is not doc03 Dec 2012 #53
Who said that? Nt abelenkpe Dec 2012 #5
Obama and Boehner are going back and forth between 250,000 and 1 million as the cutcoff point robinlynne Dec 2012 #9
Crummy bargain. We really need to win back the house. nt abelenkpe Dec 2012 #106
that's a lot of money, imo shanti Dec 2012 #7
at least the tribe shares the money with its roll members lunasun Dec 2012 #15
I'm with you. robinlynne Dec 2012 #8
they've settled on $400,000? hfojvt Dec 2012 #12
Only $16,666.00 per month, that's pennies how could anyone live off less than $16,666 per month? Heather MC Dec 2012 #13
$200k is not much in expensive cities like NYC or Los Angeles taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #17
That's the rich people's way of saying "get lost". It does not mean it isn't plenty of money. JVS Dec 2012 #27
I live in NYC jade3000 Dec 2012 #31
That is not what that person said. nt stevenleser Dec 2012 #112
The highest average income (by area) per household in LA is $141,000.... Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #33
the median income is $79,100 (from your 2nd link) hfojvt Dec 2012 #72
that;s Crap, most people in NYC and LA don't have anything close to 200k, it IS enough JI7 Dec 2012 #36
It's true that you can't be a yuppie at less than those prices... Lydia Leftcoast Dec 2012 #49
Sure you can. Most professions make less than $250K/yr. Nurses, IT, Accountants, etc make less. stevenleser Dec 2012 #147
Hahahaha. ForgoTheConsequence Dec 2012 #55
I'm going to say it. Occulus Dec 2012 #60
I made half that in LA and retired in 15 years. What I didn't do was pretend Egalitarian Thug Dec 2012 #78
Sure it is. quakerboy Dec 2012 #84
Suitcases and U-hauls are cheap. n/t lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #94
Exactly. I hate when people that live in inexpensive locations attempt to make values bluestate10 Dec 2012 #149
And the proposed increase in taxes is levied on taxable income (after deductions and execemptions) Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #14
exactly so really for 250k it's about at 300k, and or 400k it's really 450K Heather MC Dec 2012 #21
Great thread. Demo_Chris Dec 2012 #16
I love it when people making that much try to act like they're struggling RedCappedBandit Dec 2012 #19
They are just broke at another level Heather MC Dec 2012 #28
By definition, middle class means you are NOT struggling. Obviously at the high end of that you stevenleser Dec 2012 #115
For clarification, my post was definitely not directed at any particular DUer RedCappedBandit Dec 2012 #117
20k gets burned up real fast in expensive cities and high tax states taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #20
I live in the real world, I live in a very expensive area. I know the numbers thanks Heather MC Dec 2012 #22
Yep. I live in San Francisco and most of the people I know make between $50,000 - $80,000 Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #25
$80,000 in income, and they can only manage? So $80k in San Fran isn't very much? Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #40
I'd say $50K is working class. Rent for a 2 bedroom apartment is over $3000 a month. Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #51
Well, you're the one who stated 250k households live on golf courses taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #26
I said I know people there's a difference in making up something and knowing facts Heather MC Dec 2012 #38
I know a few areas with nice homes on nice golf courses, with home costs in the mid to high $200s. Incitatus Dec 2012 #45
Sorry, but if you can't scrape by on $5000 per week, then you're an absolute failure Orrex Dec 2012 #50
I didn't say you can't make it taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #109
Depends on one's perspective, I suppose Orrex Dec 2012 #126
You are attacking a point that no one made. nt stevenleser Dec 2012 #116
I was addressing reply #20 Orrex Dec 2012 #125
No, it hasnt, as the poster of #20 explained. No one is saying they cant make it on $250K/yr stevenleser Dec 2012 #127
kind of the same point, then Orrex Dec 2012 #130
Its not the same point at all. I think $250K/yr is definitely middle class as I noted in this post.. stevenleser Dec 2012 #141
I have a suggestion: cut the $250K person's annual income by $200K Orrex Dec 2012 #143
You keep creating straw men and are deluded into thinking that they are logical points. They are not stevenleser Dec 2012 #145
No, you're offering up a comparison that has no meaning Orrex Dec 2012 #150
You are now arguing with yourself about your 80% straw man. My comparison is EXACTLY the point stevenleser Dec 2012 #152
Go on with your bad self Orrex Dec 2012 #155
Maybe this will help you understand. stevenleser Dec 2012 #158
You're still arguing that we should subsidize the $250K lifestyle Orrex Dec 2012 #160
No, that is just your latest strawman. I never remotely said any such thing. nt stevenleser Dec 2012 #162
Then answer the question Orrex Dec 2012 #163
"More in common" Chathamization Dec 2012 #156
The bottom threshold for top 1% of wealth is $8.4 million stevenleser Dec 2012 #157
So you're moving the goal posts Chathamization Dec 2012 #165
Sorry, no. Comparison of what is middle class or not IS the goal according to the OP. nt stevenleser Dec 2012 #166
Yes, and comparisons show Chathamization Dec 2012 #167
Yes please. ForgoTheConsequence Dec 2012 #56
Here you go taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #119
First mistake, buying a $1.2M home. Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #128
Looking at this Chathamization Dec 2012 #135
OK .... I would like .... Trajan Dec 2012 #59
... progressoid Dec 2012 #73
good grief treestar Dec 2012 #82
I would like the numbers. quakerboy Dec 2012 #85
see my post #119 taught_me_patience Dec 2012 #120
yes, in Mitt Romney's neighborhood Enrique Dec 2012 #99
It is not the starting point but the end point.... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #24
The increase is on taxable income after deductions and exemptions. A small business owner with $200K Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #29
No one said he wasn't....n/t Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #30
I wasn't implying that you were but I do question your assertion that 97% of small business owners Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #34
Awkward phrasing on my part.... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #97
I would call that upper middle class. aikoaiko Dec 2012 #32
Do you need any more proof? kentuck Dec 2012 #35
There's a lower, middle, and upper middle class. Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #37
This is 250K adjusted Gross Income Heather MC Dec 2012 #42
The tax increase for them is ONLY for the amount OVER that income... Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #57
Think about it, it is a progressive tax rate and does make sense... Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #67
No, we don't. Maybe that's the basis for the tax rate for a certain income.... Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #93
Actually, you are wrong. If you fall in the 25% bracket, it means that you earn enough that coalition_unwilling Dec 2012 #103
Please but you are wrong. Please see the worksheet below. Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #110
Your examples prove his point quakerboy Dec 2012 #131
Um no... Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #132
My appologies. quakerboy Dec 2012 #137
No problem :) Luminous Animal Dec 2012 #138
Well, I looked it up, and I was wrong. $250k does seem to be above "middle class" income levels. Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #61
That is disgusting Fearless Dec 2012 #39
The $250k figure is not the amt cleared. It's the gross income. nt Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #41
Yes I know. Fearless Dec 2012 #48
Who considers the starting point of middle class to be $250K Incitatus Dec 2012 #43
250K is considered the end of Middle Class and the start of the rich class Heather MC Dec 2012 #44
I think that there's so much dispute here about $250k still being middle class indicates that it is Incitatus Dec 2012 #47
That is not the middle class threshold, it is way above it. Coyotl Dec 2012 #46
It's a system of enforced poverty that was designed that way...... DeSwiss Dec 2012 #54
This all started during the Reagan and then the Bush years...with education cuts. Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #58
Reagan/Bush was an adjustment. This system goes back much further. n/t DeSwiss Dec 2012 #66
interesting fact. federal education spending was not cut under those guys mostlyconfused Dec 2012 #71
I'm old enuf to remember Bush Sr. cutting college grants. Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #92
those are in the Dept of Ed budget, and went up under Bush Sr. mostlyconfused Dec 2012 #104
Sorry...you must be wrong. I REMEMBER EXACTLY Bush on tv announcing the CUTS to college grants.... Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #111
No. What you are suggesting is the Dept of Education's own numbers are wrong mostlyconfused Dec 2012 #136
Because a program is cut does not mean the dollar amount goes down, correct? Honeycombe8 Dec 2012 #140
middle class kardonb Dec 2012 #62
Not really there was no room for extra Heather MC Dec 2012 #68
Top 2% starts at $250,000 ErikJ Dec 2012 #63
Poverty is classified by income, not percent. Whatever percent makes below X amount is considered stevenleser Dec 2012 #114
I haven't seen 20K in the last 5 years combined DotGone Dec 2012 #64
Warped sense of reality. moondust Dec 2012 #69
"Middle Class" is a range that (according to the gov't) tops out at $250M. napi21 Dec 2012 #76
please link some document that says the government has this definition of middle class. FYI: HiPointDem Dec 2012 #77
I think the top quintile is not "middle class." David__77 Dec 2012 #79
Goes to show how few people are really affected treestar Dec 2012 #81
The fair Compromise on the fiscal Cliff Resonance_Chamber Dec 2012 #83
"Middle Income" means something. "Middle Class" is an arbitrary bullshit distinction. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #98
The top 1% are the only ones who have made a killing in the last 30-40 years. And at the expense of stevenleser Dec 2012 #142
2/3 of households who make more than $250,000 a year are 1 percenters. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #151
It's not a percentage/percentile thing, it's a "What is their life like" thing. Thats my point. stevenleser Dec 2012 #153
Almost none... which makes it easy for me to demand more taxes from "them". lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #164
Spam deleted by hunter (MIR Team) veterancrozo658 Dec 2012 #100
Household making $250K/yr still has more in common with one making $50K than a 1 percenter household stevenleser Dec 2012 #113
They make in a day, more than I make in a week RedCappedBandit Dec 2012 #118
I think because the Cost of Living in NYC, DC, Chicago is so high... WCGreen Dec 2012 #122
the median income is 80,000 dollars mostly in those cities nowhere near 250 Km uponit7771 Dec 2012 #134
That's the Median which, if I remember my math, is the exact middle point between WCGreen Dec 2012 #139
Upper Middle Class? FreeJoe Dec 2012 #123
Income Averaging FreeJoe Dec 2012 #124
Jesus, I know quite a few people who do not make that a YEAR. MADem Dec 2012 #129
Here is a good quick chart for percentiles... kentuck Dec 2012 #133
Actually, I think it' worse than that... Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #144
I've Lived in NYC, SF, and Los Angeles Yavin4 Dec 2012 #146
See my #113 nt stevenleser Dec 2012 #148
Yeah, but that's after taxes, and private school, and the vacation fund, and the three car payments killbotfactory Dec 2012 #159
And their dancing horses Orrex Dec 2012 #161
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