[mykroar]

What’s a “vacation”?

[central_va]

Free Trade is such a good thing.

[MrB]

Middle class people that work to support themselves damn well can’t afford these things,

but those on EBT & welfare sure can.

[GrandJediMasterYoda]

Well if we don't give a good portion of our pay to the government then how are illegals and welfare breeding cows going to get free stuff?

[2ndDivisionVet]

Wal-Mart has said that its average hourly wage is $11.81 for hourly workers, not including managers, and that only 5,000 of its 1.4 million U.S. workers make the minimum wage.

[mmichaels1970]

Correct on all counts.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I bought a still-new 1986 Ford Mustang GT in 1987 with cash since I was making an average of $900 a day selling pay telephones. Does that count?

[DickBrannigan]

We just bought our first new car in over 17 years. I need something that my wife and daughter can drive in that will be safe and dependable for the foreseeable future. I inherit the 16 year old minivan, but at least now I have AC, no coolant leaks, no exhaust leaking into the car, and no need to run the heat at all times to avoid stalling. Even though we just paid off a small loan, I am stressed out over the new payments just the same; I had serious heart palpitations and dizziness this morning, the likes of which I never had before. Is this the price of trying to get by?

[1Old Pro]

Thanks to the Obama 6 year recession and the increase in the cost of so many things thanks to socialistic fees and taxes - everyone’s standard of living is in decline.

The country is in desperate need of growth, socialism kills growth.

[johniegrad]

Do Freepers believe the average credit card debt is $15K? I was flabbergasted when I saw that. Is that really the case?

[BitWielder1]

My parents had a summer home and a boat. I don't.

[Steve_Seattle]

"Some argue that the most sensible income amount to attach to the middle class would be the median household income, of around $54,000."

Not where I live. I'd put the LOWER end of the middle-class (family of four) at about $70,000-$75,000.

[nascarnation]

As retirees we go on a lot of vacations.
Cruises, and a lot of US vacation spots.
I don’t see any lack of people, they are as crowded as I’ve ever seen them.

[Mr Rogers]

Median household income is around 54K. A family of 4 with income in the 25K range will get around 6K in Earned Income Tax Credit, so is their income 25K or 31K?

At 55K this year, we were very average. However, we’ve saved hard our whole lives, own our house and are therefor considered by many to be wealthy.

Not all new cars run $30K. Many are much less. But no, when I was young, I didn’t own a lot of brand new cars either.

And growing up in the 60s, I don’t remember a huge number of vacations. What we took were mostly weekend vacations within driving distance.

Guess I don’t think this article is very honest about the present or about the past.

[nascarnation]

Medical care

In contrast to my post on vacation spots, both my wife and I find our various doctor visits much less crowded, and appointments easier to get. I believe the large deductibles of Obamacare is the reason.

[mrsmith]

*
They left out “morality”.

[Alex Murphy]

1. Vacations
2. New vehicles
3. To pay off debt
4. Emergency savings
5. Retirement savings
6. Medical care
7. Dental work

Ain't that the truth.

[Hugin]

You can't generalize about "the middle class". What's happened I think is a lot of older people who used to be middle class have lost high paying jobs and can't find anything comparable. But for those who still have them, nothing much has changed. The malls are full, restaurants are busy, new car sales are up, home prices are up, etc. It's the formerly middle class folks with no young children who don't qualify for government programs that are being hit hardest.

[Resolute Conservative]

My dad was an airline pilot for 30 years and I make more than he did and cannot afford vacations and only a new car every 8-10 years.

[blueunicorn6]

Just claim you’re a make-believe black pig farmer. There’s $50,000 right there.

“So, you’re claiming to be a pig farmer and you were discriminated against by the government. I have a bunch of pictures of farm animals on the wall behind me. Which one is the pig?”

“Ummmm.....the one on the far right?”

“That’s the light switch. Here’s your check.”