re: Who is middle class? Their income is lower than you might think

You probably are.

People just have to be smart with their money. We have some friends that are doing very well financially. I’d estimate on the low end that they’re making a combined $200k/year.

They could live in Hoover or Vestavia (BHam area) and live very comfortably with their kids in good schools on $100k/year. We’re in Vestavia at $80k/year and making it work. They could easily do it on $100k giving them half of their income to save, invest, play, whatever.

But they wanted more so they bought a $800k house in Mountain Brook where property taxes are enormous. They can afford it, sure. I guess. But who the hell needs that much house with that much nice crap they constantly have to update and decorate?

I’d rather buy a nice $350k house and use the rest of my money on fun stuff.