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Economic class should be fairly easy to determine -- at least in theory -- as it all comes to numbers, perhaps adjusted somewhat for the local cost of living.
On the other hand, social class has several aspects: income, yes, but also educational capital, cultural capital, social capital, and so on. A rich junkyard owner who has a scorpion tattooed on his face and who speaks in four-letter grunts will likely not make it into the Knickerbocker Club of NYC.
There may well be geographic differences even within the USA. I have heard it said many times that Boston judges you on how much you know (cultural and educational capital), New York judges on how much money you have (economic capital), and Philadelphia according to whom you know (social capital).
In England, money has less to do with social class. An impoverished earl is most definitely upper class, whereas a rich entrepreneur is most definitely not. Supposedly, one Englishman can tell the social class of another based solely on spoken accent, with posh being the speech of Oxford, Cambridge, and the old BBC.
Being rich to me means living like I want to. All the rest of this is using someone else's definition to label ones self. Happiness and contentment come from within.
Lots of $100k jobs for new grads if you can learn to harness the forces of nature. Means college wont be laughs and giggles nor with overseas trips to see what?
Yeah I agree. I’ve had years I had no cash flow whatsoever. Zero income. Many years / most years I report a loss for federal income tax purposes. Then every once in a while I pay a few hundred thousand in taxes in the same year lol. My net worth is generally increasing much more than any cash flow I’m seeing, because most of my money is invested.
You may not have active or passive income; but if you are investing as much as you appear to indicate, you should be receiving portfolio income via interest and dividend checks. Even if you immediately reinvest, it’s still considered income rather than ‘zero income’ as you indicate.
In England, money has less to do with social class. An impoverished earl is most definitely upper class, whereas a rich entrepreneur is most definitely not. Supposedly, one Englishman can tell the social class of another based solely on spoken accent, with posh being the speech of Oxford, Cambridge, and the old BBC.
In my zip code, I can tell social class based on spoken accent, grammar, and vocabulary. There is a heavy southern New England working class dialect. That also gives me insight into their level of education since most with a real college degree not from the local state school will lose most of the dialect. Income is tough to tell because the trades pay so well. There are lots of electricians with yachts with a high school education and the thick local working class dialect.
In my zip code, I can tell social class based on spoken accent, grammar, and vocabulary. There is a heavy southern New England working class dialect. That also gives me insight into their level of education since most with a real college degree not from the local state school will lose most of the dialect. Income is tough to tell because the trades pay so well. There are lots of electricians with yachts with a high school education and the thick local working class dialect.
And there is NOTHING wrong with that. I love that trades pay so well.
Some just want money and a comfortable life. Social standing is irrelevant to them when they have enough "F U" money.
I'm sure it makes those making less, perhaps a a dual MA or PhD-wielding couple, feel that their work is devalued. But some jobs provide money, some jobs provide social esteem, and some provide both!
In England, money has less to do with social class. An impoverished earl is most definitely upper class, whereas a rich entrepreneur is most definitely not.
Uh... I think I'll take a pass on that impoverished earl thing.
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