Growing up, I assumed my family was middle class. But the older I get, I realize we were more lower middle class. My father was in the military and my mom usually kept part time jobs when my dad was not deployed. We always only had one care, rarely went out to eat, never took vacations and did not really get things like new shoes or clothes until they were necessary.

 

I now consider myself middle class. My wife and I both have good paying jobs. We own a house, have two cars. We take vacations at least once a year. Our kids have things I never could have dreamed of having. We have no debt and are able to contribute enough to retirement funds that we can retire at 60.

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