(04-04-2014 10:33 PM)hawghiggs Wrote:  

(04-04-2014 08:44 PM)mptnstr@44 Wrote:  

(04-04-2014 12:12 PM)DrTorch Wrote:  

(04-04-2014 10:55 AM)200yrs2late Wrote:  IMO Middle class for many will probably mean living just above paycheck to paycheck. Most months able to save a tiny bit, but running into trouble if an unexpected expense comes up like a home or vehicle repair.

That's true even today. But that's because most people live at or beyond their means.

I think the real tell will be a change in lifestyle, but that's hard to describe. The 1980s-2006 saw a much grander lifestyle for the middle class, but it was based largely on borrowed money.

That lifestyle will be reined in, but to what extent? 1950s home sizes and luxuries? 1960s? 1970s?

I've often described how those eras were far more modest than today, even as mach and other liars complain that the middle class is getting squeezed.

The big question is, will the upcoming, moderated middle class still be financed through borrowing? Then we'll know that we're in a bad way.

Today's Middle class has more and nicer stuff and expects more and nicer stuff than middle class 35 years ago. Until there is a change in that mindset, the middle class will still borrow and live beyond their means.

35 years ago the middle class:
• one maybe two cars (most likely used) and people still worked on their own cars
• One tv for the whole family to share (maybe 19")
• kids shared bedrooms so even thought they had larger families they usually had a 3 or 4 bdrm house.
• home phone line (no cellphone for family members)
• no internet bills
• cable might've been available depending on where you lived
• Vacations were not an annual thing nor did families go to expensive locales (lots of people camped)
• clothes were not name brand (middle class wasn't buying or wanting to buy $250 Coach purses and $100 Air Jordans)
• most kids did not participate in expensive select sports/extra-curriculars
• people didn't eat out nearly as much

Savings can happen for today's middle class but lifestyles must change. I don't see that happening anytime soon.

At least one of those can't be helped. Working on your own car? That's getting tougher to do all the time. Cable? Nothing is on network television.

I was only pointing out the difference between then and now.

You are right it would be hard to work on your car nowadays due to the technology involved. But all of the gadgets and niceties people "need" on their cars they could do without by purchasing a base model. (BTW No one needs headrest TVs in their cars...they are just kid babysitters. Teach your kids to behave in the car and to not need to be entertained 24/7.)

But cable is not a need since TV is not a need. There are people today who don't have cable. And if you have a TV and a converter doesn't provide stations then go with basic cable.

Middle class will be something like the Hispanic version, 4 families and 14 people living in a 3 bedroom house. Happy days, equal outcomes.

"middle class" will soon become the enemy of the obamites. after they rape the "rich people", they will come after us.

because they know that is where the real money is

I'd argue that it's already under way. Unless if you mean that those who have the ability to flee the country will, leaving the middle class as the new top class.

A 2 cup daily portion of rice....from our Chinese overloads.

There comes a time when chickens come home to roost and my generation might be about to face that time. We're getting out there in a time where a college degree is about as valuable (or maybe a little less valuable) than a high school diploma in the 90's. That is unsustainable.

We're going to start buying homes later, getting in careers later, already starting to get things like insurance later, getting married later, having children later (which ends up being less children in total) and debt on top of all that.

(04-05-2014 10:14 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  There comes a time when chickens come home to roost and my generation might be about to face that time. We're getting out there in a time where a college degree is about as valuable (or maybe a little less valuable) than a high school diploma in the 90's. That is unsustainable.

We're going to start buying homes later, getting in careers later, already starting to get things like insurance later, getting married later, having children later (which ends up being less children in total) and debt on top of all that.

Later still?

Those things have already been happening over the past 20+ years.

What people are missing is the consequences of those factors.

That's what is happening now: we're seeing consequences of later starts, more debt and fewer children. It's far more grave than all of you are recognizing.

(04-05-2014 10:14 PM)nomad2u2001 Wrote:  We're going to start buying homes later, getting in careers later, already starting to get things like insurance later, getting married later, having children later (which ends up being less children in total) and debt on top of all that.

Welcome to the real world. The Washington big-spending politicians have enslaved future generations. They got rich, you got the shaft.

(04-05-2014 06:38 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  Middle class will be something like the Hispanic version, 4 families and 14 people living in a 3 bedroom house. Happy days, equal outcomes.

More grand kids! Start brushing up on your Spanish.

Thought we already lost the middle class.
Looks like poverty coming. Maybe the North Koreans will
send us some snow coffee.

(04-06-2014 08:12 AM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(04-05-2014 06:38 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  Middle class will be something like the Hispanic version, 4 families and 14 people living in a 3 bedroom house. Happy days, equal outcomes.

More grand kids! Start brushing up on your Spanish.

That's racist, and you're stupid.

My wife and I live in a 2600 sq.ft. house, my neighbor doctor lives in an almost identical house by herself, the next neighbors are empty nesters and they live in a bigger house than us. Across the street live a retired couple by themselves. And ALLLL of these people are hispanic. I think you've been watching too much George Lopez.

Pendejos. There's a little of that Spanish that you should learn.

My guess is the Middle class will be solidly entrenched in a new Socialist Welfare State.

(04-06-2014 02:12 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(04-06-2014 08:12 AM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(04-05-2014 06:38 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  Middle class will be something like the Hispanic version, 4 families and 14 people living in a 3 bedroom house. Happy days, equal outcomes.

More grand kids! Start brushing up on your Spanish.

That's racist, and you're stupid.

It's understood that generalizations don't mean 100%.

And if you think it's wrong, then you need to get out of your isolated cocoon.

The democrat vision:

1) Subsidized healthcare (middle class is dependent on gubment to afford health insurance premiums)
2) Tracfones
3) Foodstamps (the average America won't be able to afford food without gubment assistance)
4) Section8 Housing

Basically the democrats want to tell you where to live, what to eat, who you can talk to, and how long you will live. They will take care of you until its your time to die.

Isolated cocoon? Well LOL, big time. I live the Hispanic culture every day. For your information I'm Hispanic and what these guys wrote is just stereotyping on a subject that they know nothing about. Like my brother likes to say, "don't tell me about apes if you've never lived in the jungle".

(04-06-2014 02:12 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(04-06-2014 08:12 AM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(04-05-2014 06:38 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  Middle class will be something like the Hispanic version, 4 families and 14 people living in a 3 bedroom house. Happy days, equal outcomes.

More grand kids! Start brushing up on your Spanish.

That's racist, and you're stupid.

My wife and I live in a 2600 sq.ft. house, my neighbor doctor lives in an almost identical house by herself, the next neighbors are empty nesters and they live in a bigger house than us. Across the street live a retired couple by themselves. And ALLLL of these people are hispanic. I think you've been watching too much George Lopez.

Pendejos. There's a little of that Spanish that you should learn.

Well I was poking fun at SOAF's racism.

(04-06-2014 04:20 PM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(04-06-2014 02:12 PM)olliebaba Wrote:  

(04-06-2014 08:12 AM)firmbizzle Wrote:  

(04-05-2014 06:38 PM)SumOfAllFears Wrote:  Middle class will be something like the Hispanic version, 4 families and 14 people living in a 3 bedroom house. Happy days, equal outcomes.

More grand kids! Start brushing up on your Spanish.

That's racist, and you're stupid.

My wife and I live in a 2600 sq.ft. house, my neighbor doctor lives in an almost identical house by herself, the next neighbors are empty nesters and they live in a bigger house than us. Across the street live a retired couple by themselves. And ALLLL of these people are hispanic. I think you've been watching too much George Lopez.

Pendejos. There's a little of that Spanish that you should learn.

Well I was poking fun at SOAF's racism.

Nope firm - your excuse doesn't cut it. Face it - you're just a racist.