Date: September 9th, 2025 12:27 PM
Author: Charles Tyrwhitt Dad
To be UMC you need to be able to do the following:
Max retirement benefits (401k, IRA)
Max 529s for all kids, planning on expensive private colleges fully funded
Plenty of extra monthly savings directed to investment accounts
Private prep schools or top rated public district
Comfortable house in good neighborhood with easy access to resources and workplace, probably starting at $1.5M in coastal and $1M in flyover
One international trip a year plus a secondary domestic trip
Groceries and everyday consumption (clothes, kids sports/activities, dinners out) without real budgeting
Two cars in good shape, whether "luxury" or your preferred Japanese brands
Weekly cleaning crew
For family of four, starts at $500k, but probably closer to 650k, especially if on the coasts.
The "upper" middle middle classes can do much but not all of the above and they fall into the 300-400k HHI bracket.
(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=5771296&forum_id=2Vannesa#49247547)