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Original poster

Is this a (financially) middle class household these days or not?

291 replies

Yealp · 12/01/2026 21:18

I don’t think so, my best friend thinks it’s completely middle class.

Income after tax per month 5,200
Household one adult and one dc
Mortgage payment 1k a month, equity 350k (4 bed detached)

OP posts:
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ForPlumReader · 14/03/2026 19:43

I don't think how you spend it it relevant but £5,200 Is a significant amount (more than anybody I know - some of whom I would say are middle class) to get every month in my book.

GeorgeSmiley1969 · 14/03/2026 17:56

Meduan full time salary in UK is around £40K. You earn more than double this, so are in upper echelons of middle class.

sophiasnail · 25/02/2026 19:31

Are you questioning whether they are working class or part of the aristocracy? I can't see how (if it was just about money) they can be anything other than middle class?

Laurmolonlabe · 25/02/2026 16:37

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 18/01/2026 17:54

So what makes you "100% working class"?

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I have a shock for you , if you own property and have equity and own a business you are middle class- what car you drive and what your families do has no bearing on matters. The ownership of real estate and businesses is the very heart of being middle class- if you work for your own business you are more middle class than someone who earns 3 times more as a salaried employee.
You are delusional if you you can do all that and still be working class.
It isn't to do with money, it is aspiration and outlook- yours is very firmly middle class.

Laurmolonlabe · 25/02/2026 16:29

Liking "low pleasures" doesn't make you working class- there is a long history of aristocratic people liking working class pursuits- it doesn't change anything, it doesn't even mean that your Director has any more understanding of working class life than any other aristocratic person.

EvieBB · 24/02/2026 21:25

Yealp · 12/01/2026 21:25

@Purpleturtle45 i guess mortgage paid off? Bit more disposable income as I guess after bills the actual disposable is more like 3k

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Wow that's a lot of disposable income compared to £200 per month for some of us...
Enjoy it....

LBFseBrom · 19/01/2026 23:13

Labelledelune · 19/01/2026 13:12

I think people are muddling up class with money.

I think so too.

Labelledelune · 19/01/2026 13:12

I think people are muddling up class with money.

Purlant · 18/01/2026 18:18

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 18/01/2026 18:10

Watching Millwall play at home is so middle class 🤭

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You might laugh, but our Director (parental homes in the country, horses, Belgravia home, very jolly hockey sticks!) has a West Ham season ticket and goes to every home game (and some away!). She also loves the darts!

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 18/01/2026 18:10

Allisnotlost1 · 13/01/2026 00:38

No hate - but not much of a hobby! If you genuinely find it interesting there’s more stimulating sources. This might entertain you https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3qF356d7d2D6h98CdCWxf8z/ten-words-that-prove-you-arent-posh

Football is so expensive to watch (on tv or in person) that it’s become very middle class.

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Watching Millwall play at home is so middle class 🤭

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 18/01/2026 18:04

OnTheBoardwalk · 12/01/2026 22:11

I do sort of get that but I don’t understand why so many people are labelling themselves as middle class as some sort of badge of honour

why do people care these days?

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I'm seeing more people self declaring as working class and regarding being called middle class as a bit of a slur!

EllyMcBelly · 18/01/2026 17:55

HopSplidge988 · 18/01/2026 15:25

Why is this even a thread, why is it important?

Because OP wanted to humblebrag 🤷🏻‍♀️

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 18/01/2026 17:54

Sheldonslovechild · 12/01/2026 21:48

We have the same net income per month, mortgage of £1200 with about 250k equity. Own our own business. We are 100% working class from working class families.

We have 1 car (a beaten up 15 year old wreck) so no fancy BMW etc and 1 holiday every 2 or 3 years. We do live in a higher than average UK cost of living country though.

I think I would be upset if people though I was middle class 😂

So what makes you "100% working class"?

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 18/01/2026 17:46

Purpleturtle45 · 12/01/2026 21:19

What do you think if is?

Hey - one of us needs a name change 🤣

HopSplidge988 · 18/01/2026 15:25

Why is this even a thread, why is it important?

GeorgeSmiley1969 · 18/01/2026 15:23

Anyone with take home pay of 5,200 per month is well above the "middle"

CalmTheFuckDownMargaret · 18/01/2026 15:19

You are mixing up social class with financial comfort. They aren’t the same thing. Is the main earner’s job a non-manual skilled one? Teacher, lawyer, head of HR etc?

YellowElephant5 · 18/01/2026 15:14

VerinMathwin · 17/01/2026 21:47

£250k a year in rent is not "just" middle class by any definition that I've ever encountered. Do you mean £25k?

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No £250k for a £7.5m house but we live in Chelsea. Our house isn't particularly nice compared to the other school mums. Our basement kind of smells of damp, peeling and cracked paint, chipped moldings, etc. At two different schools, we've definitely been considered one of the lower income families. Not because we rent - we're expats so it's a tax thing.

EllyMcBelly · 18/01/2026 10:43

Yealp · 12/01/2026 21:25

@Purpleturtle45 i guess mortgage paid off? Bit more disposable income as I guess after bills the actual disposable is more like 3k

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3k disposable income and you don't think you're middle class....?
Read the room! You're either trolling or moving in very different circles!
I have a couple of hundred quid after food and bills, but I still see me as being middle/class and comfortable because I don't ever have to choose between heating or food.

Hereforthecommentz · 18/01/2026 10:02

Octavia64 · 12/01/2026 21:56

The mortgage is the giveaway because:

if you divide society roughly into three - the poor, the rich and the middling sort

then the poor do not have mortgages. They rent, either private rent or council

the rich own outright.

the middling sort have a house that they have a mortgage on.

I don't think that works, we will own our house outright soon (aged 45). It's a 300k 3 bed. I don't think that makes us rich. Working class area. Partner earns good wage, I work part time. Surely it depends on the cost of the home. If it's 800k plus then your rich I'd say. I don't really understand these threads. We don't live in 1920s who cares about classes anymore.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 18/01/2026 03:35

SpringBulbsPop · 16/01/2026 09:15

Yup. My DS is in a very mixed (demographicly) state secondary and on track to smash his exams.

He’s considering the top unis and is extremely focused on high achievement. Solidly socialist parents here. Wouldn’t dream of sending him private!

We aren’t loaded. We don’t work in the corporate sector. But we are absolutely encouraging aspirations in all of our children.

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And they will be firmly MC. We did this, DS is at Oxbridge he is now much posher than me in most of his attitudes.

Neurodiversitydoctor · 18/01/2026 03:26

inickedthisname · 12/01/2026 23:20

One of the wealthiest and poshest people I know rented a house on a really swanky road in London because he was only going to be in the area for 6 months and had enough money to throw away.

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Hmm if he was truely UMC/ UC he qould have had a mate with an empty flat/ spare room in central London.

VerinMathwin · 17/01/2026 21:47

YellowElephant5 · 17/01/2026 20:54

I would say no because where in the UK does one live that £1k a month mortgage is possible? What's the total value of the property? We pay £250k annually in rent. Feel we're just middle class.

£250k a year in rent is not "just" middle class by any definition that I've ever encountered. Do you mean £25k?

YellowElephant5 · 17/01/2026 20:54

I would say no because where in the UK does one live that £1k a month mortgage is possible? What's the total value of the property? We pay £250k annually in rent. Feel we're just middle class.

Hesma · 17/01/2026 20:49

Definitely is, small mortgage and huge amount if disposable income