What are the main identifiers of those who describe themselves as lower middle classes?

[Rosehip10]

As distinct from middle/upper middle.

Good old MN where the size of your TV determines your class

Reminds me of the time MNetters advised Centre Parcs to take TVs out of their new chalets.

Film buffs, remove all telly boxes and read the Guardian and play board games instead, you oinks.

Oiks?

I can't even get my insults right!

I like oinks as an insult. I'm using that. You oink.

Who cares. The whole class thing is out of date and the "traditional" boundaries from yonks ago are very blurred now. It's not really relevant in society today.

zokin
Sadly, that is anything but the truth.

zonkin. Sorry

Giving people a label based on whether they say toilet or serviette just means that you have no class at all.

How ridiculous.

I think the BBC categories are probably more accurate than the typical wc, mc etc. Emergent Service Worker fits us perfectly. Cash poor, culture rich.

According to the BBC quiz I belong to the elite, which is quite a surprise. The main reasons appear to be that I enjoy opera, listen to jazz, and socialise with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
I would never point out to anyone in real life anything that I’d view as a class indicator, but I can use the anonymity of an online forum to admit that I do judge people who use “...” instead of the appropriate punctuation, especially if they claim to be teachers of English.
I also dislike seeing a knife held as if it were a pen, mainly because it is an ineffective way to use cutlery.

I'm in a class wilderness.

Very middle class upbringing. My father had a good job in the city, sahm, private education, university educated, tennis lessons, music lessons, a nanny etc

However, I'm also a born and bred Londoner and have a London accent. I look working class. I'm fat, wear too much make up and hoop earrings occasionally. I dislike the stereotypical middle class mum way of dressing...I definitely don't fit in with those types. My dh has a professional office based job but is a real geezer type and is also very London like me.

I know I massively confuse others who can't pigeon hole me.

They buy new build houses.

Their kids do too many extra curricular activities.

Have you seen the price of a new build?! ROFL just the thickos with more money than sense go for those 😂

"It's not really relevant in society today."

Have you read the thread? Do you take an interest in what goes on? It's very relevant.

@achainisonlyasstrong and you only have to read a few of those 19th century novels like Vanity Fair to realise how little social class mattered (and those were much more snobbish times) once one's economic position had shifted.

Impoverished aristocrats were curiously keen to marry millionaires and those that fell on hard times rapidly found themselves heading towards poverty with little support from their previous social class.

I'm moving from a Victorian house to a new build. Increasing my mortgage at the same time as lowering my social class ranking 😂

Gosh Greek, I expect you have overscheduled your DC's free time with worthy activities and practiced jabbing ineffectively at your food in advance?

I must be thick too, having moved to a new build in a beautiful area.
I also did lots of things with my dcs when they were young, I’m definitely the lowest of the low.
Fancy having children and actually enjoying spending time with them!

@Gwenhwyfar Yes I did read the thread. Yes I do take an interest it what goes on.

Oooh class me! Class me!

Almost completed a phd.
Degree in law from Russell group uni (1st class).
Author.
Say bog because I'm puerile.
Settie(sp?)
Serviettes.
Festive false nails.
Council house.
Benefits.
Don't have a t.v. nor want one.
Did postgraduate internship in civil service (research analyst).
Broad "thick" northern accent.
Brought up on a council estate.
No private education.
A little inheritance.
Drinks vodka.
Voted Labour and Remain.
Attended political ralleys and protests.
Never go on holiday abroad.
Shop on eBay for most clothes.

What am I folks?? I've always been intrigued to know.

I think it's largely income and security that are the reliable qualifiers and all the cultural stuff is how the middle classes attempt to keep their foot in when they fall on hard times.

Surely you need a great big tv to watch all the HBO box sets and other such stuff on if you are upper middle class?

HatRack, you're WC.

If I had to remember something I read about this I would say LMC are on the whole people with middle classish jobs but not professions, things like administrator, book keeping etc. Whereas teacher, registered nurse, midwife are middle and typically went to Uni.

I feel LMC due to income and life circumstance, but have a degree and went onto study a masters. Income, terrace house, expensive area makes me more LMC than I started out! :D

Found what I was looking for!

Lower Class - Benefits, council housing, no further education past secondary/GNVQ level. Little to no future planning. Even if higher income than working poor, it's all spent. Accumulation of stuff important.

[higher end of lower class would be similar but working very menial jobs like dinner ladies, maintenance, semi reliant on state but work too etc.]

Lower Middle Class - Working, but not in professions. Admin, Educational Assistants, basic jobs in bank like clerk, till etc. Some thought towards future. Goal to own own home. Set out to achieve certain things like Disney holiday, home ownership, new furniture. Paid for by self not the state. Not lots of extra money left but values having a bit set aside. Dc may or may not go to Uni.

Middle Class - University educated. Professions not jobs. Value pensions, long term saving, moving up property ladder is a goal. Most likely to go abroad on yearly holiday and have cultural city breaks with dc to Paris, Rome etc. Will move up until they get a detached house or semi if in expensive area. expectation dc will attend Uni. Have investments. Have to both work to maintain this. Will substantially contribute to dc university fees.

Upper Middle Class - more likely to have one higher income earner. Will have detached home and often rental or holiday let. More than a yearly holiday abroad. Ski trips. Pensions. Investments. Sizable inheritances. Most likely children are in private schools tho some won't start until high school. Usually have home help - cleaning, ironing, childcare via au pair or nanny even if one parent is home. Children will have Uni all paid for and family/friends who can get them into door of large companies. Parents jobs may be things like Consultants, Dentists.

Upper Class - Old money typically. Children not in state schooling but more elite schools where dc are registered from birth/early age. Usually parents work in private sector or reach height of professional (Dr who becomes CEO etc.). Trust funds. Could give all the money earning up and survive through old age but usually choose not to. Staff. These are the types of kids the royal dc will socialize with and find at their schools and through friends of parents.

The Queen.