To want to be middleclass?

[holliejobber]

Im not though. I live in a council house! These are the things i have done to try and 'raise my game';
Have a vegetable patch.
Breastfeed for ages.
Go to baby massage classes.
Recycle my household waste.
Try not to watch jeremy kyle.
I am hoping to get a place at uni in september, that will definately make me middleclass surely?

Have definately got more ideas to make me middle class now. Thank you everyone. My living room is a bit small for a coffee table but i didn't know it was a middle class necessaty so i will immediately try and squeeze one in. I have been known to par-take in bingo, so will now completely refuse this again... Not sure i can get rid of my telly though, surely im allowed to watch newsnight?

Make friends with the apostrophe and a dictionary too, middle classes are very anxious about educational standards.

i think you should get some 'at home' cards

Someone needs to explain how "classes" are actually structured. I have been here for 4 years now and am still confused.

The op needs to ensure she has the Daily Mail delivered to her doorstep too just to ensure true membership of the middle classes ;)
I really have no idea what class I am fanny or otherwise

Becoming middle class is no great achievement. Anyone can be become middle class if that is what they really want.
What they don't tell you is this: class is a circle with Upper at the starting point and lower at the end point.
The lower classes and upper classes actually have more in common with one another than they do the middle class.
Q:
What do upper class and lower class people do when they get a piece of mould on their cheese?
A: They get a knife and cut it off.

What does a MIDDLE class person do?
Immediately chuck it in the bin for fear that it will somehow poison them if they eat it.

But middle class people pretend that class doesn't exist. So by mentioning it, you have immediately failed. Go back to the bottom of the social ladder.

You seem to be doing very well so far. University will definitely help.

Remember to say 'napkin' instead of 'serviette' and 'loo' instead of 'toilet'.

Supermarket choice also. Don't shop in ASDA. I do, so can't be middle class.

I've been ill this week and have watched Jeremy Kyle for the first time... have to say the peeps on there would would make me want to jack the psychology degree in... where does he dredge them up from??

(An 8 yr old boy told me recently that I'd "sworn" when I asked if he needed the loo!)

My credentials:

-Grew up on benefits on a council estate (though I was called 'posh' as I didn't speak with a mockney accent')
-Live in a rented flat (but it's a nice Regency one )
-Have an allotment
-Ostensibly recycle but what that really means is separating stuff for recycling, piling it up in the garage till DH gets pissed off with it and just chucks it all in the bin
-Don't watch JK but when DD was tiny I did become a bit obsessed with Nick and Jessica on Newlyweds, even after they'd divorced
-I did go to baby massage, but it was at the local Sure Start centre
-Went to uni but was the first in my family to do so
-I always scrape mould off cheese

Hmmm, I'm a bit confused about what that makes me...

Do we still discriminate between 'professionals' and 'trade' ?

But Smeg fridge is simply terrible piece of junk and most definitely doesn't make one 'middle class'...hooohummmmmmm...

I was about to say something along the lines of widening participation so that EVERYONE can go to university (whether they be barely literate or not!) is not always a good thing!
I am probably middle class I think
(parents went to uni and live in a big house in the really posh bit of Manchester)
However i was a 21yr old single mum living in a flat in a council estate 14 years ago (although working full time) and now own my own house. I have 2 illegitimate kids (different dads) and actually KNOW someone who was a guest on Jeremy Kyle last week so you know,am i scum or just 'keeping it real'
(i do our food shopping at a selection of local shops,aldi and iceland btw!)oh,and smoke working class fags (Embassy Number 1)

I think I am an over educated member of the lower middle class!
Partner works in blue collar trade, I'm a SAHM with a post grad qualification, in an area which is sadly underpaid, so it's highly unlikely we'll ever be able to buy when I do return back to work.

So we are skint, but we live in a nice (privately rented) house, lots of bookcases, we don't watch much TV, go out for long family walks at weekends, eat healthily yada yada yada

But are we lower middle class or are we just poor?

Oh, I'm 'illegitimate' too! That's gotta make me working class right? Parents lived in a caravan when I was born, you know that sort of story that sounds really cool when you are an international rock star or Oscar winning actress made good, but not quite as exciting when you work for the civil service

I'm illegitimate... does that mean I'll never make it despite the fact I drive a volvo estate and have an organic veg box delivered?
What ghastly luck!

Why do you want to be middle class? Do you want to do that networking hobnobbing thing they do while holding foie gras? Attend parties without MC's?
Oh and going to uni doesn't make you middle class, sorry. I'm working class (was even underclass at one point) and am now at uni but can't get on with the hobnobbing types because my values are different.

Everyone is so helpful with their suggestions! Here are the things holding me back from middleclass-dom;
Holidaying at butlins (although we did stay in gold last time). Rubbish in front garden.
Dp is a white van man.
Getting working tax credit in the form of a giro (not sure why it isn't paid straight into the bank but i secretly love those brown giro envelopes when they come through the door).

What's Butlins? Does it hurt?