A quarter of the British population is pretending to be middle class even though they cannot afford to sustain the lifestyle, according to new research.

 

Around 15 million people are in denial about their true working class status and resort to loans and credit cards to fund their aspirations, a study by money­supermarket.com, a financial website, concluded.

 

The study determined that the average income of a working-class household was £23,000 a year compared with £33,000 for genuine middle-class homes.

 

Why do so many people want to be middle class? Has it become too easy to live beyond our means?

 

Can class be defined by money alone?

 

 

Source: Sunday Telegraph

I think it's just too easy for people to get their hands on loans etc right now, hence the reason everyone thinks they can afford things when really they can't. You get all this advertising for £5000 and no credit checks, which is definitely not a good thing and those who can't get loans when the credit checks apply are the ones going for them. Then they struggle to pay them back plus the interest which is usually like 30% in most cases.

 

If you haven't got the cash for the plasma tv, new car, nice holiday don't buy any of them. I understand people wanting this lavish lifestyle but on £23,000 a year you need to watch your habits - because nowadays with things being so expensive I'm sure it's easy to get carried away.

 

To be fair though my family has never had money troubles, I can say now I live in a reasonably large house, have 3 cars, take trips abroad, have attended a private school for 9 years and so on. I don't think that makes me a better person though, my parents have worked hard and I'm studying and working hard too. I do believe however that class is defined by money alone yes but I guess that whether you're working class right through to upper class and you're striving to make your family work and enjoy it at the same then that's all that matters. At the end of the day annual income is only a figure it doesn't brand you as a person.

Class is not just about money, a chav winning £20m on the lottery doesn't suddenly become someone worthy of being a lord of the manor or a country gent and conniseur of fine art and fine wines, likewise a millionaire country gent who goes bankrupt doesn't suddenly become working class because he has lost his money

 

Class is about breeding and upbringing and what environment you were born in I certainly don't relate it to money

 

I was born in a council flat and now live what would be described as a typical middle class lifestyle but I would still refer to myself as a working class person even if I do not earn working class incomes

Edited April 28, 200817 yr by Tim Barnes

Class is not just about money, a chav winning £20m on the lottery doesn't suddenly become someone worthy of being a lord of the manor or a country gent and conniseur of fine art and fine wines, likewise a millionaire country gent who goes bankrupt doesn't suddenly become working class because he has lost his money

 

Class is about breeding and upbringing and what environment you were born in I certainly don't relate it to money

 

spot on craig.... breeding not money.

 

however.... you know by now who i blame for this tawdry situation. the 'have it now' mentality that i WASNT brought up on (you cant have what you cant afford was what i was told, quite rightly so too.) has its roots firmly in the 80's.

I agree, 'class' is something that comes naturally and can't be bought. Just look at Paris Hilton with all her money and she's one of the most classless human beings in the entire world.

True, money certainly can't buy class! Nowadays it's a case of buying now and worrying (or not) about paying for it later. I was brought up not to buy something until I could afford it, no matter how much I wanted it and I still stick by that today.

I allowed myself to get sucked into credit cards a few years ago and took a lower interest loan out to pay six grand off which I finally finish paying off in July. All for a new PC which I didn't really need, some DJing equipment which is now largely unused....mind you the holidays I had on that cash were pretty great!

 

It is a bit silly though, people see these adverts for Ocean Finance or whatever and think it's ok to get madly in debt because these good samaritans will bail them out. Just look at the people in their adverts though, barely a brain cell between them to rub together.

 

Now I'm firmly in the buy it when you can afford it boat.

however.... you know by now who i blame for this tawdry situation. the 'have it now' mentality that i WASNT brought up on (you cant have what you cant afford was what i was told, quite rightly so too.) has its roots firmly in the 80's.

 

Spot on mate.. The tyranny of the middle-classes is something that was heralded in by Thatcher (that detestable fukkin' Finchley Hausfrau.....) and her cohorts, and has continued with Nu Labor and Blairism.. I have absolutely NO desire to be fukkin' Middle Class, regardless of the fact that I'm gonna be doing my PGCE in October LOL.... Yes, I'm gonna be an English/Media/Film Studies teacher LOL.... But I sure as hell wont be pushing middle class values, I'll be teaching MY kids Critical Theory and Feminist film criticism...... :P

 

(dont mind me, I'm pissed.... I'm on the Rose tonight....LOL LOL.... )

rose?..you girl! :P

rose?..you girl! :P

 

Fukk off!!!! It tastes nice.... :P :P