Working class people, what is the one thing you achieved or bought that made you feel like you’re part of the middle class?

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Upstairs_Yogurt_5208@reddit

I could win the lottery and I’d still be working class. It’s who are, not what you’ve got.

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Wild_Cauliflower_970@reddit

Just because it's who you are, not what you've got, doesn't mean it's a permanent state of being.

I was definitely born working class. Both my parents were raised in foster care, neither had any qualifications, I grew up without a lot of things... I have four degrees, I earn six figures in a professional job, I own my home... I'd say I'm straddling the gap between the person I was 10 years ago (a student at a state comprehensive, working in hospitality in evenings/weekends/holidays, from a household with no qualifications and substance abuse problems) but I'm now a high-earning professional.

Moving from one class to another is the definition of social mobility.

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Conscious_Salt_5817@reddit

Yep. I think some people think because they struggled it's a badge of honour to say they are working class.

Like sir Alan sugar.. No your rich mate you are not working class.

I grew up poor and now I've managed to buy a house and would love to be classed as middle class (it's like an achievement for me haha).

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Linfords_lunchbox@reddit

And some people make their lives a great facade of being seen to be middle class. I was brought up by Mrs Bucket.

'All those middle class airs and graces. You know who's the worst offenders, don't you? Them that's recently been promoted from the lower divisions' - Terry Collier

The Archers' was a staple at teatime in our house growing up.

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MagicBez@reddit

Insisting that you're middle class when you're clearly working class is a strong working class indicator

Similarly insisting that your working class when you're clearly middle class is a strong middle class indicator.

Nowt more middle class than insisting that you're working class from your four bed detached home in the suburbs bought with income from a comfy office job

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Upstairs_Yogurt_5208@reddit

It’s a culture thing for me.

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Guerrenow@reddit

And we'll die in the class we were born, but that's a class of our own, my love

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Upstairs_Yogurt_5208@reddit

Quality song

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Bose82@reddit

A suburban, detached 4 bed house

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catsnbears@reddit

We bought a ninja deluxe coffee machine just because the other day. We looked at the bank and could afford it and said why not! It’s probably the only time I haven’t had palpitations at buying something more than a £15 kettle at Asda , it’s done, I’ve made it now, we might even have to get some fancy syrup to go with it now to feel really upper class lol

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dajay2k@reddit

Realising there are tiers to wine and not just blossom hill

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ManTurnip@reddit

You could have just stopped at "I've recently bought a house" these days TBH.

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Nyx_Necrodragon101@reddit

If you're a millennial with a house you're basically a millionaire.

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gordonbennettsuncle@reddit

I buy goats cheese and pesto. I feel upper class when I do this, never mind middle class

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TransatlanticMadame@reddit

I feel the same about tarragon. :)

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Feisty_Outcome9992@reddit

I'd recommend goat's cheese with truffle honey.

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SnooRegrets8068@reddit

Millennialaire

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BessieBighead@reddit

This!

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Foddley@reddit

A Miele vaccum cleaner. It's pretty bourgie I'm not gonna lie.

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drivingagermanwhip@reddit

I have a 2.2kW miele from before they put an end to that and it's absolutely brilliant. Spent £200 on it and my flatmates thought I was mad... until they used it.

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AuroraDF@reddit

I grew up working class and remained so. But in the last few years, since I got promoted to deputy head in the London prep school I work in, I feel sort of middle class on the outside. I also live in zone 2, in a one bed. Which isn't cheap. But inside me, and in my attitudes, I'm still working class.

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Verlorenfrog@reddit

Dishwasher!

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JER2501Derby@reddit

Crippling Uni (x3) and nursery fees at the same time because we did such a good job raising our eldest three they all did brilliantly at the crap local comprehensive lol

I did love that I could say that I co-slept with the youngest instead of saying they sleep in our bed…sounded so much better lol

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sparkysmonkey@reddit

I shop in Waitrose

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tmstms@reddit

Having a name and not a number is pretty working-class in my working-class town.

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astromech_dj@reddit

Do you own the means of production?

No?

Then you are working class. Middle class is a lie.

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flowering_sun_star@reddit

Nowadays, the middle class will tend to acquire that ownership over their lifetime. By the time they retire they'll own their house, they'll have a well-paying pension funded from shares in the means of production.

They truly have a mix of interests between worker and owner, which shift over their lifetime. I say 'they' but really it's 'we' - it might be twenty years away, but retirement can't come soon enough!

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DreamsComeTrue1994@reddit

It’s been a long time since the era of factory workers vs factory owners. Obviously, someone that is relying on his salary to live rather than his assets, even if that salary is a 6 figures one, is not wealthy. But whoever owns a home, doesn’t leave paycheck to paycheck, enjoys restaurants and entertainment on a regular basis, travels around the world, owns a nice car and doesn’t have to stress about day to day expenses in general is one step up the chain, thus middle class

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Chrolan1988@reddit

Sounds like you have climbed out the wallow of disappear that is working class life.

My roots are very much underclass, free school meals, parents on benefits, no holidays and surrounded by alcohol, domestics and lots of dirt.

I now have what I consider to be more of an ‘upper working class’.

Both my partner and I work, combined income is c£70k, own our house. 2 children, 3 holidays a year. We also don’t drink for pleasure other than birthdays and Christmas, not fond of pubs/bars but we do eat out at restaurants and don’t mind to cheap out on a hungry horse or similar with the kids.

I say the term “upper working” as we both work behind laptop screens and still call a napkin a napkin and probably lean more towards working class taste, although I do dip in to some more middle class clothing brands from time to time.

I think there are more people out there who are in fact “upper-working” class.

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DreamsComeTrue1994@reddit

Not having to look at the prices on a restaurant’s food menu

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TuMek3@reddit

When people say class culture isn’t strong anymore in the UK 😂

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Unusual_Resident_784@reddit

Been able to go on a cruise.

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LaurensLewelynBoeing@reddit

*being

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LagerBitterCider197@reddit

Cruises are pretty working class

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Gauntlets28@reddit

Depends on the cruise.

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remy-xyz@reddit

A fridge with a water dispenser in the door (I don't use it - too much of a hassle to clean).

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genn176@reddit

Not to brag or anything but myself and my fiancé buy kitchen roll on the regular.

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Immediate_Sherbert47@reddit

Triple ply bog roll for me

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genn176@reddit

Mr luxury

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MountainMuffin1980@reddit

Its actually fucked how expensive that shit is these days. We buy a big package from Costco which is still not super cheap, but better than £6 for 2 rolls of decent kitchen roll

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Psychological_Bee_93@reddit

An integrated microwave in our new kitchen

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Tiffchan74@reddit

I have that! I didn’t even realise I was middle class 💃

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Psychological_Bee_93@reddit

I’m sure to the middle class it isn’t really but it certainly makes me feel it 😂

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Unfair-Ad-9479@reddit

Being asked to act as a reference for someone to get a new job. That was like a “gosh, my career is going okay”.

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Guerrenow@reddit

Butter dish

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bucket_of_frogs@reddit

Get you

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cgknight1@reddit

Dividends from passive income, PhD, Home ownership, and final salary pension.

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bucket_of_frogs@reddit

You can spot the middle class round our way because they’re the only ones not wearing trackies.

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NrthnLd75@reddit

Can they not afford shoes where you're from?

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cheandbis@reddit

Got asked to confirm someone's identity for their passport application.

Mum, I've made it!

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Chordsy@reddit

OMG I had to do that too last year and I only work for a council.

DID I MAKE IT?!

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SnooRegrets8068@reddit

I can do that for others but would find it incredibly difficult to find people to do it for me. It's one of the of the problems with short term contracts

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GuyOnTheInterweb@reddit

did you get to sign that tiny tiny photo?

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cheandbis@reddit

No, it's all online these days.

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Fun-Membership-9795@reddit

Bought a microwave that also can be used as a oven

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No_Presence_8522@reddit

Robot vacuum and an air purifier

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Smooth-Purchase1175@reddit

Wrote an article for the Guardian about the supposed purpose and actual futility of daylight saving time.

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Spadders87@reddit

A toast rack. (and) We bought a nice house in a very nice area and to celebrate our new found middle class status decided we need a toast rack. Were 8 months in and still haven't used it. Think were waiting for when the local dignitaries pop round for breakfast.

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Linfords_lunchbox@reddit

My parents swore by a toast rack - couldn't see the point myself. Buttered when straight out of the toaster is my preference - and then you'd end up with a butter puddle on the table.

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Loose_Acanthaceae201@reddit

Toast racks keep toast crunchy, but they let it go cold.

I'm more interested in eating my toast while it's still hot, than in worrying about whether it's gone a bit soft.

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leobrodie@reddit

Real Nutella instead of supermarket own brand version 🤣

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Seanacles@reddit

Hehe there is no middle class... we're all poors

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TheRealPyroManiac@reddit

The thing about class is you can’t buy it and arguably you can’t truly ‘change’ class once adult.

It’s more dictated by your upbringing.

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lollysugar@reddit

Not to brag, but I was able to buy olive oil AND Lurpak in the same food shop the other day.

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Zealousideal-Habit82@reddit

You must have a swimming pool?

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lollysugar@reddit

Does bucket in my bedroom for my ceiling leak count?

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Zealousideal-Habit82@reddit

Paint the bucket in Lurpak colours and you’re in!

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Davski88@reddit

American Express?

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lollysugar@reddit

Don't be absurd.

Klarna.

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stattest@reddit

It has to be admitted that is quite impressive

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LongShotts@reddit

Okay, money bags.

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CupcakeIntelligent32@reddit

I can afford to shop at M&S now.

Lol.

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Gauntlets28@reddit

I had a similar realisation about Sainsbury's. For years, I would never have given it a second look, but recently we've been going there more because we can, and because they actually have some really good stuff.

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Garden-Rose-8380@reddit

When I was a student, I thought if I could get rich enough to go to M&S and fill a trolley, I'd have made it.

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CupcakeIntelligent32@reddit

That was literally me as a child.

When my grandma would take me to M&S when she would be getting the "special meat" for the Sunday roast, I felt so posh. Lmao

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West-Ad-1532@reddit

Broadening my vocabulary...

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DanielReddit26@reddit

Words i speak also.

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ForwardAd5837@reddit

Ooh, him word speak good.

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Amda01@reddit

Bought a house in a posh town.

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alohabuilder@reddit

Bought a 2023 Defender 110.

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Zennyzenny81@reddit

Even though they're not that expensive, one of those globes that ones up and is actually a drinks cabinet for my whisky!

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Valuable-Wallaby-167@reddit

Nah that means you're straight up posh.

And about to be murdered by one of your heirs that you've gathered together for mysterious reasons.

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Ragnarsdad1@reddit

Once bought a pack of duchy originals biscuits at waitrose. Even then the high was not worth the price.

Look at you, buying a house and thinking you are working class, bless.

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knight-under-stars@reddit

Not be a hatred filled bigot.

It's deeply worrying that there is an overly vocal number of working class people who equate bigotry with being working class. Frankly, I'm sick to death of scumbags co-opting the idea of being working class.

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iberianCJ@reddit

I'm kinda curious now, so what do you mean by that?

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Farscape_rocked@reddit

I've heard said that you can't change your class, you can only change that of your children.

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iberianCJ@reddit

That's kinda half true in my experience, I've also found most of the aggro actually comes from family, people you grew up with or used to live around. It's weird.

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Sudden_Accountant762@reddit

Not having to worry about unexpected bills.

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iberianCJ@reddit

That's a good sign of doing well in life!

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jalopity@reddit

Soap

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iberianCJ@reddit

What? I'm about as working class as it comes, never been scruff though, get a wash man.

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Glad-Business-5896@reddit

I just wanna throw something out there, I grew up in a house with a name. Definitely wasn’t middle class though

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iberianCJ@reddit

We own our home outright and have no personal debt of any kind, so that's cool. Planning to buy another place soon and we have a med cruise booked for October, it feels good if I'm honest but it didn't come easy.

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No-Relation1122@reddit

My accent, lord knows where it came from but people think I'm something I'm not.

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Glad-Business-5896@reddit

I have this same problem. I’ve always been described as posh because I live on the Dorset/Somerset boarder and have no noticeable regional accent. Therefore, I’m a posho

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EdmundTheInsulter@reddit

Sorry to be a snob, but named house is a sort of working or lower middle class aspiration.

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professorbubbleworks@reddit

A Smeg kettle. Despite being second-hand, I felt rich as hell.

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ProD_GY@reddit

No, i dont care about social class labels

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kathrynel1@reddit

A middle class partner!

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Farscape_rocked@reddit

This is the way.

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sharps2020@reddit

I have a subscription for ev olive oil and I buy Jersey butter.

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subbiedavie@reddit

I bought a Helly Hansen parka a couple of years ago. It’s the best jacket I have ever owned and I actually look forward to a winter cold snap so I can wear. I’ve never let so middle class each time it goes on.

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NrthnLd75@reddit

HH isn't middle class.

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Zealousideal-Habit82@reddit

I'm on my second Mercedes.

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GenericBrowse@reddit

A mid week break at centreparcs during school holidays.

Bought Habitat tea towels rather than Asda ones, they are so much thicker!

Went to New York twice in the space of 10 months - the first time, we saved and saved as much as we could for about a year, and we were given some money as it was a significant birthday. The second time, we came across an absolute bargain of a deal and couldn't say no.

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Shawn_The_Sheep777@reddit

I ate some olives 🫒

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NortonBurns@reddit

The British class system was never based on income. It's related to it, but it wasn't based on it.

Having a house with a name is nothing if you still have an old fridge in the front garden ;)

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decentlyfair@reddit

Going into John Lewis and being able to buy things from said shop.

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Affectionate_Day7543@reddit

Paid off my car. I now fully own a car that is not an old banger

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Status-Mousse5700@reddit

An avocado

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JER2501Derby@reddit

Le creuset casserole dishes

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GlumChipmunk4821@reddit

I think middle class is a mindset as much as it is material wealth and social capital. I think I realised I was no longer working class when I started to buy my way out of inconvenience: - Paying extra for more reasonably timed flights - Buying a car so I wouldn't have to rely on public transport - Buying better quality items that are guaranteed to last longer

Things like that. I stopped checking my bank account obsessively; I always had enough. Money felt more like a solution rather than an essential thing I need to get by. I also started investing which was huge for me as someone who never had much disposable income before graduating. I also found myself relating to and being able to talk about certain topics at work that were previously a bit out of reach for me: travel, arts & culture, certain hobbies.

I haven't holidayed in Cornwall or South of France just yet - that's Final Boss Middle Class!

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Cultural_Tank_6947@reddit

Nope, you gotta hide 'em behind a trellis.

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cardboard-collector@reddit

Not having to worry about day to day spending and being able to answer the door without worrying it's related to debt or something.

Growing up when the door knocked we had to be quiet and pretend we weren't home 99% of the time

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