• 𝕾𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖞 𝕿𝖚𝖓𝖆@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      My mother seriously recommended I hire cleaners if I wasn’t able to always keep my place clean at a time in my life where I was super busy.

      I made like $30k in 2014. I wasn’t poor by any stretch, but suggesting I hire cleaners was a clear indicator of how out of touch she was with the lower half of the middle class.

        • 𝕾𝖕𝖎𝖈𝖞 𝕿𝖚𝖓𝖆@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          I graduated college in ‘14 and got my first professional job that August. I made $17.09 an hour and I was an 85% FTE. I was still in grad school at the time (never finished, whoops). That inflates to right about $22 today, if the BLS’ inflation numbers are to be trusted. Or about $39k at 85% FTE

          My rent was $800 in uptown Oklahoma City.

          Again, I was doing alright for a single guy with a bachelor’s degree at 22 with little work experience. I kept my bills and rent paid. I got to buy a PC component every once in a while. Sure, I wasn’t going on vacation every year, but I wasn’t starving.

          But I was a long way away from hiring cleaners. I couldn’t really afford a therapist back then. Which I desperately needed more than I realized.

          Oklahoma’s minimum wage still follows federal, but most places do start at $9 or $10 anymore. Still not nearly enough. And that’s really in the city. Out in the sticks, you’re making $7.25.

    • KoalaUnknown@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      My mother makes a near median salary but still hires someone to clean her apartment every 2 weeks because she hates cleaning. To pay for it and other things she does pet sitting and travel booking on the side.

      Division of labor is a useful thing.

    • rwhitisissle@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      Comfortable middle class. Upper class people have full time servants. They don’t come to your house. They’re just always there.

      • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe
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        9 months ago

        The traditional definition of middle class was being able to afford a servant or two.

        These days it’s certainly well within middle class income to hire a cleaning service, have groceries delivered, etc.