Skill sets among social classes

[iris lilies]

We’ve talked about this list before and I find it fascinating. But I think it’s been years since we talked about it, so I’ll bring it up again.

https://www.illinoisworknet.com/WIOA...ou_Survive.pdf

these lists were made 30+ years ago and so you have to ignore the emphasis on checking accounts, and here I’m being mindful of our discussion elsewhere on this forum

[iris lilies]

Could you survive in poverty?

Could you survive in poverty? Check each item that
applies.
I know how to .
find the best rummage sales
locate grocery stores' garbage bins that have thrown-away
food.
bail someone out of jail.
physically fight and defend myself.
get a gun, even if I have a police record.
keep my clothes from being stolen at the laundromat.
sniff out problems in a used car.
live without a checking account.
manage without electricity and a phone.
entertain friends with just my personality and stories
get by when I don't have money to pay the bills.
get and use food stamp;
ind free medical clinic
get around without a car.
use a knife as scissors

[iris lilies]

Could you survive in middle class? Check each item
that applies.


I know how to .
get my children into Little League, piano lessons, and soccer.
set a table properly.
find stores that sell the clothing brands my family wears.
order comfortably in a nice restaurant.
use a credit card, checking and/or savings account.
evaluate insurance: life, disability, 20/80 medical,
homeowners, and personal-property
talk to my children about going to college
get the best interest rate on my car loan.
explain the differences among the principal, interest, and
escrow statements on my house payment
help my children with homework and don't hesitate to make
a call if I need more information.
decorate the house for each holiday.
get a library card.
use the different tools in the garage.
repair items in my house almost immediately after they
break, or I know a repair service and call it.

[iris lilies]

Could you survive in wealth?


Check each item if you


can read a menu in French, English and another
language. have favorite restaurants in different countries around
the world.
know how to hire a professional decorator to help
decorate your home during the holidays.
can name your preferred financial advisor, lawyer,
designer, hairdresser and domestic- employment
service.
have at least two homes that are staffed and
maintained.
know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty with
domestic staff.
use two or three "screens" that keep people whom you
don't wish to see away from you.
fly in your own plane, the company plane, or the
Concorde.
know how to enroll your children in the preferred
private schools.
are on the boards of at least two charities.
know the hidden rules of the Junior League.
support or buy the work of a particular artist.
know how to read a corporate balance sheet and
analyze your own financial Statements

[catherine]

I think I'm clearly middle class and would be more comfortable in poverty than wealth.

Could you survive in poverty? Check each item that
applies.
I know how to .
find the best rummage sales. YES
locate grocery stores' garbage bins that have thrown-away
food. NO
bail someone out of jail. NO
physically fight and defend myself. NO
get a gun, even if I have a police record. NO
keep my clothes from being stolen at the laundromat. NO
sniff out problems in a used car. NO
live without a checking account. YES
manage without electricity and a phone. IF I HAD TO
entertain friends with just my personality and stories. AS LONG AS DH IS STILL ALIVE
get by when I don't have money to pay the bills. YES
get and use food stamp; YES
ind free medical clinic. YES
get around without a car. YES
use a knife as scissors. YES

Could you survive in middle class? Check each item
that applies.


I know how to .
get my children into Little League, piano lessons, and soccer. YES
set a table properly. YES
find stores that sell the clothing brands my family wears. YES
order comfortably in a nice restaurant. YES
use a credit card, checking and/or savings account. YES
evaluate insurance: life, disability, 20/80 medical,
homeowners, and personal-property YES
talk to my children about going to college YES
get the best interest rate on my car loan. YES
explain the differences among the principal, interest, and
escrow statements on my house payment. YES
help my children with homework and don't hesitate to make
a call if I need more information. YES
decorate the house for each holiday. YES
get a library card. YES
use the different tools in the garage. YES, MORE OR LESS
repair items in my house almost immediately after they
break, or I know a repair service and call it. YES

Could you survive in wealth?


Check each item if you


can read a menu in French, English and another
language. have favorite restaurants in different countries around
the world. NO
know how to hire a professional decorator to help
decorate your home during the holidays. NO
can name your preferred financial advisor, lawyer,
designer, hairdresser and domestic- employment
service. YES ON HAIRDRESSER, NO ON OTHERS
have at least two homes that are staffed and
maintained. NO
know how to ensure confidentiality and loyalty with
domestic staff. NO
use two or three "screens" that keep people whom you
don't wish to see away from you. NO
fly in your own plane, the company plane, or the
Concorde. HAHA
know how to enroll your children in the preferred
private schools. NO
are on the boards of at least two charities. NO
know the hidden rules of the Junior League. NO
support or buy the work of a particular artist. CHEAP ONES
know how to read a corporate balance sheet and
analyze your own financial Statements. YES on my statement, NO on corporate ones.

[iris lilies]

I’m on the board of at least two 501(c)(3) organizations, but believe me, these are not boards Junior league types are fighting to join.

I am very middle class and I’m happy that way.

I will mention, however, about finding the “best rummage sale”. I extrapolate this to mean good thrift stores. And I know multiple multi millionaires who shop the thrift stores and are particularly happy on red tag sale day. But these folks are not necessarily “wealth class “they are just middle class people with a shit ton of money.

[sweetana3]

Solid middle class. Do not want to even attempt a more extreme lifestyle. Did hire a one time landscaper to take out a lot of big overgrown stuff because they had the crew and equipment. But dont need or want a regular service. We both can analyze financial statements and create our own for the family. But both of our backgrounds are in money fields.

We could live on a lot less and find it fun to shop clearance sales. We choose to not live on a higher standard of living.

If I had one choice for a luxury expense it would be a personal chef to make and store prepared meals for us. But not going to happen until I cannot cook.

[iris lilies]

Yes to the chef.

if I won the lottery, that would be the very first service person I would hire, well, after an attorney. I would hire a chef even before I moved to a more luxurious abode

[littlebittybobby]

okay---what class are you in if you are interested in stuff like this(see photo)?
But yeah---in case you didn't know, this is old Mrs Kenn-O-dees 67 Ollssmobill Delmont 88 after her boy wrecked it. IIRC, the Delmont was the entry-level fulll size with the big motor used in 98's & Tornados. Good for a hwy patrol car. But, no--not a 'cedes or Caddalack.
Yup.

2025-05-06 (1).jpg

[rosarugosa]

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you.