Wow. It’s become apparent to me this week that the Middle Class is disappearing faster than I thought.
What is the Middle Class? I’ll bet you think you know; we all do. It might surprise you to find out that there’s no standard definition.
Google “definition of middle class,” and you’ll get over thirty-one MILLION results. They vary among economic, political and social lines, but they all agree that the middle class is, well, in the middle, between the Upper and Lower classes.
So, what is the Upper Class? It’s defined largely by independent wealth and a sense of entitlement. Members of this class run the gamut from the self-indulgent to do-gooders with a deep sense of responsibility.
What is the Lower Class? It’s marked by crushing debt and a daily struggle for necessities. Again, it’s hard to buttonhole every last individual in this category; some are hard-working but unlucky, and some are just plain lazy.
So, what have we got? Our Middle Class is giving way to a Frankenstein’s monster made up of parts from the Upper and Lower Classes. We’re increasingly seeing our middle-income population acquiring a penchant for self-gratification indicative of many in the Upper Class, but with a debt ratio approaching that of the Lower Class.
And what happens when our Upper Class sense of entitlement meets our Lower Class sense of desperation for these “necessities?” Black Friday mayhem, that’s what. A WalMart employee trampled to death over the crush of shoppers vying to get the deal on the flat screen TV. A shooting in another store. Fist fights over merchandise everywhere. All because the Holiday Shopping Season is upon us once again.
This is nuts!
A hundred years ago, Christmas meant candy and maybe a scarf in your stocking, a stocking you put back on your foot when it was empty. After that, family and friends came over for a warm, festive get-together. Now it means a material bonanza fit for royalty and a family too tired, and broke, to invite anyone over.
Want to bring the Holiday Season back to sanity?
1) Lower your kids’ expectations. Mine want a Wii but I flat-out said no. They know better than to expect one under the tree, and they’ll be happy with what they do get.
2) Make the Holidays about people again, rather than about stuff. Have a cookie-baking party. Play charades. Watch a rented movie and drink egg nog. A material bonanza simply can’t compare to friends. Live your values.
3) Cut down on your gift list and expenses. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways.
- Draw names so each person in the group is only buying for one other person. This works well because you can concentrate on that one individual.
- Buy gifts only for the kids.
- ”Gift” each other with experiences, like a date night or an outing, or a back rub.
These are just a few ways to make the Holidays actually fun again. I’d love to hear yours!