Here's another one I've failed - "Have you transitioned to middle-class?"

[NinetyWt]

Six signs you've made it to middle class, article here (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-Signs-That-Youve-Made-It-To-investopedia-4243472351.html?x=0).

1. Home ownership
2. Automobile ownership
3. College education for your kids
4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
6. Family vacation



1. Well, I've got that one. I owned my own home when I got married, now hubs and I own this one. Pass.

2. I'm not sure this one belongs in the list - I got my first car when I was 14. Pass.

3. Mixed bag. I've got one college grad so far (out of 4 kids). I had to get parent loans, so it's not like I paid for it outright. I'm putting "fail" on this one.

4. Hmm. I used to have a 401k, had to dip into it when times were tough. Fail.

5. What insurance I have is overpriced and the coverage is laughable. Fail.

6. We can't afford this either. Fail.

Two out of six for me. :-/

How about you?

[monstro]

Don't own a house. Don't want to own a house. Content with renting. I'm not even bothered that I don't "measure up" when it comes to this.

I have my own car. It's a 16-year old jalopey, but it runs (searches madly for wood to knock on).

I have a retirement savings plan and health insurance through my employer. I want to set up an IRA as a supplement. I'm waiting till my savings are substantial enough before setting it up, though.

Don't have kids, don't plan on having any, so the college fund is irrelevant to me. However, my parents did not have much, if any, of a college fund for me, and they are hardly poor. Many families expect their kids to pony up for their own college educations, especially with all the loan programs, scholarships, and things called jobs out there. If I did have a kid, I would certainly help with school expenses, just as my father did (he paid dorm expenses, then rent for an off-campus apartment that I shared with my sister). But as soon as he or she had hit high school, I would have been telling them they had better do well on the pre-SAT and get good grades, so they would be in the running for scholarships. I'd also be encouraging them to write essays for every organization offering scholarships. If they can't summon up enough moxy to at least try to get money, then they aren't college material anyway.

Family vacation. Pretty difficult to do without a family (of your own making). But I am taking a four day vacation to California in October--the first of its kind for me. So I guess that's something to cheer for. Yay me.

So I hit everything except one (I'm not counting the college fund thing). So I feel pretty good about where I stand.

[elfkin477]

1. no
2. yes, since I was 18
3. I don't have a husband or kids yet so n/a
4. best case scenario retirement is literally half a lifetime away, so no
5. no :(
6. given my answer to 3, obviously no or n/a


So, based on these benchmarks, particularly #3 which wants to know about your obviously grown children people aren't middle-class until they're middle-aged too? Pretty stupid benchmarking system, then.

[GHO57]

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. I don't have kids
4. A bit early for that, I still got like 30 years of working ahead of me. I probably could retire if I sold everything and moved to a cheaper country tho... but I dun wanna.
5. Yes, times 2; national healthcare, and a full coverage private insurance.
6. No family either

[AClockworkMelon]

1. Nope. Neither does the parent who I'm living with.
2. Nope.
3. I plan on attending college but haven't yet. So that's a no for the parent I'm living with, too.
4. Nope. Neither does the parent who I'm living with.
5. Nope. The parent I'm living with does, though.
6. Nope. We exist paycheck to paycheck.

[dangermom]

1. Home ownership
2. Automobile ownership
3. College education for your kids
4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
6. Family vacation


Dang, I lose. College education and retirement are still iffy, family vacation? Ha! Maybe next year, but I've been saying that for 3 years now.

ATM I'm just grateful we've got 1,2, and 5.

[Gil-Martin]

I've got #2, but it's broken. :(

That's okay. I'm making a comeback.

[Palo Verde]

1. Home ownership

Yes, we should have the house paid off in about 7 years



2. Automobile ownership


Yes, my family of 6 people collectively own one vehicle.



3. College education for your kids

Well, my 4 little dudes are too young to have accomplished that, the oldest is 13, but I think we should be able to swing it, as long as they all go to local state schools.


4. Retirement security

This is a hard one. I don't think we have accomplished this or even come close. I hope we end up okay, but it seems a long way off yet.



5. Health care coverage

Yes, we have excellent benefits though my husband's work. We have health and dental coverage (a good thing with one in braces and another needing teeth pulled soon)



6. Family vacation

Yes to this one too. We got back recently from 2 weeks in Northern California, and earlier this year we took the family to Disney. But we drive whenever possible and stay in the cheapest hotels.




I'm middle class! Well, except for the retirement thing, but I'm hoping that will magically appear with time.

[Ephemera]

1. I don't own a home, and never plan to.
2. Not at the moment. I still owe a few thousand on it.
3. No kids, and I only graduated high school.
4. I think I have a 401(k) through my employer, but I doubt I'll ever get to retire, anyway.
5. I have medical, dental, and vision coverage through work.
6. I get up to two weeks of PTO a year and often travel, but it's by myself to visit friends. No family invited.

2/6

[suranyi]

I've hit all six milestones (although my child is still a baby, so college savings is not much yet).

So I'm solidly middle class.

[dogbutler]

1. Home ownership
fail
2. Automobile ownership
15 year old Escort, but it is paid for.
3. College education for your kids
No kids
4. Retirement security
savings, but not enough
5. Health care coverage
yes
6. Family vacation
yes

Four out of 6

[Broomstick]

1. Home ownership
2. Automobile ownership
3. College education for your kids
4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
6. Family vacation

1) renter all my adult life, have no interest in home ownership, don't give a flying eff if someone else looks down on me for that.

2) Own two vehicles, both entirely paid off.

3) Do not have kids, will not have kids, not applicable

4) HA! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Well, OK, I have a pension coming from a former employer (assuming that's still around in 25 years!) and social security (now you're laughing, right?) but seriously, how am I supposed to save for retirement when I can't reliably pay my rent these days?

4) We actually have health care coverage despite being dirt poor

6) Used to travel on family vacations at least once yearly when I had the nice corporate job. Now we stay home and watch movies. Well, I do travel to see family, but then I stay at their house.

That's what, 3 of 6? Well, I know I'm not middle class right now. Frankly, I'm poor right now. But three years ago I was middle class and had been for about 15-20 years.

[Balthisar]

All but 3. No kids. I'd probably then have to sacrifice 6, so then I wouldn't be middle class anymore? Or maybe it depends of the definition of "vacation"? To me a vacation is when we spend a lot of money to go someplace we couldn't easily go to, so then I'd fail #6. But if it means going camping/canoeing for a week or two, then I guess we'd still be middle class.

[StGermain]

Well, I'm getting close, I think.
1. Home ownership
Done. I have a 160 year old farmhouse and 14 acres

2. Automobile ownership
Done. I own a 12 year old station wagon with 170K miles, but it's mine outright.

3. College education for your kids
No kids.

4. Retirement security
Give fully to my 401K, which is matched by my employer, plus some other savings. And my mortgage will be paid off in about 7 years.

5. Health care coverage
Very good insurance through my employer.

6. Family vacation
I sometimes take vacations to visit family, but it's hard to get away with 13 animals to be cared for.

StG

[aruvqan]

1. Home ownership
2. Automobile ownership
3. College education for your kids
4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
6. Family vacation



1.Yup, mrAru and I have a mortgage, almost paid off after 20 years here.
2.Have owned a car since I bought my first [Nash Metropolitan] at he age of 16
3.No kids. I took a dog to obedience training once, can that count?
4.Sort of, I guess it all depends on if we have another mega crash or not.
5.mrAru got us coverage thanks to being career Navy.
6.Yup, we now do a Caribbean cruise in Feb every year, and are going to be adding a flash short vacation to Europe every summer as long as prices stay reasonable.

[Lanzy]

Does it count if you sent your kids to school but they screwed it up?

[DoctorJ]

So the childfree can't be adults and can't be middle class. I guess I'm doomed to be a lower-class adolescent for life. (It's working out for me so far.)

I'm a "yes" on the other five, though.

[CutterJohn]

1. Home ownership
2. Automobile ownership
3. College education for your kids
4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
6. Family vacation


1. Nope. Live cheap, I say. I will have a cheap, very low maintenance house built someday out in the country(city taxes suck) someday. But not yet.
2. I buy 1 payment wonders. 2-4k for a car will yield something that'll last you 5 years or more, well maintained.
3. No kids. If I ever have them, they have my blessing to join the military like I did for the GI bill.
4. Socking away 2/3 of my pay after taxes.
5. Comes with the job.
6. Not really all that big on vacations. Downside of being single, I suppose. Seeing stuff just isn't all that interesting by yourself.

[Dangerosa]

1. Home ownership - owned my first house at 20. Paid off my current home at 39.

2. Automobile ownership - yes, since I was 18

3. College education for your kids - yes, they aren't teens, but there is savings to cover it

4. Retirement security - yes - still investing, but on track to exceed the base goal

5. Health care coverage - yes, through work. We both work and both our employers offer coverage, so if one of us looses a job, we will continue to have decent coverage.

6. Family vacation - just got back yesterday from a week at Disneyworld.

I was raised middle class though, which makes it easier to transition to middle class. My husband was raised "aspiring middle class" - his parents divorced though and that put a wrinkle into his situation.

[amarone]

Got all six.

I don't see "automobile ownership" as much of a criterion for middle class these days - I would add "for each adult in the household".

I live in a middle class subdivision in an area of middle class subdvisions. I would say that most people I know meet all six and qualify for "multiple" on autos and vacations. And quite a few (but not I) have more than one home - either vacation home or rental property.

[RickJay]

3. College education for your kids...
This doesn't make any sense at all in terms of defining "middle class."

1. Most people do not graduate from college. I realize it's a popular myth that higher education is typical, but it is not. It's logically absurd to define as "middle class" something that only a minority of people ever attain.

2. It has little to do with your "class." If you're reasonably affluent, save for your retirement, and own your own home, but your kid decides to become a welder, how are you not middle class?

3. Perhaps most important, it means, by definition, that you can't be middle class until you're old. My child is 5, so a college education's not in the cards for years. So I can't be middle class for 13 years? Huh?

[Sattua]

1. Home ownership

Yes. Unfortunately we own TWO houses. We don't like it like that.

2. Automobile ownership

Yes, we own two cars. Go us.

3. College education for your kids

(pokes stomach) How about it, Kidney Bean?

4. Retirement security

We've got investments and stuff. Not that they pay off, in this market.

5. Health care coverage

Yes, we both have health insurance through work.

6. Family vacation

Yes, we lurve our vacay. We're heading to the USVI soon. Suh-weet!

[amarone]

3. College education for your kids...
This doesn't make any sense at all in terms of defining "middle class."

1. Most people do not graduate from college. I realize it's a popular myth that higher education is typical, but it is not. It's logically absurd to define as "middle class" something that only a minority of people ever attain.

2. It has little to do with your "class." If you're reasonably affluent, save for your retirement, and own your own home, but your kid decides to become a welder, how are you not middle class?

3. Perhaps most important, it means, by definition, that you can't be middle class until you're old. My child is 5, so a college education's not in the cards for years. So I can't be middle class for 13 years? Huh?
You have some good points, but what I would say is:

In my experience most middle class people did go to college, and an ever bigger majority of their children do. Of course you are correct that you do not fall from MC status if your kid decides to become a welder. However, you just assume that you kids will go to college. When talking to your kids you would say "when you go to college" rather than "if..." You would set up college funds at an early age. So if you assume that your 5-year old will probably go to college and you are making financial preparations now, I would say that is a middle class activity.

[NinetyWt]

I was raised middle class though, which makes it easier to transition to middle class. My husband was raised "aspiring middle class" - his parents divorced though and that put a wrinkle into his situation.

I was raised middle class too. My parents managed 5 of those 6, but of course that's when healthcare was a much, much smaller percentage of one's income. Here I am, with a masters' degree in engineering, owner of my own company - nope, I'm not middle class 'cause I don't have good healthcare insurance. :dubious:

I don't see "automobile ownership" as much of a criterion for middle class these days - I would add "for each adult in the household".

I thought that was dumb, too. My husband and I have six vehicles on our car insurance - one for each kid, and us.

[This doesn't make any sense at all in terms of defining "middle class."


Hey, I didn't say I agreed with the article. It didn't seem to be much better than the "adulthood" one. "Hard work and good luck"...? Yeah right.

[monstro]

I agree, NinetyWT. I can actually poke more holes in this list of "milestones" than the other one.

1. Home ownership. This assumes that people live in places where home ownership is feasible on a middle-class salary. If I lived in Manhattan, there would be no way I could afford a home. I would have to rent. And since I'd be choosing to live in Manhattan rather than commuting from one of the other boroughs or Jersey, I'm assuming that either 1)I'm poor and living somewhere like East Harlem or Washington Heights, 2) I'm a college kid dorming in Morningside Heights or around NYU, 3) doing quite well for myself, living in a small yet nice apartment somewhere, and making more than enough to qualify as "middle class", 4) or one of the lucky few that have managed to hold on to a rent-controlled apartment--which means I could be poor, middle-class, or rich.

There are other places in the country where it simply does not make sense for a family making the median US income to buy a home.

On the flip side, people can be house poor. They can inherit a paid-off house from a parent or grandparent, while pulling in a minimum wage salary. And do mobile homes count? I can buy one for $2000 right now. Does that simple purchace change my socioeconomic status?

2. Car ownership. A person can buy a POS car for close to nothing. I bought my 1993 Ford Mustang for $800 and I have had it for six years. A family of four making $20,000 a year can piece enough money to afford $800. So that really doesn't mean much.

And again, going back to certain urban centers, it does not make financial sense to own a car, when public transit or your own feet can take you where you pretty much have to go every day.

So that one is a dud too, IMHO.

3. I already expressed my piece with college education but I'll say it again. Not every financially comfortable family is going to put their kids through school. That doesn't mean they aren't middle-class. It just means they might have a different value system, or their kids don't want to or can't go due to disability. Also, is it fair to rate a family who has to put multiple kids through school simultaneously alongside a family who has only one or two kids, separated by some years, to worry about? My parents would have been unable to put both my twin and I through school at the same time without both of them working multiple jobs, even though their income was pretty high when we were filling out the FAFSA paperwork. When my father found out that we'd both been accepted at Cornell, his head practically exploded. So he was relieved when we went to a state school that was practically free.

I agree that having kids at least attending college would be a benchmark of a family being "middle-class", but that's about it. (Not to mention, you gotta wait 18years to be considered middle-class? WTH?)

4. Retirement security is like the college fund thing--that takes years for a person to develop. I just started contributing to my retirement plan three years ago. In thirty years I can say I'll be secure (hopefully), but right now? Hell no. Who in their early 30s could say they are secure for retirement? No one except someone who is NOT middle-class.

5. Health care coverage. This is a toughie, given how ruthless the health care industry is. It is possible to be comfortably employeed and be unable to afford health care coverage if you have pre-existing conditions. That's beyond your control. Now, you might have enough money to go to a doctor and pay out-of-pocket for routine check-ups. That would be "middle-class", I would think. But simply having insurance--which you're more likely to have if you're poor (Medicaide) than if you're middle-class? I'm not so sure. Hopefully this will change with Obamacare.

6. Family vacation. OK, I'll concede this one as long as singleton vacations aren't excluded. Otherwise, only people with families can be considered "middle-class", and that would be wrong.

[Tamerlane]

1. Home ownership - Yep. Ambivalent about it, but I am an owner.

2. Automobile ownership - Yep. Aging now ( 2000 model ), but paid for.

3. College education for your kids - No kids, N/A.

4. Retirement security - Yep. Well, more than most. DB pension plan + 401k ( no employer matching ). The big one is the PP, assuming it stays solvent.

5. Health care coverage - Yep. Co-pays going up all the time, but I do have full coverage through my employer.

6. Family vacation - Yep. Can do.

But as noted, none of these are necessarily ideal markers for defining the Middle-Class.

[Khadaji]

1. Home ownership I will pay off my house in a week or two.
2. Automobile ownership I have 97 Acura that I bought brand new.
3. College education for your kids No kids.
4. Retirement security I am not as secure as I wish to be, but I don't think I have too many worries.
5. Health care coverage Yes
6. Family vacation No wife, not kids, but I rented a cabin in the mountains for a week in October.

[Driver8]

I'd count myself as hitting all six (we don't have kids, but are easily paying for my wife's post grad). I think it is a pretty arbitrary set of criteria though, I'd happily sell our condo in Georgia and be renters only here in California, but would still consider myself middle class.

[RickJay]

In my experience most middle class people did go to college, and an ever bigger majority of their children do.
Without looking it up, just take a shot at guessing what percentage of Americans have a bachelor's degree or better.

Seriously, throw out a round number. It'll be interesting to see what your guess is, and I invite everyone else to give it a crack, too.

[monstro]

25%?

[amarone]

In my experience most middle class people did go to college, and an ever bigger majority of their children do.
Without looking it up, just take a shot at guessing what percentage of Americans have a bachelor's degree or better.

Seriously, throw out a round number. It'll be interesting to see what your guess is, and I invite everyone else to give it a crack, too.
I don't see that being particularly relevant. Nowhere did I say "graduates with a bachelors degree or better". You can attend college and graduate with an associates degree or just attend college and take some number of classes. Anyway, here are my guesses:

Bachelors or better: 20%
Associates or some technical certification: 15%
Some college: 20%

[msmith537]

1. Home ownership
2. Automobile ownership
3. College education for your kids
4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
6. Family vacation


1. My girlfriend owns our appartment. I have an option to marry into it.
2. No need (NYC thing).
3. No kids yet.
4. I have a fair amount saved up but I'm still in my 30s.
5. Yes
6. I'm all booked up this year with destination wedings and bachelor parties buy I'll say that counts.


Our income, education and professions put both of us soundly in "Upper Middle Class". Since we have chosen NYC urban living, the normal middle class trappings of car/house/other apply differently.

[emacknight]

Six signs you've made it to middle class, article here (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/6-Signs-That-Youve-Made-It-To-investopedia-4243472351.html?x=0).

1. Home ownership
2. Automobile ownership
3. College education for your kids
4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
6. Family vacation


Does this imply that you can't be middle class if you don't have kids? What class does that then make me?

[Dangerosa]

3. College education for your kids...
This doesn't make any sense at all in terms of defining "middle class."

1. Most people do not graduate from college. I realize it's a popular myth that higher education is typical, but it is not. It's logically absurd to define as "middle class" something that only a minority of people ever attain.

2. It has little to do with your "class." If you're reasonably affluent, save for your retirement, and own your own home, but your kid decides to become a welder, how are you not middle class?

3. Perhaps most important, it means, by definition, that you can't be middle class until you're old. My child is 5, so a college education's not in the cards for years. So I can't be middle class for 13 years? Huh?


About 20 years ago, Minnesota defined all higher education as "college" - they are now "Technical Colleges." I'd say middle class is "being able to support your kids in post secondary education" - even if that means tech school because they decide to be a welder or a hair stylist. With younger kids, I'd assume it means saving for it. And if they don't go, well, that's a better funded retirement.

[Mijin]

1/6

1. No.
2. Had a car, but they're a liability in London
3. I don't have children. I guess I can't be middle-class until I'm about 50 then?
4. No. Unless you count the $1000 I have in a pension scheme
5. I live in the UK -- UHC.
6. No.

Not that surprising, given as I've just spent everything I had doing a postgrad degree.

[Cunctator]

1. Yes - the mortgage has been paid off
2. No - but I choose not to have a car
3. No children
4. Yes - my superannuation fund is in a healthy financial state
5. Yes - I have private health insurance
6. Yes - I generally go overseas on holiday every year

[elfkin477]

In my experience most middle class people did go to college, and an ever bigger majority of their children do.
Without looking it up, just take a shot at guessing what percentage of Americans have a bachelor's degree or better.

Seriously, throw out a round number. It'll be interesting to see what your guess is, and I invite everyone else to give it a crack, too. Somewhere between 24 and 30%. New Hampshire has one of the highest rates of BA/BS holders, and it's only in the upper-30s and I don't recall any state being above 40%, so the over all number must be several points lower.

[amarone]

I had a think. Most of my friends and acquaintances have kids of college age and above. I cannot think of a single one that did not go to college. I know of just one that did just a couple of semesters then dropped out. The others all graduated or are still in college.

I have two kids in college. All of their friends that I know went to college. Every one of them.

From previous threads I know that there are different views as to where the boundaries lie between working class/middle class/rich. However, I believe that there would be little disagreement that the sort of community I live in is middle class, and it is clear that here at least middle class = kids go to college.

[NinetyWt]

What class does that then make me?

First class!

[NinetyWt]

Wow. I took a guess at the % of college grads - much lower than I thought!


The % of residents over the age of 25 nationwide who have graduated from a 4-year college = 15.7. In the county I live in, it's 26.3. High school grads nationwide are only 80%.

[Lust4Life]

It would appear that I'm low life scum.

Turned out just as my old mum said I would.

On the other hand I've had a lot of fun, travel and life experiences so I'm not downhearted............sob.

[Nava]

1. Home ownership -- eh well, the bank owns about 40% of it.
2. Automobile ownership -- yeah. I own a car in full and the one Singlebro uses belongs to both of us.
3. College education for your kids --- Childless, so I can't ever get this one.
4. Retirement security --- inasmuch as it's provided by my guv'mint and the Swiss guv'mint.
5. Health care coverage --- Seguridad Social for the win. Nothing like living in countries without it to make you appreciate it.
6. Family vacation --- I've been known to go on vacation with my mother and Singlebro, does that count or are children required?


Like in the other one, whomever came up with these is taking generalizations and turning them into a litmus test. No workee, Johnny.

[Ludovic]

Another vote for "kids? what kids?" Yes on the others, though.

[Tranquilis]

1. Home ownership.
Check. Or, more to the point - I own a mortgage.

2. Automobile ownership.
Check. Including a minivan.

3. College education for your kids
Sorta. We're not there, yet, but it's assumed that they'll be going.

4. Retirement security
Eh. Sorta. I've got various investments and a pension working, but we're not secure yet.

5. Health care coverage
Check. Pretty decent coverage, too.

6. Family vacation
Fail. Not because we couldn't - It's just not something we do.

Middle-middle class. But we've know that for years.

[Notchimine]

1. Home ownership. On my third now but still have a mortgage
2. Automobile ownership Yup
3. College education for your kids One down, one to go but money is there
4. Retirement security As long as I work until 60 and kick by 90, I'll be okay.
5. Health care coverage Yup
6. Family vacation Twice a year for the past ten years.

SO, yeah...guess I have.

[otternell]

1. Home ownership - as long as I get to count the one that's mortgaged, then yes.
2. Automobile ownership - we each have our own, paid for.
3. College education for your kids - no kids and god willing none ever.
4. Retirement security - heh - keep the market from sucking all the gains out of my 401k and then maybe.
5. Health care coverage - sure - through my employer
6. Family vacation - We spend all our money on home remodeling projects - we really aren't much for the vacations unless its camping and canoeing, in which case we get one every year.

[enipla]

1. Yep, will be paid off in about 8 years. Also own the lot next door and another 40 acre parcel.

2. Two vehicles and an old plow truck.

3. No kids. No problem.

4. Working on retirement. If it weren't for the recent down turn I be a little bit more optomistic. But, it is to be expected, i think we have time to recover.

5. My Wife and I don't travel a lot, but we get around. Visit family, or IronMan races (my Wife, I'm pit crew).

[SciFiSam]

Home ownership - no. That is substantially more difficult when you live in an area where the average asking price for a 2-bedroom flat is 350,000 quid (http://www.findaproperty.com/areadetails.aspx?edid=00&salerent=0&areaid=0872). When my daughter's past school age I might move away so that I can buy a place (I'm also looking into houseboats).

Car - no. It's really not important here. I can't even drive.

College fund - no, but her Grandmother has some money put by and she'd most likely get scholarships anyway.

Retirement fund - only the government one, which isn't much at all. This is the main reason I'd like to own a property.

Healthcare - universal health care.

Family vacation - we have done a couple of these and will be doing one next year too.

[SciFiSam]

Do you guys have some sort of state retirement pension in the US, that you automatically pay into with your taxes and get whether or not you have a private pension plan?

[amarone]

Do you guys have some sort of state retirement pension in the US, that you automatically pay into with your taxes and get whether or not you have a private pension plan?
Yes - it is part of Social Security. The amount of pension you get depends on how much you paid into Social Security while working, but it can end up being significantly more than the UK state pension. If I start claiming Social Security at 65, I will get about $24,000 per year whereas the full UK state pension is currently only £95/week, which is less than $8,000/yr.

And following the link in your other post I see that the little 2-bedroom flat I owned in North London is worth about as much as my 5-bedroom house on half an acre here.

[SciFiSam]

Do you guys have some sort of state retirement pension in the US, that you automatically pay into with your taxes and get whether or not you have a private pension plan?
Yes - it is part of Social Security. The amount of pension you get depends on how much you paid into Social Security while working, but it can end up being significantly more than the UK state pension. If I start claiming Social Security at 65, I will get about $24,000 per year whereas the full UK state pension is currently only £95/week, which is less than $8,000/yr.

And following the link in your other post I see that the little 2-bedroom flat I owned in North London is worth about as much as my 5-bedroom house on half an acre here.

Cool, I thought that might be the case.

TBF, there are a lot of top-ups available for the UK state pension (income support and housing benefit), and of course you don't have to pay anything at all for healthcare, so it probably works out about the same - as in, the state pension is actually not all that great.

[Maastricht]

1. Home ownership. Yup, the bank owns it, I pay the mortgage.
2. Automobile ownership. Husband has a company car.
3. College education for your kids. Kid is two years old. I'm saving for him, though.

4. Retirement security
5. Health care coverage
4&5 are standard provided in the Netherlands.


6. Family vacation. Sure, once or twice a year. We have lots of vacation days.