I wanted to give everyone a peak on my definition of a middle class man that way we can all have open dialogue on my thoughts. Being a middle-class man is often seen as a desirable status in modern society, but for some middle class workers, it can be a source of frustration and disappointment. While middle-class life promises financial stability and opportunities, the reality for some can be a constant struggle to make ends meet and feel like they are never getting ahead. In this blog post, we will explore the experiences of a frustrated middle-class man.
The Frustration of Struggling to Make Ends Meet
For many middle class workers, being a middle-class man means living paycheck to paycheck. Despite working long hours and sacrificing time with family and friends, they struggle to make ends meet. They may feel like they are not getting ahead, no matter how hard they work. This can lead to frustration and disappointment with the middle-class lifestyle, which can seem like a distant dream. Especially with the current economy, where to fill a gas tanks cost close to $100 bucks and then you go inside for a soda and bag of chips maybe a case of beer and your gas station trip turned into a $150 dollar affair which is 7 hours of pay for most middle class folks maybe more for others. We just want to live a happy life but paycheck to paycheck makes that feel impossible
The Feeling of Being Stuck One of the most significant frustrations for the middle-class men is the feeling of being stuck. They may feel like they are in a dead-end job with no opportunities for advancement or growth. They may have dreams and ambitions, but feel like they can't pursue them due to financial constraints or family obligations. This feeling of being trapped can be incredibly demotivating and can lead to a sense of hopelessness. We just want to feel valued by our companies and not replaceable and we want better management where they can provide us feedback for growth. But when a decent house cost an average of $428,000 as of the first quarter of 2022. It seems almost impossible to succeed. Did you know that home prices in the U.S. increased by 30% from 2020 to 2022. The median home price in the U.S. increased by 416% from 1980 to 2020. The Zillow Home Value Index puts the typical home price in the U.S. at $354,649 that comes out to a payment of $1,790.02 assuming 20% down and a interest rate of 6.5% and a insurance and tax bill of $458.42 monthly so a total of $2,248.44 now most mortgage companies will not provide lending unless 43% or less of your income goes to debt so just to afford the average home in the united states you would have to make $63,000 a year and that is assuming you have ZERO other debts. Meaning no car payment or student loans or credit cards. only 38.04% of Americans earn $60,000 or more according to a study done on What "Percent" Is Your Household? | Payscale - Salary Comparison, Salary Survey, Search Wages. So lets talk about why the middle class is upset.
The Pressure to Keep Up
Another source of frustration for the middle-class is the pressure to keep up with their peers. Middle-class life comes with certain expectations, such as owning a home, driving a nice car, and taking vacations. For some middle class workers, these expectations can be difficult to meet, leading to feelings of inadequacy and failure. I'm sick of constantly feeling like what I have isn't enough in the eyes of society when it is enough for me.
The Difficulty of Balancing Work and Family Life
For middle-class men, balancing work and family life can be a significant challenge. Long hours, overtime, and demanding jobs can make it difficult to spend time with loved ones. The pressure to provide for the family can also be overwhelming, leading to a sense of guilt and disappointment when family time is sacrificed. If we want to provide for our families we have to be away from them for significant amounts of time, and that takes a piece of me every single day.
In Conclusion
Being a middle-class man is not always the ideal lifestyle that many believe it to be. For some middle class men, it can be a source of frustration and disappointment. Struggling to make ends meet, feeling stuck, pressure to keep up, and difficulty balancing work and family life can all contribute to this sense of dissatisfaction. However, it's important to remember that everyone's experiences are unique, and there are many positive aspects to middle-class life as well. By acknowledging these challenges and working to overcome them, middle-class men can find greater satisfaction and fulfillment in their lives, and that is what this blog is going finally have, open conversations in regards to what 75% of us Middle class people feel daily. Lets talk about it.