Middle class families share how much money they have in savings and it's eye-opening

July 19, 2024 | [Read Online]( [fb]( [fb]( [fb]( [fb](mailto:?subject=Post%20from%20the%20Upworthiest&body=New%20Post%20%3A%20%0A%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fnewsletter.upworthy.com%2Fp%2Fnew-post-ccaa) [Middle class families share how much money they have in savings and it's eye-opening]( "I transfer money each paycheck but always end up needing to transfer it back." According to an April 2024 Gallup poll, 54% of Americans identify as part of the middle class, with 39% identifying as "middle class" and 15% identifying as "upper-middle class." That percentage has held fairly steady for years, but for many, what it feels like to be a middle class American has shifted. Notably, inflation caused by the pandemic has hit middle class families hard, with incomes not keeping up with cost-of-living increases. Housing costs have skyrocketed in many areas of the country, mortgage interest rates have risen to levels not seen since the pre-Obama era and grocery bills have increased significantly. One government study found that cost of living has increased between around $800 and $1,300 a month depending on the state since 2021, putting a squeeze on everyone, including the middle class. One woman shared that her family is just getting by and asked other people who identify as middle class to "chime in" with what they have in their savings account. [Read the story]( [Mom documents the immediate change that happened after taking away her daughter's iPad]( Everyone is thrilled by the results. Like most parents, Stephany Faublas often used an iPad to keep her 5-year-old daughter Cadence Gray entertained, especially during work hours when she couldn’t devote a lot of her attention. But Faublas shared that she began noticing behavioral changes in Cadence after an extended amount of screentime. “We were butting heads a lot," Faublas told Good Morning America. "I was noticing her ability to listen to the full direction was not there or was decreasing. Her patience was decreasing [and] so was mine." [Read the story]( What's your favorite way to cool down on a hot day? [Dive into a pool, lake or ocean]( [Chug a refreshing ice-cold drink]( [Crank up the AC and relax indoors]( [Enjoy a cold treat like a popsicle or ice cream]( [Grandma challenges the status quo by daring to wear whatever she wants]( “It’s just a little nana belly.” As people age, society expects them to fit into a neat little box of what is deemed appropriate. This can be anything from what job an older person has to their style of clothing to how they speak. Societal rules like these often go unspoken—that is, until you break them. That's when people have a lot to say about things that are seemingly no one else's business. Things like women over 50 having brightly colored hair, wearing tall heels or having hair down their backs. Apparently women over a certain age are all supposed to go to a salon to get the granny cut and wear clothes that identify them as over an arbitrary age. But older women are starting to rebel against the status quo and looking fabulous while doing it. Arlinda, who runs the page funkingafter50 on Instagram explains to Style Like U that due to her dressing in styles she likes, people often seem surprised. She has gotten some stares but she takes those moments and uses them as a teaching moment in a way. [Read the story]( [The way this energetic deaf and blind dog greets his owners is so heartwarming]( He still finds them when they come in the door. TikToker [EchoBadlistener]( has his hands full [with four dogs](: Morty (deaf and blind), Echo (deaf and visually impaired), Winston (overweight), and Frank, who, in his owner’s estimation, is “not too smart.” But even though Morty can’t see or hear, he enthusiastically greets his owners whenever they come home. A[recent TikTok](video that has been seen over 9,000 times shows how Morty has given his high-energy hellos to his owners over the past four years. Although Morty sometimes takes a little while to find their exact location, once he zeroes in, he leaps up and grabs them with his paws or makes excited doggie donuts in the middle of the kitchen. [Read the story]( [fb]( [tw]( [ig]( [yt]( [tk]( [in]( Update your email preferences or unsubscribe [here]( © 2024 GOOD | Upworthy. All rights reserved 1370 N St Andrews Pl Los Angeles, CA 90028, United States of America [[beehiiv logo]Powered by beehiiv]( [Terms of Service](