From what I see, a year of college plus room and board seems to run between 30K to 50K and change a year. I would happily let the school or the government shoulder the burden, but I hope my kids don't have to be burdened with large loans.

That said, before making any large commitments, I think we'll be having more discussions along the lines of what the kids expect to get out of college than my parents had with me.

So, reading this, I am not rich. But, like you said, compared to others we are. We also know people who make many more $$ than we do.

I know I am not rich because I am thinking I would be better off NOT working because it will put us in another tax bracket and then we'll have to pay. Our son now no longer gives us a child tax credit. That kills me as he is still our child.

College. I guess we live in a very low income neighborhood because the person who came to advise us about college/scholarships said not to save money for school as it would only hurt us when we apply for grants, etc. It is true, they ask you what you have in your checking/saving. They do not take into consideration your cost of living. And, you have to claim your parents income until you are 23.

I think the more you make, the more you spend. If you guys {Alex} don't live over the top, that is smart. You don't sound like you are lacking in any way. What would you consider a luxury that you don't have and would like?

About the only thing I can think of is the time to spend the money I make. The catch for me is that I make enough money that I can afford to travel year 'round. But if I traveled year 'round I wouldn't make any money.

I'm with you there. That's a big dividing line for me, to have enough money to not HAVE to work.

Now that we're living on a single income, with a new life to feed, I'm definitely feeling like we were perhaps just above that "rich" line as DINKs. I mean, we couldn't go out and buy a new car every couple of years or anything, but we could travel fairly freely, deal with large sudden expenses without worry, and indulge in entertainment options (movies, APs, dinners, concerts, et. al.) with regularity. All while enjoying many many every day conveniences - cable with DVR, smart phones, 2 cars, 2 computers, the list goes on and on.

Add to that, we are in a position where, while going jobless is not my first choice, neither would it be disastrous. It would take a very very long unsuccessful job search to see any real "adversity", and even then the "adversity" would for a while take the form of dropping unnecessary conveniences. Lightyears from homelessness.

Being on one income, I would no longer call us "rich". Though a promotion or two, and a change in our real estate [non]fortunes have the potential to change that.

But then, I kinda have a fuzzy distinction between "rich" and "wealthy". I tend to view "rich" as simply being well off enough to not have to rely on debt for your chosen lifestyle, while "wealthy" happens when you can really spend freely. Like I said, fuzzy, but I've definitely never felt "wealthy".

It reads that way, but I didn't take it that way. Although it's becoming increasingly difficult for middle-class families to pay off a mortgage, buying a home on such terms is decidedly a middle-class circumstance. It's only a rich circumstances to buy a house outright, so that's what I took SL's statement to refer to. And if it did not, that's what I refer to.

I remember in the original "Father of the Bride," the groom's father had all these grand plans about building the kids a house to live in after they were married. They rejected it and said they would find their own house to buy. When asked how they would afford it, they said they would get a mortgage. The groom's mother nearly fainted with horror. Spencer Tracy leaped in to say, "Nothing wrong with a mortgage. Had one myself 'til recently."

Yes, but could you make as much in Ecuador or Idaho as you do in LA for comparable work? The trend is generally no, but it is not a linear relationship. An [insert job title] here does not make 3X the monthly mortgage payment for a median home in every city.

Alex~ Time. Oh yes, time. Never enough. And, the more you make, the more important you are and harder to get your vacation approved.

The best vacation we had was when my husband was laid off, we'd purchased my Escape and he had a severance package. We didn't realize he was going to be off work as long as he was {or else we may not have enjoyed ourselves as much, for sure} so that wasn't a concern.

We went to Yosemite, booking things just days prior. Went to Monterey, finding lodging wherever. Just enjoyed ourselves, our son. For some reason, things were just so sweet. No calls from work, no worries.

GD~Glad to hear you guys are doing well on one income. I have seen this as the way to go, maybe. Work together to build up your home, etc. Then, once the children come along, the wife/mom can stay home. You can manage to live on one income, if you play it right. I've seen where it doesn't work,but, that hasn't been too often. Priorities.

That's why I wrote "plunked," meaning to imply impossibly there yet earning what I make here.

One of these days I will learn how to use a quote as a launching point and not sound contentious in my comments.

I was just using your comment as a starting point for mine. Sorry if it sounded otherwise.