[Grace]

I have been reading the posts in ‘Class’ and have some personal observations to share. I was raised in an ‘old money’ family that would be considered upper class (yes we were in Forbes). But I spent my formative years with my mother who was raised middle-class, so I have some perspective. It is my observation that, at least in our area, money does not equal class. There is ‘old money’ and ‘new money’. So if someone gets a college degree or two and makes a lot of money, that doesn’t automatically put them in the same social circles as those with generations of money. But I have seen it happen, and it’s more about networking and knowing the right things to do, rather than annual salary. In our town there are neighborhoods that are considered old money and others that are considered new money. Same with country clubs, clothing stores, taste in clothes, jewelry, makeup, hair style, vacation spots, etc. Old money people don’t talk about money. It’s assumed. They don’t put any energy into name-dropping or anything like that. It is very obvious to me in a mixed social situation who are the ‘have always had’ vs. the ‘just got’s’ or ‘wish to be’s’. If that makes sense. Doesn’t it sound snobby? It even seems that way to me when I’m in that environment, and I’m from a ‘have always had’ family. Then even among the old money – you have some subtle differences. You cannot tell by looking at some people that they are worth millions. They may seems to dress so plainly yet their outfit might cost a months’ salary to some. It’s very strange. I remember in my early 20’s I met this guy with an obnoxiously sounding preppy name. He introduced himself using his full name, and even saying ‘the third’ at the end. He found out who my family was from someone, and had immediately come up to me. He started dropping names of his supposed ‘friends’ and tried to impress me by saying where he went to college and implying how well-paid he was. This was not someone from old money… I know for myself I do not like it when people find out my heritage because they seem to make assumptions about the kind of person I am. I try to avoid it and was very happy to get married and take my husband’s name. Anyway that’s all I have for now but I signed up for this forum to notify me by email if anyone responds and I would be happy to answer any and all questions that I can offer, again from my own experience. Thanks and take care…

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Name : Grace, Gender : F, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 35, City : Louisville, State : KY, Country : United States, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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