exactly. my parents are a good example.

my dad is self employed, as he owns a shop. my mother owns a small third party cobra insurance company...she was previously the person who did all of the work, and the owner retired, selling her the company. things have gone well enough for her, and she has now hired her sister, although my mom hasnt become the boss that never comes to work. she prefers to be very hands on with things. my dads shop has slowed down over time, as hes gotten older, he doesnt want to tear into big jobs so often. they are, by most financial standings would suggest, in the lower class...but they own a house, an early 90s 30 foot motor home, he drives a 1994 525i and she drives a mid 90s volvo wagon. granted, they arent rolling in money, but more so, they make very good use of the money that they do have...most people who make the money that they do, dont handle it as well as they do. i think thats another problem...my parents get a new car when they can afford it, and that goes for everything else. too many people who dont have deep pockets are far too quick to spend a fortune just to keep up with the jones'.

on their tax return, theyre in the "lower earning class", but you would never guess it by looking at how they live, and it has been that way for the last 30 years.