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What Does “Middle Class” Really Mean Anymore? | The Young Middle Class
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
What does “middle class” really mean anymore?
Is it $250K? $350K? $450K??
In this episode of The Middle Class Podcast, Moshe Alpert, CFP® sits down with Shalom Becker, Vice President of Purchasing at Millennial Healthcare, for a rare and honest look at what it actually takes to build a middle-class life today — from the ground up.
This is the real story most people never hear:
Starting at $50,000 a year.
Living in small apartments.
Delaying comfort.
Asking for uncomfortable raises.
Buying a home before everything felt ready.
And slowly building toward a $300K+ household income.
No hype. No shortcuts. Just real decisions regular families face — and how to navigate them responsibly.
⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps
00:00 — What does “middle class” really mean today?
01:55 — Why this conversation matters more than ever
04:10 — Early marriage with limited income
06:50 — Living frugally: apartments, cars, and trade-offs
09:45 — Financial pressure and growing responsibility
12:40 — The first real job: making $50K and perspective shifts
15:30 — Why asking for raises is uncomfortable — but necessary
18:55 — How to ask for a raise without risking your job
22:45 — Jumping from $70K to six figures
26:30 — Saving money while expenses keep rising
29:55 — Deciding to buy a home before feeling “ready”
33:00 — Buying with less than 20% down & understanding PMI
36:40 — Why flexibility matters more than a dream home
39:15 — Locking in a mortgage before interest rates surged
42:10 — Side hustles: adding income without burnout
45:00 — Reaching $300K+ household income
47:45 — Why financial planning matters before you feel successful
50:40 — Lifestyle pressure, comparison, and staying in your lane
53:00 — What “making it” really looks like in the middle class
📌 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:
What income truly qualifies as “middle class” today
How career growth actually happens (and why it’s rarely linear)
When switching jobs makes sense — and when it doesn’t
How to ask for raises without risking your job
Why early frugality creates long-term flexibility
Buying a home with less than 20% down — and why PMI isn’t the enemy
How side hustles help break middle-class plateaus
Why financial planning matters before you feel successful
How to stay grounded amid lifestyle and peer pressure
🧠 Quotes from the Episode
“Middle class isn’t about lifestyle. It’s about stability.”
“Every raise was uncomfortable — but not asking would’ve cost more.”
“You don’t need your dream home. You need a home.”
👤 About the Guest
Shalom Becker is Vice President of Purchasing at Millennial Healthcare, overseeing vendor negotiations, budgeting, and procurement across healthcare facilities. Shalom’s career reflects the real-world path of many middle-class professionals: steady progression, expanding responsibility, and learning how to create long-term stability through disciplined decision making.
💼 About the Host
Moshe Alpert, CLU®, CFP®, ChFC®, RICP®, AEP®
Founder & CEO of Ceremian Financial. Moshe helps families and professionals make clear, values-based financial decisions around income growth, savings, homeownership, and long-term planning — without unrealistic assumptions.
🔔 Subscribe & Connect
👍 Like this episode if it resonated
💬 Comment below: What do YOU think qualifies as middle class today?
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📧 Questions? Email: middleclassalpert@gmail.com
🎧 Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts
https://open.spotify.com/show/3j5CZsshpbtkil5rS3sVs7?si=3Kg45qm5QbSfhtIy2W2mWg
🎛️ Production Credits
Produced & Edited by: BIG Productions – Gidon Orman
🎙️ Contact: gi@bigprod.net
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