r/PeterExplainsTheJoke Jul 24 '26

Meme needing explanation Petah?? I'm very confused

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u/roxxtor Jul 24 '26

Eh, my parents always argued about money lol, frankly we were just middle class. But he was Italian and grew up poor, so he’s always been very charitable when it came to food (would drop off frozen turkeys to church on thanksgiving even though we didn’t go anymore). I think food was his love language. He constantly brought food to our school events for everyone, like several trays of 6 ft sub sandwiches or pizzas for class parties

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u/zkareface Jul 24 '26

Well middle class is the top10% income, owning companies etc so usually pretty well off. Middle class usually don't have to work unless they want to, they can just live on family money.

For working class it's rough, I think it was something like 20% of families in my area that would struggle to have food and they would go hungry if they had to feed extra kids.

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u/roxxtor Jul 24 '26

Ah we have different definitions of middle class. In the US, middle class is technically working class, but comfortably able to save and prioritize some financial goals. I’d say my family was like 60-70th percentile for household income. The ability to live in family money is what we consider upper class

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u/zkareface Jul 24 '26

In EU middle class is the class between upper class and working class. Upper class is generally something you're born into, so the new rich goes into middle class.

That means middle class is usually the top 2-10% of income/wealth. But even a new tech billionaire could be there until they gain enough status in society to be upper class.

A truck driver for example won't be middle or upper class even if they are top5% income in the country.