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In today’s economy, the middle class is struggling because of the increasing cost of living.
More and more families are living paycheck to paycheck, without the possibility of saving for the future or unexpected expenses.
So, more and more middle-class people are becoming more concerned about their financial stability and security.
There are many reasons why the once-stable middle-class life is getting harder to maintain.
This article will look into 24 reasons making life more challenging for the middle class.
From dealing with sky-high debt to wages staying put as living costs climb, several factors are joining forces to sap the energy from what was once the backbone of the economy.
We will highlight the complex challenges of staying afloat in a world that is becoming increasingly challenging financially.
So, if you’re part of the middle class and are feeling the squeeze, it’s important to find out why and take action to protect your financial future.
1. Wages
Even though the cost of living is increasing, wages have stayed the same.
According to the Economic Policy Institute, nominal wages have increased around 4% annually. But inflation has been growing much faster.
Sometimes, it feels like running on a treadmill, always putting in a lot of effort but never moving forward.
2. Healthcare Costs
Visiting a doctor or staying in the hospital shouldn’t be so expensive that many avoid it altogether.
However, with rising healthcare costs, many people are forced to choose between their health and finances.
Medical debt is the fastest-growing debt among Americans and the leading cause of bankruptcy.
3. Housing Prices
In the past, a middle-income family could buy a nice house without spending a fortune.
But in today’s economy, you have to have a six-figure income even to consider buying a home.
The median home price is over $400,000, making the typical monthly payment over $2,300.
4. Education Debt
Going to college has long been seen as a way to achieve success and stability.
However, with the rising tuition costs, many students are graduating with mountains of student loan debt, creating a burden that can follow them for years.
5. Job Insecurity
The job market today is highly competitive and constantly changing.
Many people struggle to find dependable, well-paying jobs and have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
6. Retirement Uncertainties
With the economy like it is today, many middle-class families are having difficulty saving for retirement.
While retirement used to be a given, now, it’s more of a question mark, which has a butterfly effect on the already overloaded job market.
7. Adult Children Moving Back Home
Due to the difficulty of making a living in today’s economy, many young adults are moving back in with their parents.
This can be a financial burden on their parents as they try to save for their retirement or quit working.
8. Gas Prices
Gas prices are one of the main factors that impact people’s daily lives in a big way.
In addition, high gas prices also affect the cost of goods and services, making it even more difficult for people to buy what they need.
9. Environmental Changes
Natural disasters seem to be getting more frequent and more severe, causing so much destruction and displacement for many families.
This not only affects everyone when they happen, but recovering from them can take years.
10. Self Employment
Freelance gigs offer flexible hours, and side hustles are a great way to earn extra income, but the market has become even more oversaturated in recent years.
With so many people turning to self-employment, it can be difficult to stand out, leading to decreased rates and benefits for anyone trying to make it in the self-employed world.
Add in the AI revolution, and many good-paying side gigs are now virtually obsolete.
11. Increased Dependence on Credit
It is becoming increasingly difficult to make ends meet, so many people are using credit cards to fill in the gap.
This leads to increased high-interest debt and a reliance on credit, which can lead to a deep financial hole that seems impossible to escape.
According to the New York Federal Reserve, consumer credit card debt hit a high of $1.13 trillion, up $50 billion from three months ago.
12. Lifestyle Inflation
Keeping up with the Joneses costs so much more now than in the past, and the pressure to compete is coming from everywhere.
With social media, there is a need to have the latest and greatest, causing people to feel like they constantly need to upgrade their homes, cars, clothes, and gadgets to keep up with their peers.
By constantly buying new, people forego savings, which negatively impacts them going forward.
13. No Financial Education
If you don’t know how to manage your money, you can easily fall into a downward financial spiral.
Unfortunately, many people have never been taught how to budget, save, or make sound financial decisions, and this lack of financial education can lead to financial struggles.
14. Food Prices
If you have gone through the drive-thru or taken your family to a restaurant lately, you probably were shocked at the food prices.
Each year, the price of groceries and eating out increases, making it harder for middle-class families to cover these necessary costs.
Eating out, once a fun experience, has become more of a luxury as prices have skyrocketed.
15. Job Expectations
With so many people in the job market, companies expect more from their employees but pay them the same wages because they can hire someone else at a lower salary.
This can make for longer hours with the same pay even though living costs continue to rise.
16. Tech Advancements
Today’s technology has made life easier and more convenient, but it also comes at a price.
With new tech advancements, many jobs are being done by machines and computers, leading to job loss for many workers.
17. Government Unfairness
Sometimes, it feels like government policies favor the wealthy or the poor, leaving the middle class to fend for itself.
It seems like the middle class has become invisible and is being left behind regarding economic growth and opportunities.
18. Health Epidemics
Of course, we all felt the effects of COVID-19, but it hit the middle class hard, with so many losing jobs, facing financial struggles, and dealing with health concerns.
The middle class is hit harder by health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease since they struggle with affordable healthcare and the money to make healthy choices.
19. Taking Care of Aging Parents
In the past, senior citizens could save for their retirement, but now they rely on their children or struggle to make ends meet.
Many middle-class individuals are part of the “sandwich generation,” providing care for their children and parents simultaneously.
20. Too Much Debt
It’s too easy to spend money with one click buying and credit card offers coming in the mail daily.
Much of the middle class has sky-high debt that they often work hard to pay off instead of being able to add to savings or invest in their future.
21. Insurance Prices
Insurance prices continue to go up, making it difficult for middle-class families to afford the coverage they need, if they can afford it at all.
The cost of health insurance, car insurance, and home insurance all make it impossible on a middle-class budget.
22. The Tax System
It feels like the middle class is always getting the short end of the stick when it comes to taxes.
With tax breaks and loopholes, the rich get richer while the middle class struggles to make ends meet.
23. Overqualified and Underpaid
Many middle-class workers struggle to find jobs matching their skills and education levels.
They often end up settling for lower-paying jobs to make ends meet, even though they have student debt to pay off for the education that they are not using.
24. Recession Effects
Just when you think things are getting better, another recession hits, undoing any financial progress that might have been made.
The middle class feels it the most in times like these since they’re already on a tight budget, and any shifts in the economy could be the final straw.
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I have over 15 years experience in the financial services industry and 20 years investing in the stock market. I have both my undergrad and graduate degrees in Finance, and am FINRA Series 65 licensed and have a Certificate in Financial Planning.
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