What Is Middle Class?

When people say middle class, a social and economic group typically defined by stable income, homeownership, and access to education and healthcare. Also known as the working middle, it’s not just about how much you earn—it’s about whether that money lets you sleep at night without worrying about the next bill. In the UK, the middle class isn’t a fixed income bracket. It’s a feeling: the ability to cover rent or a mortgage, put food on the table, afford a car or public transport, and still save a little—even if it’s just £50 a month. It’s the difference between living paycheck to paycheck and having breathing room.

This group doesn’t always look the same. A teacher in Manchester earning £35,000 might feel middle class. A nurse in London making £42,000 might feel stretched thin because rent eats half their pay. The cost of living, the total amount of money needed to sustain a certain standard of living, including housing, food, transport, and healthcare varies wildly across regions. Meanwhile, financial stability, the ability to handle unexpected expenses without going into debt is what truly defines it. Someone earning £50,000 with no savings and £20,000 in credit card debt isn’t more middle class than someone earning £30,000 with a paid-off car and a £5,000 emergency fund.

What you see in the news—debates about tax cuts, wage growth, or housing shortages—often misses the real daily grind. The middle class isn’t rich enough to ignore inflation. But they’re not poor enough to qualify for help. They’re the ones who can’t afford to miss work, but also can’t afford to retire early. They’re the ones reading articles about remortgaging, ISA eligibility, or car loan rates because they’re trying to make every pound stretch. This collection of posts doesn’t just talk about money—it talks about survival. You’ll find real advice on budgeting mistakes, how credit cards affect your score, whether taking equity from your home is smart, and what happens when student loans go unpaid. These aren’t theoretical topics. They’re the daily decisions that define whether you stay middle class—or slip away from it.