Your tales of the Middle Class Crunch

By MSN Money staff

What is it like to be middle class in the U.S. today? Americans report discouragement and disillusionment, but also determination and creativity.

Millions today are struggling to maintain a lifestyle that was taken for granted even a decade ago. That much is apparent in MSN Money's continuing multimedia coverage of the Middle Class Crunch -- and in the big reader response to the series.

Thousands of readers have sent us e-mails and posted messages on MSN Money message boards. Many of you felt the articles spoke for you; others wanted to share your own stories about life in America's middle class. Here's a sampling of those stories:

'It is frustrating and depressing'

"We consider ourselves middle class, making a six-figure income. We own our home and have two kids, one in college (and) the other attending college in the fall. We both have a commute to work of over 45 minutes. Even though our income is higher than those you mentioned, we struggle to stay afloat with the rising costs of car insurance, gas, utilities, food and other necessities. Because of our income, our kids don't qualify for any college financial help.

"It takes both of us working extra-long hours and penny-pinching everywhere we can to make ends meet. We cannot afford big vacations or anything extravagant. We try to build a savings, but every time we get some in the bank, something happens such as car repairs, house repair, etc., to wipe it out and bring us back to the start again. It is frustrating and depressing to work so hard and never get ahead."

'Forget about putting money away'

"My husband makes $62,000 a year, and I can't work because of our special-needs daughter. With only his income, we barely make it each month. After taxes and insurance, he brings in around $2,900 a month. With rent (houses go for around $500,000 here), car payments and utilities, we have about $300 a month left over for food for the three of us. It should not be this way!!!!

"We do not go on trips, we don't eat out, our TV is 10 years old, and we rarely buy clothes for ourselves. Yet we are one paycheck away from the street. I cringe when my daughter's therapists say she needs new stuff, because our insurance won't cover it. Every doctor visit is a $20 co-pay, and meds cost, too.

"Forget putting money away for retirement or a rainy day. The middle class is as dead as the dinosaurs."

'We live in fear'

"It's so great to know we're not alone. For some reason, we never seem to have enough after each paycheck, and there have been days of peanut-butter sandwiches before payday. We lived through Katrina but only received $200 from FEMA and not enough from insurance to cover all our home repairs. We needed to take out a second mortgage. We live in fear of one more thing going wrong. If it does, we'll probably lose our home.

"Between the rising gas costs, medical insurance that is three times what we used to pay, companies not giving yearly raises and bonuses, and the cost of food around here, I don't think we can keep doing this much longer. However, selling our home will be difficult. At this moment, there are over 30 homes for sale in our subdivision."

'More balance' is needed

"Our household income is about $52,000 gross, and we can't afford a home even in Atlanta. To make up for it, I sold my car, and we moved closer to a bus line. If the weather is good, I'll make the 10-mile trip to work on my commuter bicycle. We also downgraded to basic cable, but going to the library more than makes up for it.

"Not having a car has forced us to consider shopping at the mall nearby and at the local grocery stores and farmers market. That helps the local community a lot. We no longer drive 20 miles to the nearest Costco, and we get fresher food. Not having a car has also forced us to make our own meals at home instead of going out. We still eat at local restaurants but not as often.

"Riding my bicycle has also improved my health dramatically. I reach work more refreshed and alert than my co-workers who drive. I don't think America will get back to firm footing until people can attain more balance in their lives. Now, if only my employers would let me work from home a couple of days out of the week."

No money for more children

"Many of us have to have both parents working, no 'ifs ands or buts' about it . . . and even then, we struggle tremendously to keep our heads above water. For many of us, there is no 'there may come a point when child-care costs will outweigh the benefit of having two incomes' -- we can't have only one income.

"We can't have any more children (I even know people who say they can't have any children) because we simply can't afford to live and work and pay for child care, health care, etc."

'Cut up the credit cards, people!'

"My husband and I are solidly middle class, and we do feel the squeeze, but only because we are correcting seven years of marriage that were lived in financial chaos. Once my husband and I are completely debt-free, we won't feel the squeeze anymore (only 22 more months!). "

"People need to realize that credit cards that you take out 'for emergencies only' increase the frequency of and expense of 'emergencies.'

"Pay cash for everything and you figure out very quickly what is an emergency and what is an unnecessary expense. Cut up the credit cards, people! Don't finance vehicles! Buy only as much house as you determine you can afford! Once people stop spending next year's paycheck this year, they will cease to feel the squeeze. You will never be able to keep up with the Joneses. They're living on financed income, anyway!"

'We cut out any frills long ago'

"It's dreary to know that you are stuck in a no-win situation and have no fun in your life. Every time we save for a short vacation or dinner out, medical costs, food, gasoline and utilities rise again. We cut out any frills long ago, and the food budget is pared; we buy minimal clothes, no magazines or books; gifts are limited to a small amount each year. Unless we want to freeze or starve, there are no more options to pinch pennies.

"It is sad that we could live for 30 more years like this. We can end up like my parents who have not left their house for the last 15 years except for visits to the doctor. Unless the U.S. starts funding health care in this country and aligning salaries with the cost of living, we are going to see the middle class shrink more and more."

Continued: Single parents feel the crunch

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