I have BEEN dirt poor a few times, mostly from 1992-1997 and 2000-2002, but for most of my adult life I'd say "average" or "lower-middle class". When I was very young we were never rich but probably upper/average middle class. My Dad made about a grand a week in 1980s money BUT he also had to support his ex wife and three other kids for part of my earliest childhood, so we weren't exactly swimming in money. I was definitely pretty spoiled for a while, though.
Right now I'm on unemployment, but I get enough to get by with some extras and I have money in the bank - though not a lot - so make of that what you will.
Never been "rich" and never will be, but I've been pretty much everything else.
A few things I've learned:
- You can never get too comfortable if you're up near the top, because it doesn't take very much at all to send you right down to the bottom and it can happen quicker than you think.
- Nothing is promised and you have no guarantees.
- You're basically just a "tube" for money; it comes and goes right through you. No matter how much you have you'll always need more.
- Anyone who says either "Money is the root of all evil" and/or "Money can't buy happiness" has never, in the words of Art Alexakis, "had the 'joy' of a Welfare Christmas".
I could definitely be a lot better about saving money, but frankly, I've been poor enough times where I was lucky to have milk for my cereal, to the point where when I have the means I'd rather just enjoy life. I've gone without many times, so even if it's irresponsible or whatever I'd rather just have fun while I'm alive.