You are right in that we shouldn't feel ashamed, but we do.

I grew up working class, going to a school with a lot of upper-middle class. Shame there.

When H and I got married, we had a little financial trouble in the beginning, but he worked a lot of overtime, and we did okay. When I was promoted to QP in 2007, I received a huge raise (think $6+ an hour). Then, we were flush until last year. Now we're having serious issues.

We're solidly middle-class. T described herself and me as lower middle-class, but I don't know what their income is and she doesn't know what mine is.