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Middle-class families share how much they have in their savings accounts and it's eye-opening

"We make the most money we ever have and have zero savings. We live paycheck to paycheck and every month I don’t know how we get by."

Photo by Karolina Kaboompics/Pexels

Many middle class families are sharing that they have nothing in savings right now.

According to an April 2024 Gallup poll, 54% of Americans identify as part of the middle class, with 39% identifying as "middle class" and 15% identifying as "upper-middle class." That percentage has held fairly steady for years, but what it feels like to be a middle-class American has shifted for many.

Notably, inflation caused by the pandemic has hit middle-class families hard, with incomes not keeping up with cost-of-living increases. Housing costs have skyrocketed in many areas of the country, mortgage interest rates have risen to levels not seen since the pre-Obama era, and grocery bills have increased significantly. One government study found that the cost of living has increased between around $800 and $1,300 a month, depending on the state, since 2021, putting a squeeze on everyone, including the middle class.

How much money do middle-class Americans have in their savings accounts?

One woman shared that her family is just getting by and asked other middle-class people to "chime in" with what they have in their savings accounts.

@abbyy..rosee

somethings gotta give #savings #middleclass #relatable

"I swear, every paycheck I am putting money into my savings, but needing to transfer it back within a few days," shared @abbyy..rosee on TikTok. "My registration is due. My husband's registration is due. He needed two new tires, even though they had a warranty. That's $300. My oldest needs braces, he needs a palate expander, that's $120 a month. Not to mention groceries are $200 more a week. Forget about feeding your family great ingredients because who has $500 a week to spend on perfect ingredients to feed your family?"

middle class, cash, savings, family finances, dollar bills, A depressed couple doing their bills.via Canva/Photos

She explained that her husband makes enough money that they should be able to live comfortably, and that she quit her job because the cost of daycare was more than she was making.

"At some point, something has to give," she said. "What is going on? How do I save money?"

People in the comments chimed in with their savings account totals and it was quite eye-opening. Many people shared that they have $0 saved.

"We make the most money we ever have and have zero savings. We live paycheck to paycheck and every month I don’t know how we get by."

"I think the middle class is 1 personal disaster away from bankruptcy."

"Y’all got savings accounts?!?! 😂"

"I used to freak out if I had under $10k in savings, now I’m happy when I have over $150. 😫"

"We make almost 100,000 a year with no savings!!!! It's always something!!"

"I'm lucky if we have $500-$1K for an emergency. Every single time we start saving, something happens: the vet, the cars, the kids... something."

"Savings account? I transfer money each paycheck but always end up needing to transfer it back. My husband makes great money too but we are scraping by."

"$803 but we have to pay a $750 deductible this week b/c my Husband hit a deer soooo… back at it 😭 It’s exhausting. Constantly draining it, refilling it, transferring."


middle class, cash, savings, family finances, dollar bills, An upset couple doing their bills.via Canva/Photos

Some people shared that they do have some savings, but several said it was because they'd had an inheritance or other chunk of money come their way. Many people shared that their savings has dwindled as increased costs have taken their toll. Some people gave lifestyle advice to save money, but most agreed that just the basics have gotten so expensive it's harder to make ends meet much less put extra into savings.

Thankfully, the inflation issue appears to be waning, but even just plateauing at their current financial reality isn't ideal for many American families. Middle class is supposed to be a comfortable place to be—not rich, but well enough off to feel secure. That's not how many middle class folks feel, though. Most Americans don't have anything close to the amount of money saved that is recommended across the age spectrum, but at least hearing that others are in the same boat is somewhat comforting.

middle class, cash, savings, family finances, dollar bills, An upset couple doing their bills.via Canva/Photos

Further, a 2024 study found that 37% of Americans can't afford an unexpected expense over $400, and nearly a quarter of them don't have any emergency savings at all. “Not all surprises are good, and people know it. The study suggests financial precarity at a time when household finances may be stretched due to rising prices and inflation,” says Rebecca Rickert, head of communications at Empower. “Life happens, and people are stressed about the surprise expenses that could tip them off-balance.”

It can be vulnerable to share your financial reality, but it's helpful to hear what other people are doing and dealing with so we all feel less alone when we're struggling. Perhaps if people were more open about money, we'd all be able to help one another find ways to improve our financial situations rather than lamenting our empty savings accounts and wondering how to change them.

This article originally appeared last year.

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Daycare workers share the most 'unhinged' requests they've ever gotten from parents

If this doesn't give you a whole new level of empathy for childcare workers…

_gracesaylor/TikTok, Photo credit: Canva

Serving divorce papers? Bet no daycare worker expected to do that during a shift.

We all know that childcare can be a major source of stress for parents. Without even taking the lack of available, affordable daycare into the equation, there's also not being able to physically be there all the time to provide for all of your child’s needs. Sure, this separation has to come eventually. But still, it’s understandable that some parents might have a hard time transitioning.

And yet, some requests (or demands, even) that parents make to childcare providers are, to put it politely, nuts.

Recently Grace Saylor, a home daycare provider in Minnesota, decide to quell her boredom by asking fellow childcare providers to share the “unhinged” things parents asked to accommodate.

“I’m not talking about ‘my 2 year old doesn't need to nap anymore.’ I’m talking the borderline crazy expectations they have,” she clarified in the onscreen text.

@_gracesaylor_

What is the most unhinged thing parents have asked you to accommodate? #momsoftiktok #childcareprovider #childcareworker #daycareprovider #inhomedaycare #inhomedaycareprovider #daycarelife #daycareteacher

Let’s just say, there were no shortage of baffling replies—from zero awareness of boundaries to outrageous examples of entitlement. Below are some of our favorites:

"'Don't tell her no because it upsets her’ and I said ‘okay so strictly redirection?’ and this said ‘no we just let her have free range to make her own decision and let her choose what she wants to do.”

"A Mom texted me while I was in the hospital with a pulmonary embolism (she knew bc she was friends with my mom) bc her 5 year old son wasn’t given his lovey at nap time."

"A mom cussed me and my coworker, because her son caught the flu…..he was the first in the room to get sick."

"I had a parent ask me to count how many string beans her child ate at lunch."

"Child had digestion issues, mom asked us to chew his food for him, then feed it to him. No no no way."

“Kiddo had a dr. appt. Mom called and said they were on their way back. I asked how it went. She says, “oh, he has pneumonia. Be there in 5.”


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"Had a parent say their kid couldn’t eat our food because it's too processed and packs her kid kraft mac and cheese everyday for lunch."

"A dad stood on top of the cubbies and did a backflip off in response to me saying this is the children’s class. He said he pays enough in tuition and can do whatever he wants! blocked parents entering."

“Normal milk gives him a ‘stomach ache.’ Asked us if we could give him chocolate milk instead.”

"We weren’t allowed to label anything with the toddler’s name because she didn’t want her to get kidnapped."

"I had a parent who wanted us to start toilet training her son at 3 months old. Don’t even get me started."

“Had a parent who wanted us to confirm that her child would get out first if there was a fire alarm or bomb threat. As if we had a priority list of which child gets out of the building first.”


Joan Crawford Mommie GIFfrom Joan Crawford GIFs


"We had a kid come from Disney legit straight from the plane to the daycare like they had had enough of this child on vacation they were done."

"Had a dad storm into my 2’s classroom and demand that we not allow his son to play with dolls or dress up clothes while at school... because 'that’s for girls not boys.'"

“On picture day, her child needed to change her whole outfit, make sure her bow was a certain way and socks were a certain height, she had her purse, her bracelet and necklace…this was a 1 year old.”

"Mom asking that all children leave the room so their child could nap. classroom and sleeping area is 1 room."

A few actually had nothing to do with a child at all:

“One time a parent asked us to call her half way through the day saying her child was sick so she would leave work.”

“Can you serve divorce papers to my husband. I said no.”

And while, okay, sure, these definitely fit the “unhinged” bill, Saylor still ultimately has a lot of empathy. “As a parent I completely understand wanting your child to have the very best of everything and I know it takes a lot of trust and confidence to allow others to care for your child,” she told Upworthy.

In her own experience as a daycare provider, she (luckily) hasn’t dealt with any “crazy requests.” However, the most frequent issue she does run into is parents who pick up their children late. Which, naturally, comes across as disrespectful. “[They] don’t take into consideration we also have families and other focuses then just being a childcare provider,” she said.

Childcare workers want your and your child to feel taken care of…within reason. Perhaps parents can benefit from asking themselves why they are making certain requests, and seeing what can be done to address the root cause behind whatever concern is prompting it in the first place.

TLDR: treat childcare workers like humans.

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Daycare camera captures caregiver's wholesome excitement over baby's first steps

Isn't this reaction what every working parent wants?

Representative photo credit: Canva

A baby's first steps are an exciting milestone for parents and caregivers alike.

Parenthood has changed a lot over the past century, as more and more moms have entered the workforce full-time. In the U.S. in particular, where parental leave is a fraction of what other countries get, childcare providers abound, meeting for a vital need for working parents and their children.

Finding someone you trust to care for your child with the love and attention you want for them isn't always easy, so when you find them, it's worth celebrating. That's why a video from mom Lauren Pontiff showing her baby's daycare provider's wholesome reaction to her child's first steps has people cheering.

In the video, daycare provider Shikira is playing with another baby on the floor while Pontiff's child stands holding onto the leg of a table. Soon, Pontiff's child steps away from the table, tottering on two feet towards her. And when she looks up and sees what's happening, she immediately responds by clapping, arms outstretched, rocking and motioning the baby to walk towards her, clearly filled with joy. Then she swoops the baby into her arms in triumphant celebration.

Watch:

@laurenpontiff

The best feeling is seeing the excitement and how happy someone else can be for your child’s first steps!! 🥹🥰

Isn't this exactly what working parents want? Someone who cares for their child as if they were their own, giving them adult interactions that lift them up and let them know they are cherished?

As Pontiff wrote in the caption, "The best feeling is seeing the excitement and how happy someone else can be for your child's first steps." In a comment on the video, she wrote, "She’s loved all of our babies with ALL of her heart!! So glad to have Shikira in our babies lives!! 💗"

Naturally, parents want to be there for their children's big milestones, but that's not always possible. Even without daycare, a parent could miss their child's first steps if they were with a grandparent or a babysitter at the time. Some daycare providers have a policy of not telling parents when a child takes their first steps so that the parent can experience that rush themselves, but having a camera monitor offers some peace of mind that outweighs that desire for many parents.

Most people in the comments understood the joy of this moment being captured on video, not just because of the first steps but because of Shikira's response.

"The type of day care worker all places need!!"

"Imagine leaving for work knowing this is the type of love your kid is getting 😢😩❤️❤️❤️❤️"

"The way she slowly scooted forward like she couldn’t wait to love on your baby 😭"

"That’s how you know you picked the right daycare! She loves your baby like she’s hers 🖤"

"I love the fact they had cameras so you could see it but I loved the worker even more. She was her biggest cheerleader."

"Your little one knew exactly where she wanted to walk to, straight to someone that loves her big when mama can't be there. ❤️ I know it had to break your heart not being there but seeing it is amazing."

Of course, the internet is going to internet, and some people felt the need to say that babies should be home with their mothers. But that ignores the economic reality of our time, which often necessitates two working parents. It also ignores the fact that being a stay-at-home parent isn't ideal for every person, so it's silly to make sweeping judgments. If people truly believe that babies at first steps age should be home with a parent, they should be petitioning the government to match other developed nations' paid parental leave policies.

Since the average age of a baby's first steps is around a year old, Norway's 49 weeks of parental leave at full pay or 59 weeks at 80% pay would fit the bill. Bulgaria's 410 days of 90% paid leave wouldn't be too shabby, either. Sweden gets you past a year at 390 days at 80% pay—see where we're going here? Could the fact that the U.S. is the only wealthy nation with zero guaranteed paid parental leave be stopping many moms or dads from staying home with their babies during that first year? Perhaps.

Since daycare is a necessity here for so many families, let's celebrate the people who take on those childcare roles with genuine love for kids and interest in their well-being. The Shikiras of the world provide parents with so much peace of mind and deserve to be lifted up as a vital part of our collective village.

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People are debating the merits of a 24-hour daycare and the discussion is eye-opening

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about the need for this.

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Are 24-hour daycares a good idea?

Millions of American parents utilize daycare centers while they work. Since most people work during the day, most daycare center hours fall somewhere between 7:30am and 5:30pm. It's rare to find a daycare that's open after normal working hours.

But one "24-hour" daycare in Houston captured people's attention—and sparked a debate—when a mom posted about it on TikTok.

Adventure Kids Playcare in Houston isn't actually open 24 hours a day but it does offer childcare up to 10:00pm during the week and until midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. In the video, the mom drops her daughter off and we hear the employee tell her they close at midnight. The mom later says she picked her daughter up at 11:55pm.

Reactions to the video rand the gamut from "24-hour daycares are a brilliant idea for parents who work odd shifts" to "Moms shouldn't be leaving their kids at a daycare late at night just so they can go out," sparking a fascinating and eye-opening discussion.

First, here's the video that kicked off the whole debate:

@watchingalicia

😅😅🤷🏾‍♀️ #fypシ゚viral #fyp #girlmom #daughter #momsoftiktok #parenting #momlife

The video hit the popular Instagram account The Shade Room where people debated whether this kind of daycare arrangement was a positive or negative, and there was a wide range of opinions on all sides.

Some folks poo-pooed the idea of a 24-hour daycare center in general, which most people were quick to squash. Not everyone works a 9-to-5 job, and not everyone has access to people who can watch their kids in the evenings when they're at work, so a childcare center that's open late or all night provides a service some working parents might need.

"The convenience of a 24-hour daycare can't be overstated, especially for parents working unconventional hours," shared one X user. "It's a game-changer for the night shift workers and emergency responders who keep our cities running."

But a lot of the debate centered around parents leaving their kids at a care center not to work, but to go out at night and socialize. Some people felt strongly that it was inappropriate for kids to be up well past a standard child's bedtime waiting for their parent to pick them up. Some felt that a parent should have a babysitter come to the house so the child can sleep in their own bed and not be kept awake until late. On the flip side, others pointed out that a late night playing with other kids at a licensed, reputable facility would be fun for a lot of kids, and it may actually be a safer option than hiring a teenager to come stay at your house while your kid sleeps.

Others debated the appropriateness of a mother leaving her child at a facility late at night to go out on the town in general, stating that work is one thing but going out for purely social or personal reasons is another. Interestingly, this element of the discourse seemed to center entirely around mothers, which could be a whole other discussion for another day. Some people claimed that a mom dropping her kid off to go out late is being selfish and putting her needs above her child's. Others pointed out that all mothers—or parents—need breaks sometimes, and no one can judge what another parent does without knowing their full circumstances. As one commenter wrote, "Not everybody has a village."

The final fascinating split in this debate were the parents who feel unsafe leaving their children with anyone other than immediate family versus the parents who feel it's good for kids to have other caregivers and socialize with kids they don't know. The varying levels of trust or mistrust, comfort or fear parents have when it comes to their children offers some insight into how differently people view the world. Is one side right and the other wrong, or is it merely a difference in perception and personal preference?

If nothing else, hopefully the breadth of the discussion opened people's eyes to different viewpoints and to life circumstances they may not have considered. Often we can get stuck looking at and judging things through our own lens, forgetting that there's a whole big world of diverse situations we may not even be aware of that might make one person's "nope" another person's "yes, please and thank you."

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