The average American has relative financial stability. But how much you earn and what you spend your money on might make you better off than most U.S. citizens. You’ll find 18 signs that you’re exceeding the American Dream in this article.
Savings
The figures from CNN.com show that the average American has $65,100 in savings—excluding retirement assets. If you have more money saved in the bank than that, you’re better off than the average American and have a substantial fund ready for a rainy day.
Vehicles
Does your family have two or more cars? Then you might be richer than the average U.S. citizen. Forbes says that most households (91.7%) in the U.S. had at least one vehicle in 2021, but only 37.1% of households had two vehicles.
Debt
If you’re good at keeping on top of your monthly payments and aren’t in debt, you’ll be in a better financial position than most Americans. Money.com tells us that the average American in 2023 carried $21,800 in personal debt (excluding mortgages).
Retirement
If you have a substantial amount of money saved for your future retirement, you might be wealthier and better organized than the average American citizen. A retirement plan with good healthcare, home insurance, and an end-of-life preparedness package is the key to a secure and happy future.
Rent
Do you rent your living space? Forbes calculates that the average national rent price in the United States is $1,372 a month. So, if you spend less than that a month on rent and have a well-paying job, the average American will envy you.
Mortgage
Mortgage rates in the United States are high. The figures from Quicken Loans show that the national average monthly mortgage payment is $1,768. If you have a better deal than that on your mortgage payments, you’re doing well.
Stocks
Only 58% of Americans own stocks. If you own stocks, you have the potential to accumulate more wealth as time goes on. An investment portfolio that contains stocks looks very impressive to others and might make you stand out more than the average U.S. citizen.
Houses
Buying a house in the United States will put a dent in anyone’s piggy bank. The median price for an existing home—one that’s already standing, not new construction—was $387,600 as of November 2023, according to Bankrate. If you own your home and it was cheaper than that, you’ve got one up on the average American.
Employment
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 6 million Americans are currently unemployed. Approximately 20% of those will stay unemployed for a very long time. If you have relative job security and a good, reliable income each month, your circumstances might be better than many of those living in the United States.
Healthcare
Healthcare is expensive in the United States, and you must have a good healthcare provider and insurance to get the medical attention you need. Do you have access to good quality, free healthcare where you live? Then the amount of money you save on routine doctor visits might make you better off than many Americans.
Education
The U.S. Census Bureau stated that “between 2011 and 2021, the percentage of people age 25 and older who had completed a bachelor’s degree or higher increased… from 30.4% to 37.9%.” Additionally, “about 14.3% of adults had an advanced degree in 2021, up from 10.9% in 2011.” So, if you have a bachelor’s or an advanced degree, you’ll have attained a higher educational level than most U.S. citizens.
Tuition
Tuition in the U.S. is very expensive. Best Colleges says, “The average total cost for a year of college at a four-year school—including tuition and fees, on-campus room and board, books, supplies, and other expenses—was $36,436.” If your college tuition was less expensive and you’ve landed a well-paying job, you might be in a better position financially than the average American.
Trade
Learning a trade as well as completing a higher education is the best way to get ready for whatever life throws at us. If you have a trade that you can fall back on if you lose your employment, you’ll be able to support yourself. Most citizens of the U.S., however, rely on the state when they lose their jobs.
Hourly Rate
Do you make more than $34.55 an hour? Then you’re working at a rate that is higher than the U.S. average. A well-paying job with healthcare support and a retirement fund is essential to financial stability, not only now but in the future.
Tax
Tax rates are extremely high in the United States. A single worker will only see 75.2% of their gross wage after tax and benefits have been removed from it. If the tax rates are lower where you live, then you might be bringing home more money at the end of the month than most.
Annual Income
The average U.S. household income in 2022 was impressive—$105,555, to be precise. But are you making more money than that each year? If so, you’re making more than the median household income in America.
Travel
Do you and your family go on vacation a lot? A third of Americans travel two to three times a year. If you vacation often, you’ll be showing that you can afford a comfortable life with many luxuries, some of which U.S. citizens cannot afford.
Eating Out
Americans eat out about 4.2 times a week. Although eating out is more expensive than making your own food, the American budget allows them to do so. If you eat out most nights a week, you might be financially better off than most U.S. citizens.
READ MORE
Anyone who says they don’t have an unhealthy, embarrassing, or time-wasting habit is lying. We all have them, and some really aren’t great for us. Let’s look at 19 guilty habits that we should really stop indulging in.
19 THINGS WE DO IN SECRET THAT ARE MORE COMMON THAN YOU THINK
19 THINGS PEOPLE WOULD OUTLAW IF THEY RAN THE WORLD
Let’s face it, there are some things out there that really grind your gears, but would you ban them if you could? A recent internet survey asked, “What would you ban if you knew you had the final say?” Here are the top 19 answers.
19 THINGS PEOPLE WOULD OUTLAW IF THEY RAN THE WORLD
13 BOOMER STEREOTYPES WE NEED TO STOP BELIEVING RIGHT NOW
It’s time to set the record straight! Baby boomers, born between 1946 and 1964, have long been saddled with numerous stereotypes that simply don’t hold water. These generalizations can be unfair, misleading, and downright incorrect. Here are 13 boomer stereotypes that need to be debunked pronto!
13 BOOMER STEREOTYPES WE NEED TO STOP BELIEVING RIGHT NOW
23 THINGS THAT DECLINED IN QUALITY BUT INCREASED IN PRICE WITHOUT PEOPLE REALIZING
Have you ever noticed that some things don’t seem to be as good as they used to be, but they cost more than ever? It’s frustrating, but we often just accept it as the norm. In this post, we highlight 23 things that declined in quality but increased in price without people realizing. Let’s dive in.
23 THINGS THAT DECLINED IN QUALITY BUT INCREASED IN PRICE WITHOUT PEOPLE REALIZING
20 THINGS OLD PEOPLE LOVE THAT THE REST OF US DON’T UNDERSTAND
Different generations enjoy different things, but have you ever seen something an old person loves and thought to yourself, why? A recent internet survey asked, “What is something that old people love that you don’t understand?” Here are the top 20 answers.
20 THINGS OLD PEOPLE LOVE THAT THE REST OF US DON’T UNDERSTAND