"not financial back-breakers for middle class families in the past." I doubt that middle class families in the past routinely had weddings that required the re

"not financial back-breakers for middle class families in the past." I doubt that middle class families in the past routinely had weddings that required the rental of dedicated space and staffing by a dozen or more paid individuals. Maybe you had it in the church and had a potluck afterwards in the basement, or maybe you had it in a large rural backyard. Of course, before, middle-class people also did not retire for decades and expect to spend that time traveling and not working. They did not expect to drive cars with air conditioning, carry supercomputers in their pocket, watch 200 channels on TV, or live in large air-conditioned suburban homes. So what has happened is that the perception of "middle class" lifestyle has grown to include considerably more consumption. That's ok. It's just sort of puzzling to read this piece--he seems to say "I've had a good life, I've gotten good things for my kids, I don't have money in the bank, but it's my own fault, so I'm not complaining." Which is nice, but why is that worth reading?