You're Officially 'Upper Class' If You Pay For These Services

No official income threshold or net worth automatically places someone in the highly-sought-after upper class. In fact, the United States has long prided itself on being a classless society, striving to treat every person equally regardless of their financial circumstances. However, the way people feel about wealth disparity is much different on the ground. According to a Gallup poll, between 1% and 3% of Americans don't consider themselves part of any economic class, meaning between 97% and 99% perceive the U.S. as a class society. This reality is further exemplified by the perceived friction between the country's economic strata. The Pew Research Center indicates that two-thirds of people think there are strong conflicts between the wealthy and poor — a considerable increase from prior years.

Without a clear mechanism to differentiate between classes, some people have adopted unofficial heuristics to parse the haves from the have-nots. One of the most popular and reliable of these ad-hoc metrics is tracking what kind of services people spend their money on. Statista reports that the service industry comprises more than 77% of the U.S.'s gross domestic product, but those services vary dramatically in importance and affordability. For example, nearly all Americans pay for oil changes to keep their vehicles running, yet only a select few would ever consider hiring an expensive lawyer to oversee a corporate acquisition. Whether you've always wondered or never given it a thought, let's explore some services that automatically place you in the upper class if you're paying for them.

House cleaning may seem like the great equalizer as a quotidian reality stretching into every corner of society. After all, every apartment and home gets dirty and dusty over time. Although most people think cleaning frequency is a matter of preference, experts have actually put timelines for specific appliances and rooms. For example, sinks should be disinfected daily, bed sheets changed weekly, and floors vacuumed or mopped weekly. Beyond practical similarities, 87% of Americans report improvements in physical and mental well-being when their homes are clean, according to the American Cleaning Institute (ACI). Another ACI survey found that 16% of people say they don't have enough time to clean.

Those parallels between different socioeconomic strata start dissolving when looking at how much some people are willing to spend to offload this daily or weekly chore. Based on data from 90,000 transactions, Angie estimates that it costs $70 to clean a 1,000-square-foot home. Since the typical American home is 1,800 square feet, the standard cost for a light cleaning would be $126. This number is arguably higher for upper-class Americans who live in larger homes on average and may require more extensive cleaning services. Regardless of your income, giving your home a deep clean is an affordable way to increase your home's value on a budget. 

The ascent of e-commerce has transformed the shopping landscape, giving consumers a virtual alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar experience. This digitization has helped to reduce costs for consumers by increasing the competition and streamlining the entire process, meaning most people are spending less money and time online. In contrast, this shopping renaissance has helped the upper class augment its shopping expenses without losing any time. The magic is in the personal shopper. In their most basic duties, these experts buy products such as groceries and clothing for clients, intending to save time and outsource decision-making. More involved professionals will take on the role of personal stylist, advising elite clients on what to wear and even how to carry themselves in different social settings. 

The average personal shopper is estimated to cost about $200 per hour. For reference, that's nearly 28 times higher than the federal minimum wage. The astronomical costs of having a dedicated shopper are better demonstrated when looking at the expenses on a monthly and yearly basis. People tend to visit the grocery store 1.6 times per week, according to Statista. That's 6.4 times per month. With the standard grocery store visit lasting 45 minutes, the average personal shopper would cost an eye-watering $960 monthly and $11,520 annually. Keep in mind that this calculation doesn't even scratch the surface of other types of shopping, meaning the full costs of hiring a personal shopper are likely much higher.

For most people, maintaining an acceptable lawn requires minimal effort. Daily watering with sprinklers, weekly mowing, and monthly weed-pulling usually do the trick. Tackling these backyard to-dos at home is actually a frugal tip for saving money without sacrificing quality of life. You're improving the curb appeal of your home while saving money on the costs of hiring a maintenance professional. With bigger yards and even more sizable budgets, the upper class takes a different approach to lawn care. Instead of rolling up their sleeves, many wealthy people simply outsource all of their outdoor needs to landscaping experts. The elite don't even bother using the parochial term "lawn care," preferring to use the fancier-sounding "groundskeeping."

Groundskeeping simply refers to full-service, commercial-quality land maintenance that usually involves large properties. Estimates place the starting rate for groundskeeping services at $1,600 per acre monthly. Although the average lot size in the U.S. is around 14,000 square feet, it's common for members of the upper class to own more than an acre, significantly increasing their monthly land maintenance costs. For reference, an individual with an acre property would be paying $19,200 per year for groundskeeping services.

Gallup estimates that 69% of U.S. adults have kids, suggesting that child-rearing is a shared experience among Americans. The exorbitant costs of childcare swiftly dispel that misconception. Child Care Aware of America indicates the average family pays $13,128 annually per child for these services. For a married couple, those child care expenses would eat up 10% of their income. Single parents are forced to spend more than one-third of their income. Those looking for full-time nannies pay more than triple the average daycare costs. UrbanSitter estimates the average hourly cost of a nanny is $23.61 per hour, which totals $49,000 per year. Keep in mind that these figures are estimates for a single child. Statista reveals that the U.S. average is 1.94 children per family. Thus, these costs would nearly double. 

With those sky-high costs, it's no wonder that only between nine and 12% of American parents hire a nanny, depending on the age of their kids. Even daycare alone is becoming increasingly cost-prohibitive to American parents, as the average U.S. family has to dedicate up to 16% of their median salaries to full-time daycare. Child care is one of the surprising costs of raising a child, which is why many people are arguing for federal intervention by lowering costs or providing financial assistance.

Most people only hear about private chefs when listening to celebrities talking about their fat-shredding diet or the president discussing his favorite White House dishes. The closest the everyday American gets to personalized meals is through food delivery apps, and that still represents a minority of people. 40% of city inhabitants order food with apps at least once a week. That number shrinks to 15% in rural parts of the country. This is in stark contrast to the nearly 90% of Americans who eat home-cooked meals, according to the Pew Research Center. The same survey found that 60% of U.S. adults say food expenses factor into their grocery shopping decisions.

As the rising cost of healthy food is increasingly out of reach for many Americans, the idea of hiring a private chef is a foreign concept reserved for the upper class. Private chefs can charge up to $200 an hour, which would cost a family of four $2,400 per month. On an annual basis, this personalized meal prep amounts to $28,800. This yearly expense would account for nearly half of the average annual U.S. salary of $66,000, making this service an option only attainable by the upper class. The average household is too busy figuring out which grocery store strategies will save them money to even consider paying for an at-home chef. 

An alarming 74% of adult Americans are overweight, with about 43% suffering from obesity, according to a study published by the National Library of Medicine. Ironically, this grim picture of the country's overall health is mirrored by a broad desire to be healthy and good-looking. Unsurprisingly, 75% of people say that looking attractive and maintaining good shape are important to them, according to UPI. The American Heart Association highlights how the most common barriers to leading a healthier and fitter lifestyle impact all Americans in similar ways: time limitations, low energy, lack of support, and high costs. Notably, the financial obstacle doesn't impact everyone equally. This is a hurdle that wealthier Americans can clear more easily than their less financially stable counterparts.

The National Academy of Sports Medicine, a leading provider of training and certification for personal trainers, suggests the average personal trainer charges $100 per hour. With leading medical institutes recommending 150 minutes of activity per week, that would mean a minimum of $250 per week and $1,000 per month. The burden of this cost is put into perspective when realizing that 59% of Americans don't have sufficient savings to handle a surprise $1,000 emergency bill. At this rate, your wallet would be getting leaner along with your physique.

Unless you're cleverly using the most effective ways to avoid paying taxes legally, you likely fall into the 60% of American households paying income tax annually, according to Statista. It's widely believed that filing federal and state taxes is more complicated than necessary, yet most taxpayers trudge through the complex paperwork and various forms to give Uncle Sam his cut of their hard-earned income. The Internal Revenue Service offers a free file option, allowing people to complete their tax forms without paying a dime. Still, several free or low-cost third-party services offer guidance and support, with TurboTax being among the most popular.

The upper class in the U.S. goes a step further by hiring a personal accountant to handle their taxes. These experts not only handle the paperwork, but they also look for exemptions and legal loopholes to save their clients as much money as possible. Taxes are complicated enough with standard accounting procedures, but wealthier individuals' taxes are even more convoluted when adding multiple income streams, capital gains, foreign bank accounts, and other factors. Standard tax filing by a professional can cost anywhere between $500 and $1,500.

Stocks are among the more popular investment vehicles in the U.S., but ownership is far from ubiquitous. Gallup reveals that about four out of 10 Americans don't own any stocks. Among those that invest in stock indices, most stick with mutual funds or exchange-traded funds — collections of various stocks investors can access with a single transaction. A smaller fraction of investors actively trade individual company stocks. Given these revealing investment trends, people who pay for investment planning are most likely members of the upper class. Simply put, if you have enough leftover money to pay someone to tell you where to put that wealth, there's a good chance you're an elite.

NerdWallet approximates that financial advisors charge between $2,000 and $7,500 per year. Assuming an individual invests throughout their time in the workforce, from 18 to 65, this would represent a minimum of $94,000 and a maximum of $352,500 across a typical employment lifespan. It might seem reasonable if a financial advisor can help augment your investment returns, but the base annual costs prevent most Americans from participating. Bankrate estimates the average savings account has $8,000, meaning the hiring of a financial advisor would at least eat up 25% of the average adult's savings.

Similar to hiring a financial advisor, working with an estate planner is a telling sign that you're part of the upper class. In short, estate planning is the process of determining how an individual's assets are distributed after incapacitation or death. Most people don't have enough real estate, stock ownership, company equity, or other investments to survive their retirement, let alone their entire lifespan. Aside from the practical limitations, hiring an estate planner is also financially infeasible for a broad swath of the American public. Some estimates put the total cost of estate planning at $10,000. The combination of limited assets and lack of sufficient funds bars the overwhelming majority of U.S. adults from accessing this service. That's why about two-thirds of people don't have an estate plan of any kind.

Art is one of the most stereotypical havens of society's upper crust, and one of the areas where the elite spend the most. Topping out at $65 billion, the art industry boasts an evaluation rivaling the gross domestic products of many European countries, including Estonia, Iceland, and Cyprus. The Federal Bureau of Investigation estimates that art crime accounts for billions in losses annually. 

Whether you want to tell if your artwork is worth any money or get an estimate on a piece that caught your eye, art authentication is a serious expense. Some art authenticators offer an estimate of $200 per hour, although this number can change based on many factors. Generally, the cost of an art authentication is based on three main variables: the purpose of the appraisal, how many works are appraised, and the type of art.

When it comes to security, most Americans think about fences, locks, dogs, and maybe even alarm systems. For the upper class, these provincial measures pale in comparison to the protection offered by private security. To be fair, the ultra-wealthy have more wealth and assets to protect from would-be thieves. Furthermore, fame also comes with unwanted attention, which can make the successful disproportionate targets of criminals. For example, a series of high-profile burglaries targeting National Football League players claimed a treasure trove of $3 million before being caught by the FBI, ESPN reported. 

The average cost of private security runs between $35 and $50 per hour, according to Bark.While this hourly rate might not seem too bad, round-the-clock risks demand the upper class pay for these measures 24/7, dramatically increasing the overall costs. Looking at the lower end of the price range, the constant cost of private security would be $840 per day and $5,880 per week, highlighting how quickly these prices can get out of hand.

A private driver is another service that is clearly reserved for the upper class of society. Some people claim to hire a personal chauffeur for security purposes, while others do it to be more efficient throughout the day. In the U.S., a private driver can cost anywhere between $35,000 and $120,000 annually. The most affordable driver available would still charge more than many Americans make in an entire year. This throwaway expense for the ultra-rich weighs heavily on the average person.

In addition to homes, vehicles are a common source of debt among American households. This problem is only getting worse as the rising cost of living directly elevates the amount of personal debt people have to assume to afford a vehicle. A jaw-dropping number of Americans are paying $1,000+ per month for their cars. That's unsurprising when you realize the average cost of a new vehicle is $50,000, according to Kelley Blue Book. If you have a normal income, you're better off sticking with Uber or Lyft to get around when driving your own car isn't possible or preferable. 

The average Joe or Jane hires a private driver from time to time — for prom, weddings, or birthdays — but having a private pilot is a true test of wealth. In fact, most Americans don't even fly. An Ipsos survey suggests that only 44% of U.S. citizens travel with commercial airlines in any given year. Of that fraction of the population, a mere 12% pay for the business class experience. An even tinier sliver of that portion goes all out for the first class benefits. According to NerdWallet, the jump from economy to first class can hike the cost of a ticket by about 1,500%. The price difference between flying first class and chartering a private jet is far more dramatic.

Depending on the size, a private jet can run anywhere between $2,000 and $10,000 per hour. The average domestic flight time is one hour and 50 minutes, which would put the average cost for a jet charter from $3,000 to $15,000. As a specific example, the cost to fly private from New York to California is estimated to be between $34,000 and $41,000.

Perhaps nothing is more indicative of an elite lifestyle than chartering a yacht. Whether touring around the Mediterranean or Caribbean for a summer getaway or celebrating a birthday in the high-life way, renting a yacht is the epitome of big money. There's a good reason that this expensive luxury is most often associated with the wealthiest, most successful people on the planet, such as Jeff Bezos and Leonardo DiCaprio. Only about 12% of people own a recreational boat, let alone a full-blown yacht. Even the beginner-friendly so-called pocket yachts start at a wallet-crushing $200,000. Most people dream of owning a home worth that much.

You might think renting a yacht would be a little more reasonable, but you'd be mistaken. Estimates for a weeklong yacht charter vary greatly between $10,000 and $150,000. As more than half of Americans are holding back on vacations due to the rising cost of travel, the mere thought of renting a yacht is out of reach. To put things into perspective, the average net worth of yacht owners is estimated to be $140 million on the low end and over $500 million on the high side — quite literally the definition of the top 1%.