Anyone come from lower or middle class background and sometimes feel like you don't fit in with the people around you or the consulting lifestyle?

I'm from an upper middle class family so I definitely don't feel as uncomfortable/isolated as some of you all. But I just started in consulting this year and am making well more than what my parents made for a good chunk of their career. And my projected salary will pass their end of career salary within 5-6 years. Although I'm proud of my hard work and I know they are as well, I feel weird discussing that projected salary with them

Similar situation to yours but it's nothing you should feel bad about. Just make good decisions and remember that everyone out there, no matter how hard or easy they had it growing up, is doing the best they can with what they've got. I enjoy the perks of the job because they won't be forever and they make it a bit easier to deal with the travel, added stress of our industry. I'm cheap as hell when I'm not on an expense account and save most of my money to ensure my future family will be in a better situation than I was growing up. They'll learn to respect money, people, and the satisfaction of hard work because that's what I was taught. Money doesn't change you, it just amplifies who were before you had it. How you choose to deal with that is up to you. (Sorry for the novel).

Sometimes I feel bad when I think about how a lot of the things I enjoy my parents or extended family will never experience 😔

Stay as you are..and do not let the consulting lifestyle take over you. That will keep you and your parents happy.

Every day. I've never met so many people that seemingly derive their self-worth from their airline and hotel statuses.

Absolutely OP. I grew up in a single income household (thankfully I was the only kid) - and I now make more money than my dad who supports himself and his wife. I can't understand peers who's parents paid for their education, took them on expensive vacations, send them money periodically, etc. It took months for me to be okay seeing how expensive dinners were sometimes and I would feel bad ordering a filet when I know if I personally were paying I wouldn't have even chosen that restaurant. That being said, I had to learn to be grateful I could eat such meals for free and I'm cheaper on weekends because I still haven't adjusted.

I didn't have food to eat growing up in India. My dad was a watchman. I went to IIT and it changed my life

I think that motivates me. To be at a point where i afford all that with a personal card and not a corporate one.

The economic and educational divide between my family and makes me feel like we live in two completely different worlds

Yes. I was an experienced hire who went to a no-name school. It's tough to feel like you don't belong with all of the ivy kids. It has made me work that much harder. I have a bit of imposter syndrome.

Do any of you who feel the same way I do come from immigrant families? Sometimes I wonder if the way I feel is in part due to the guilt I see in my own parents for not being able to go back home and see their aging parents often as they try to make a living here. I hope this topic doesn't alienate anyone who came from well-off families, or have been in the US for generations - interested in hearing your perspectives as well.

Yes, i put myself through undergrad, and two grad programs. I'm proud of myself, but I live a simple life. Not into wealth symbols.

This is the realest Fishbowl thread I've read in a while. Makes me happy to know y'all are out there.

I felt out of place sometimes in undergrad because I went to a 'rich kid' school but as was said above, I think it motivates me more than anything

A1 it's all about perspective. Consultants don't make too much money compared finance professionals. Kids that come from the gutter end up at hedge funds and fit in just fine. Be true to who you are and don't read too much into wealth references. Many of them cover up insecurities.

It took me a while to adjust, even now some of things my coworkers who come from money say off-hand is pretty shocking to me

Truthfully I now have the opposite problem..:.my parents combined income is $50k. I make 4x that, engaged to a girl from a rich family, and all my friends are wealthy. I have trouble relating to people in my hometown and my family nowadays.

My dad works in retail and my mom is a nanny. At 24 I make almost twice as much as their combined income and I have 3 other siblings. Although I sometimes feel out of place in this industry, I try not to let it show. I use this job as a vehicle to do nice things for my loved ones (e.g., buying my younger sister her first car, paying for a family vacation). I definitely reward myself but try to pay it forward as much as possible

I also went to a top-tier school and had a little more time to adjust... But some things, like dropping $500 per night at a hotel or on a bottle of wine, offends my sensibilities a bit. I still can't quite get used to that lifestyle - money and status just aren't everything for me.

I'm really happy to see I'm not the only one that feels this way. Also an experienced hire that went to a no name school. I can't relate to a lot of the conversations I hear about fancy cars, hotel points, travel, or school recruiting. I also can't justify spending money on expensive clothing even though I'm often tempted.

I am proud of my accomplishments. Personal wealth is not to be confused with expense accounts though which are a very different aspect

@C3- feeling like you don't fit is different from feeling guilty. Yeah, I rarely feel I have anything in common with people who constantly talk about their expensive this or that, it feels so shallow to me! But may be it is just me.