Why were the Weasleys poor?

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "justcarol67"
<justcarol67 at ...> wrote:
>
> bboyminn:
> > 
> > Well, here's the thing, the Weasley's aren't poor, they are just
> > normal. ...
> > 
> > The Weasleys are working class like many of the working class 
> > people I live with in small town America. ...
> > 
> > Just one man's perspective.
> > 
> > Steve/bboyminn
> >

> Carol responds:
> I agree that the Weasleys aren't poor ..., but I wouldn't call
> them "working class." Arthur's job is definitely white collar, 
> not unskilled or even skilled labor. I'd say they were lower-
> middle class.
> 
> ...edited...
> Carol, ...

bboyminn:

Yes, of course you are correct. When I said 'working class', I was
referring to income not social status. They earn a 'working class'
level income regardless of how the earn it or the skills needed to
acquire it.

Though, I might put them at slightly below 'lower-middle class'.
Again, 'middle class' to some extent implies skilled labor. So
upper-lower class might be a better fit. They certainly don't have a
house the matches any vision of a 'lower-middle class' house, and I
suspect that there clothing (etc...) don't really match lower-middle
class either. 

Keep in mind that in the area I live in, a bulk of the people are
factory workers. They earn a sufficient income to provide the basics
and a few fun things for their families, and all but the poorest find
a way to get their kids into college if the want to go. The Weasley's
appear to be near or below this group in terms of income. Also, keep
in mind that Gringotts is probably not giving out credit cards like
they were candy on Holloween. They seem to be living in a 'all-cash'
society.

They are stuggling, but not dangerously so. Again, they have every
thing they need, even though some of that 'everything' is a little
weathered and worn. In my mind, that puts them in the lower economic
class. 

As far as social class, Arthur seems to be respected, perhaps even
admired by most of his co-worked and the other citizens of the wizard
world. He does get social respect. Of course, that is with the
exception of a few Pure-Blood Bigots, but there is just no pleasing them.

Still we agree on the central point that the Weasley's aren't
necessarily 'poor', they are simply 'not rich'.

Steve/bboyminn