Too Rich To Be Poor-Mouthing?

People thought I was too lenient on the man. It was as if they wanted me to curse him out.

Now, I have been known for taking people to task for wasteful spending. But I saw no need in this case. They are doing most things right. If you can pay for private school and still put money in a college fund, you're doing something right with your money.

I was concerned at how quickly people rushed to bash this couple. There wasn't anything in what that man posted that smacked of entitlement.

Do you have the right to complain about not having enough money if you are making a six-figure salary? Probably not, especially when there are people who aren't making enough to adequately feed and house their families.

I assume what caused the indignation is the fact that many high-earning people are living above their means.

They are making financial choices with their bigger incomes -- rotating in and out of cars, cable, cellphones (for themselves and for the kids), eating out, taking vacations -- that divert funds that could or should be used to save or invest more.

For many middle- and upper-income families, it isn't accurate to say they don't have enough money. They do. They just don't have enough to pay for what they want and what they need.

I like what Donna from Maryland wrote to me after the chat. She said this about her six-figure income: "After donating money to charities, saving for retirement, saving for college, purchasing insurance, buying and maintaining a home, and having reasonable living expenses, it does not make you filthy rich."

However, she added, you can't say you're having trouble making ends meet, either. "You do have to be financially wiser 'cause folks who make less wonder what the heck is wrong with you, especially college financial aid counselors."

¿ On the air: Michelle Singletary discusses personal finance Tuesdays on NPR's "Day to Day" program and online athttp://www.npr.org.She also has a new personal finance call-in show that airs Sundays on XM Satellite Radio, Channel 169 "The Power," at 8 to 10 p.m.

¿ By mail: Readers can write to her at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.

¿ By e-mail:singletarym@washpost.com.

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