Status symbols. Cars. Jewelry. Spouses. That is for the upper-middle class who uses their wealth to grow wealthier.

Working class Americans are busy - too busy to keep up with the Jones'. They pay their bills and enjoy dinner out at a sit-down once a month or so (see consumer spending.

Poor Americans struggle to stay out of jail, pay bills, survive.

This is the reality of the United States but the culture here, and especially the media culture here, is one of class denial - which is why middle-upper middle-class lifestyles are normalized through advertising.