Whether blue or white, these collars match

Many readers responded when “Concerned Big Sister” wrote that her younger sister was making a huge mistake by dating a man from a different financial and status background. Reader No. 1: I too grew up in an upper-middle class household. My husband grew up middle-class and got a university education, but ended up working in a blue-collar job.

He was a poor saver and was never too concerned with the same social rules with which I was raised. Many people, including my parents and friends, were surprised (or disapproving).

It was the best decision I’ve ever made. As a team, my husband and I saved lots of money and live very comfortably.

He’s an excellent father. The flexibility of his job has meant he can spend a lot of time with our children.

He treats me like a queen and provides stability from my highstress job. My uppity friends and family express envy now, because we have genuine love and respect for each other, as well as an amazing life. I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. Reader No. 2: I grew up in a working-class family while my wife grew up firmly middle class. It’s been an eye-opening experience. It’s difficult to comprehend how different life is (and how much easier life is) when you’re more concerned with how you invest your money and get the greatest returns, instead of how you’re going to feed your family this week.

This older sister needs to look at all the good fortune her birthright has gotten her and try to imagine where she’d be without them. Read Ellie Monday to Saturday.