Modern Family’s Affluence Problem

When “Modern Family” premiered 11 years ago, it offered a “modern” take on the typical American family: a May-December marriage, two mixed-race families, characters with disabilities (Luke), and characters on the LGBT spectrum. But for all its attention to align with the “modern” family today, “Modern Family” differs from the typical American family because the Pritchett-Dunphy-Delgado-Tucker clan’s amount of disposable income isn’t so average.

Consider that:
1) The family has taken vacations to Hawaii, Italy and Australia in between spontaneous trips to Vegas, dude ranches, Florida and the Pacific Northwest

2) Gadget enthusiast Phil tends to buy whatever home improvement devices or toys he wants without a second thought

3) When Jay and Gloria have an accidental pregnancy, they don’t consider the economic costs of it because it’s presumably something Jay can handle
4) There are few discussions about out-of-state verse in-state college costs with Claire and Phil’s kids. The logistical need to keep the show’s child actors as main cast members rather than recurring cast members, but the decisions of the children to return home throughout college range from being expelled to not getting into college to getting homesick.
5) Characters like Cameron, Mitchell, and Claire have quit or drifted out of jobs to follow their bliss without considering economic consequences. Granted, they might have nest eggs or savings but these economic considerations aren’t necessarily alluded to.