Growing up poor leaves a lasting impression on someone’s lifestyle due to memories of being unable to afford things or making huge sacrifices compared to other kids. These thoughts often show up as subtle behaviors, so here are 20 ways to tell if someone grew up poor.
They’re Frugal
Society often mocks frugal people for saving money when they can afford to spend it, but it’s a common way people cope with growing up poor. They understand how terrifying it is not to have a financial safety net, so they try not to spend more money than they have to.
Eating Even After They’re Full
Food is expensive, and people whose families never had much money understand that better than anyone, so they hate wasting food and often eat even after they’re full. The National Institutes of Health found that food insecurity is linked to binge-eating disorder, so growing up without enough food can have lasting health consequences.
Chasing Discounts
Everybody loves discounts, but people who grew up unable to afford expensive clothes or shoes frequently feel uncomfortable buying them as adults. Instead, they stick to discounted shopping, checking price tags and adding up how much they’ve saved. This mentality is fueled by their desire to be frugal with everything.
They Hate Wasting Things
Wasting food, materials, or other resources is undeniably bad, but people who grew up poor get more upset about it than others who don’t understand how hard it is to have nothing. Waste represents abundance, something that people who used to be poor never received.
Only Buying Essentials
Essential items, such as food, soap, toilet paper, water, and medicine, are technically all we need to live, so they’re often the only things people who grew up poor will buy. Their childhoods taught them that buying too many things is self-indulgent, especially if they struggled to afford essentials.
Using Minimal Utilities
If somebody’s home is constantly dark or cold, don’t criticize them. They’re likely in the mindset of needing to use minimal utilities to save money, even if it means living uncomfortably. Bills can get expensive quickly, so even if they can afford them as adults, they remember being warned about wastefulness as children.
Hoarding Old Possessions
Hoarding is unhealthy behavior, but it’s, sadly, a sign that someone grew up poor. According to the Mayo Clinic, people with hoarding disorder often save items because they feel comforted by them and don’t want to waste them. Poor people never want things to go to waste, so hoarding is common amongst them.
They Save Every Cent
It’s always a smart idea to save money, but people who have experienced childhood poverty often force themselves to save every cent. Once they’ve bought necessities, they put the rest of their money away but never spend any of it. They’re constantly planning ahead in case anything goes wrong.
They Intentionally Miss Out
Most people experience FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) and are surprised by others who intentionally exclude themselves. However, this is a sign that someone didn’t have much money growing up. They don’t see dinners, concerts, or vacations as necessities, so they don’t ‘waste’ money on enjoying them.
Wearing Old Clothes
Holding onto your clothes isn’t a bad thing, so long as you replace them when they become too old to wear. However, people who grew up poor will continue to wear the same clothes and shoes even after they break, a habit they struggle with as adults, even if they’re no longer poor.
Feeling Guilty Buying Nice Things
Guilt is often a sign that someone suffered something bad in their childhood. Someone who feels guilty about buying nice things likely grew up with little money and saw nice things like toys, bikes, and sweet treats as luxuries. They still feel guilty and ashamed even if they have more money as adults.
Avoiding the Dentist
Looking at someone’s teeth is an easy way to tell if they grew up poor. Research by Harvard University observes that poor children are affected by poor dental health, with one in four suffering untreated cavities. Sadly, these children grow into adults with bad teeth, as they still deem dental care as unaffordable.
They Over-Prepare
We all know somebody who’s always prepared, but have you ever considered that they might be that way because they grew up poor? Over-prepared people are sometimes called control freaks, but if they grew up being caught out by financial crises, it’s second nature to want to prepare for every eventuality.
They’re Fiercely Independent
We praise independent people, so nobody ever checks if they’re okay. This is a mistake because a fiercely independent person might be battling severe childhood trauma due to having to help financially support their family while still young. Childhood trauma can impact someone’s entire life if they don’t get help.
Getting Defensive About Sharing
Everyone knows the importance of sharing, but it isn’t easy if you’ve never had anything of your own. Poorer children usually have to share things, including food and toys, so they become protective of their belongings as adults and get defensive about sharing. They’re just worried they won’t get their things back.
Reusing Everything
There’s a difference between being resourceful and obsessive when it comes to reusing things, and sadly, people who grew up poor often fall into the latter category. They try to reuse everything to avoid paying for new things; this is just how they grew up.
Having No Hobbies
Most people remember joining the football team, taking dance lessons, or learning to sing as children, but remember, having hobbies is a privilege. People who grew up poor never got the chance to cultivate these interests and often continue to disregard hobbies as adults, further fueling their intentional isolation.
They’re Very Mature
Maturity is a good trait to have, but people who grew up poor often matured too quickly due to difficult childhoods. Psych Central claims that people who were forced to grow up too fast feel lonely and like they can’t ask for help. This is especially true when it comes to financial troubles.
Fixing Things Themselves
When things break, it can cost a lot to get them fixed, but not for people who grew up poor! Instead, they learned to fix things themselves, either from their parents or because they were self-taught. While these skills are helpful, they signify a person who has never been able to afford help.
Trying to Help Others
Finally, people who grew up with nothing know the value of helping people, so they’re often more generous with their time and energy than those who grew up comfortably. If they make good money as adults, they’re typically more charitable, too, seeking to help others and ensure they don’t struggle the same way.
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