10 Unexpected Things You Do As An Adult That Show You Grew Up Poor

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Growing up poor can have a significant impact on one’s life.

From the stress of being financially strapped to the feeling that you don’t quite fit in, there are many unique and often challenging experiences associated with poverty.

Even if you now find yourself in a more comfortable financial situation, your formative years may still affect your decisions today.

One person recently asked, “what are some signs someone grew up poor?”. Here are the top responses.

#1. Eating The Expensive Parts Of A Meal

What if I told you that, growing up, the most financially savvy thing you could do was to go straight for the expensive part of the meal?

It might sound counterintuitive, but hear me out.

When you come from a background where money is tight, you learn to savor every luxurious morsel.

You learn to prioritize the good stuff, to relish in the moments where you can splurge.

#2. Hoarding

When you grow up without money, you save everything because you never know when you can use a part or piece of it for something else.

My grandparents lived through the Great Depression, so my parents grew up thinking there was no money. As a result, even if something was broken, it was held onto because you never knew when you might be able to make good use of it.

#3. Ordering the Cheapest Item On The Menu

Even if you have money now, if you grew up without it, you might still look for the cheapest items on the menu when eating out.

It’s not that you can’t afford the food, it’s that it has been ingrained in you that money is tight, so you must find the cheapest things to eat.

For some, this even extends when eating out and someone else pays. Your natural instinct is to order the cheapest item, so you don’t appear wasteful.

Related: Here are the cheapest places to eat out

#4. Poverty Mentality

This ties into the idea above.

You are financially stable, but you still act as though you are one paycheck away from living in poverty.

As one person said, “For me, I have what I call ‘poverty mentality’, while I can afford new shoes and clothes, they have to be falling apart for me to replace.”

#5. Financial Anxiety

This issue can take many forms.

For some, it may mean avoiding the stock market because you are too scared to invest.

For others, it could mean simply hoarding cash in a savings account.

However financial anxiety shows up for you, know that many others who grew up poor have their version of this trait.

#6. Refusing To Waste Food

Food is critical for survival, and when you are poor, you try to stretch your food dollars as far as possible.

This could mean constantly clearing your plate so that nothing gets wasted.

Or it could mean ensuring you eat leftovers so that you don’t have to throw food out because, to you, throwing out food is like throwing away money.

#7. Saying ‘That’s Too Expensive’

As a kid, you probably asked your parents for many things. If you didn’t have money, they usually said, ‘that’s too expensive.’

While it seems innocent, that small phrase can have a lasting impact, usually negative, on our lives.

As one person said, “I didn’t actually grow up poor, but my parents always said ‘no, that’s too expensive’ to most of the things I asked for until I was probably 14, and by then I was unwilling to ask for things, or apologized profusely every time I did ask for something. So now I debate for months before buying anything over $100, but will buy several things that cost $5-10, on impulse, over the course of a week.”

#8. Using Food Storage Containers As Storage

Many use Tupperware and Pyrex to store leftovers in their refrigerator or freezer.

But for people who grew up with little money, these storage containers were also used as basic storage.

You might use a small container for loose change or odds and ends.

#9. Saving Money On Utilities Is A Priority

We all know it is a waste to leave lights on in a room we aren’t in, but some people who grew up without money take this to the extreme.

Lights must be turned off, doors closed, and more.

You must be aware of running water so you don’t waste it.

Sometimes, you might wait until it becomes unbearable in your house to turn on the heat or air conditioner.

Related: Here is how to save $7,000 a year on your monthly bills

#10. Turning Down Social Occasions

When you have no money, you often choose not to go out.

One reason is that you cannot afford it. Second, you are embarrassed and don’t want others to know you are struggling financially.

This can cause many issues, as socializing is a critical part of happiness.

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