The Residue of Poverty: 14 Ways It Lingers in Your Adult Years

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For far too many people, poverty is a familiar and long-term affliction. 

It isn’t simply a financial hardship, it’s deeper and more pervasive than that. 

Even after leaving the cycle of poverty behind, its residue lingers on in unexpected ways throughout one’s adult years. 

In this article, I’m going to explore 14 different ways that individuals living in poverty are often impacted negatively, even years later. 

#1. Constant Buyer’s Remorse

The constant reminder of financial insecurity is hard to get away from. 

Growing up in poverty can often mean growing up with the feeling that you don’t belong, and this can lead to feelings of guilt or buyer’s remorse when making a purchase. 

Even years after leaving poverty behind, the feeling of being an imposter can persist, leading to difficulty making decisions and trusting yourself.

#2. Never Buying New Clothes

Poverty leads to the need for thriftiness, and this often means never buying new clothes.

Growing up in poverty can make it difficult to feel good about yourself, since everyone around you is wearing nicer things.

It’s important to remember that this doesn’t define who you are or your worth as a person; it simply means that money was tight and you had to make do with what was available.

#3. 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.

#4. 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.

#5. 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.

#6. 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.”

#7. 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.

#8. 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.

#9. 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.”

#10. You Are Nervous to Waste Food When Visiting Friends

When visiting friends or neighbors, many adults who grew up poor will only take a half glass of iced tea or other beverage.

They may even only take a small plate of food, because they don’t want to be seen as greedy.

#11. 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.

#12. 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.

#13. 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 saving money on bills 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.

#14. You Make Weird Food Combinations

Do you find yourself doing odd things with your food, like eating uncooked ramen noodles as chips, or eating powdered drinks without adding water?

If you do, odds are you grew up poor and still carry the scars.

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This thread inspired this article.