Growing up in a low-income household shapes how you view money, relationships, and everyday life, and these stick with you into adulthood. You might even be making decisions based on your low-income upbringing without even realising it. We’ve listed the 20 biggest signs that could reveal your upbringing was shaped by financial hardship more than you think.
Stashing Plastic Bags Like Treasure
If you grew up in a household where every penny mattered, throwing away a perfectly good plastic bag would have felt like a crime (back when plastic bags were more the norm, of course). There was always a stash somewhere: under the sink, in a drawer, or tucked in another bag, and mostly to avoid having to buy another.
Craving the Cheaper Comfort Foods
Beans on toast, instant noodles, jacket potatoes – they weren’t fancy, but they were filling. These meals were quick, affordable, and often the only option, while over time, they became comfort foods, reminding you of home, and even now, you might find yourself reaching for them during a tough week or when you’re low on energy.
Feeling Guilty About Treating Yourself
Spending money on yourself can feel like a big deal when you grew up watching every penny, and something as simple as a takeaway coffee can spark an internal debate: “Is this worth it? Should I save the money?” Even when you have enough, the guilt lingers, and sometimes, you end up putting the item back on the shelf.
Fixing Things Until They’re Falling Apart
Growing up, you didn’t just toss something when it broke – you found a way to fix it, like sewing up a hole in your jumper instead of buying a new one. Watching your parents stretch the lifespan of everything taught you to value what you had, and now you hold the belief that something still has life left in it, no matter how battered it looks.
Always Picking the Cheapest Option
Being raised with limited choices means that the cheapest option became the default – not just for big purchases but for everything, including groceries and toiletries. You always looked at the price tag first, no matter what, and that habit sticks even now.
Feeling Awkward Talking About Money
Money was probably a tense topic in your house and not something you casually brought up over dinner, and you might remember the stress of bills arriving or the hushed conversations about “cutting back.” This silence carries over into adulthood, making it hard to talk about finances, even if it’s just chatting with friends about splitting a bill.
Holding Onto Stuff ‘Just in Case’
In a low-income home, you couldn’t afford to throw anything away because it might be useful later, like old jars and takeaway containers. Deep down, you know it’s not about hoarding; it’s about security if something unexpected happens, as you want to know you have backups.
Hesitating to Turn on the Heating
There’s always that little voice reminding you of the cost before you consider turning the heating on, making you wonder if you can tough it out a bit longer and grab an extra jumper or hot water bottle instead. This can be a habit ingrained from years of thinking of heating as a luxury rather than a necessity.
Refusing to Waste Food
Whether it’s eating leftovers for lunch or freezing scraps for later, you find ways to make sure nothing goes to waste. You might even feel guilty when something does go bad, as if you’ve let your younger self down; because back then, every meal was stretched to its limit, and you learned to get creative.
Feeling Out of Place Around Rich Folks
Being around people with money can feel strange, like they’re speaking a different language, especially when they start mentioning skiing holidays, private schools, or new gadgets. You can’t help but feel like an outsider, even if you’ve “made it” financially, that sense of not belonging lingers.
Being Terrified of Debt
We’re all worried about debt, but it can feel different to those who grew up in a low-income household. You probably saw your parents avoid credit cards or panic about overdue bills, and that fear sank deep into your bones so that you might avoid loans entirely, even if it means missing out on opportunities.
You Love a Bargain and a Charity Shop Find
Second-hand was likely the default growing up, and charity shops, car boot sales, and hand-me-downs were where most things came from; it just felt normal. Now, even if you can afford new, there’s still a thrill in finding a bargain or spotting something unique in a second-hand shop.
Knowing How to Stretch a Pound
Spending your childhood with less teaches you to get creative with money, and you learn to plan meals, hunt for deals, and make things last. That skill is now second nature, one you don’t even think about most of the time, because you know how to spot a great deal or know how to make a big pot of soup last for days.
Brands Are Considered a Treat
Branded products like Heinz or Walkers were a rare sight in your house, so when you did see them, they were treats and saved for special occasions. It’s funny how something as small as a box of Kellogg’s cereal in adulthood can take you right back to those childhood moments of feeling a little spoiled.
Getting Creative with DIY
You might remember parents or grandparents stitching up ripped clothes or turning scraps of wood into something useful, and fixing, painting and repurposing was a way of life. These days, even if you can afford new, you might still enjoy the satisfaction of DIY just for the sake of doing it rather than simply for saving money.
Switching Off Lights Without Thinking
Leaving lights on wasn’t allowed when you were growing up because energy was expensive, and every little bit counted, and that’s why, even as an adult, you probably switch off lights the second you leave a room. It’s automatic—you don’t even think about it—and if someone in your house leaves a light on, you might feel a little pang of annoyance.
Packing Lunches Like It’s Second Nature
Something that most of us would consider a luxury is buying lunch every day, but when you come from a low-income household, it definitely is. It wasn’t an option when you were young, it was homemade or nothing, and you might remember sandwiches wrapped in foil or leftovers packed into reused containers.
Finding Joy in Small Things
Growing up with less meant finding happiness in the everyday; you didn’t need expensive toys or fancy holidays, because a sunny day in the park or a family meal was enough. That mindset has stayed with you, and you still find joy in life’s little pleasures, and you don’t need much to feel content.
Always Putting in 110% at Work
You likely don’t even know how to put in half the effort; hard work was expected in your family, and you watched parents or relatives work long hours to keep things afloat, and that dedication rubbed off. You’ve seen what it’s like to struggle, and you’re determined to avoid that, even though sometimes, it feels like you’re working harder than you need to.
Being Overly Careful with “Nice” Things
And finally, you know how to treasure the nice things because not having much growing up means that anything “nice” felt precious and almost untouchable. Fancy plates were only for guests, new clothes were saved for special occasions, and anything remotely expensive was treated like gold.