If You Grew Up Poor, You Probably Have These 11 Habits That Make You Way Better Than Normal People
It's given you a unique set of skills that make you stand out compared to those who didn't have to struggle.
Branislav Nenin | Shutterstock Growing up without much money means that you've most likely developed life lessons that come from having to live with less than everyone else around you. It meant having to make every single dollar count while also figuring out how to enjoy life. The experiences of not having a lot of money growing up create a type of person who's used to having to scrape and make sacrifices to get what they want. The struggles they might have faced weren't fair by any means, but whether it's being self-aware or valuing every penny, if you grew up poor, you probably have these habits that make you way better than normal people.
Scarcity means you had to get incredibly creative and resourceful. The habits you developed weren't just for survival but helped make you more adaptable and capable than people who have never had to work a day in their lives for every little thing. What's even better is that these habits are usually invisible to others. They might not see how you're able to stretch money for quite a long time or even how patient you've become because of how often you've had to wait for things that most people would just take for granted. These habits not only stack up, but they help give you an advantage as well.
If you grew up poor, you probably have these 11 habits that make you way better than normal people
1. You value money like no one else
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If you grew up poor, the relationship that you have with money is completely different to how other people might view money. Since you spent most of your life without it, you value it in such a sacred way.
You're probably terrified of ever going back to a time when you were really having to scrape and budget like crazy. So, while other people might spend without a second thought or treat money as something that will just show up for them, you know that every single dollar counts.
Research from Georgetown University even found that those who practice money mindfulness are less likely to engage in financial avoidance. They are people who routinely engage with their finances, even when it might be uncomfortable.
You know exactly what happens when money runs out too quickly, and that experience has stuck with you in ways that can't be taught. You've become someone who's incredibly strategic with your spending and saving. You don't buy things on impulse; you really think about if it's worth it or not. You also don't waste resources, so every choice you make is deliberate and well thought-out.
2. You're an easy problem-solver
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Life wasn't something that just handed you solutions when you were growing up. It meant that you were, more times than not, forced to figure things out on your own. Whether it was having to fix something that broke and your family didn't have the money to fix it, or helping your family stretch the limited amount of money that you had.
The constant practice of having to think quickly and on your feet means that you're able to turn any challenge that comes your way into a learning opportunity to show just how capable you are. When something goes wrong, you don't panic. Instead, you assess the situation and apply logic rather than emotion. You know how to stay focused under pressure and not just improvise off of the cuff.
3. You never take things for granted
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If you grew up poor, you probably never take things for granted, and that makes you way better than normal people. You've really learned how to see the value in the smallest of comforts. As long as you have a hot meal on the table, a bed to sleep in at night, and a roof over your head, these things are never something you take for granted, ever.
Because of this, you live your life with intention. You don't just go through life thinking that things will always be there or people will always be supportive and kind.
"As corny as it sounds, it couldn't be truer: life's hardest moments, even if they may seem impossible to overcome at the moment, are not devoid of purpose. They are profound opportunities for growth, learning, and self-discovery," pointed out therapist Jason N. Linder.
You're the type of person that really knows how to savor experiences and moments that other people might overlook. When you've spent so long experiencing things being ripped away from you, you're careful not to waste certain opportunities that come your way.
You value everything that you have because you've lived a life without it, and that kind of thing makes you a much more grounded and at-peace person than most.
4. You appreciate help without shame
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Having grown up poor, you're probably more than used to relying on the support of others. Asking for help wasn't ever a choice but a way to get through really tough situations.
Over time, you've learned that being able to ask for help doesn't make you weak at all. Instead, it means you're smart and that you understand people wanting to lend a helping hand means you don't have to struggle alone.
Any small gesture is something you cherish and are eternally grateful for. Being able to appreciate help without shame means that you're able to build trustworthy and meaningful connections with others. You also enjoy giving back because you know just how much others in the same position as you are may need it.
5. You appreciate stability
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Not having a lot of money or resources growing up has made you more appreciative of how stable life is for you now. When life can feel quite unpredictable with how bills will get paid and how you'll be able to meet your basic necessities, that kind of experience teaches you to really treasure the moments when life is calm and there's nothing on the horizon.
Research published in Psychological Bulletin has even shown that, as people age, they can become much more stable, experience fewer darker emotions and become more conscientious/less judgmental.
You might even be someone that really does value making a schedule and even planning ahead. Even something as small as just setting aside money each week can help give you a sense of control when you spent your earlier years living in complete chaos.
Since you know how easily things can spiral if you're not aware or on top of things, you're incredibly careful about the risks you're taking in life. You don't seek out things that can set you back or give you a hard time, even if people around you might be urging you to do so.
6. You're hugely self-aware
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You've spent a lot of your life having to pay attention to how your actions affect your life and the fact that every choice really does matter. Being self-aware means you're incredibly good at being able to recognize both your weaknesses and your strengths without needing anyone else to point them out. That insight comes from the experience of having to learn to evaluate yourself because life demanded it of you.
You know how to not only manage your feelings better, but make choices that help align you with the kind of life that you want to live. And that comes from having spent most of your life trying to navigate tricky financial situations. By being able to understand yourself in a way that many other people probably don't, you're truly able to improve yourself and keep growing.
7. You value simplicity
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You've learned to just be extremely content with what you have rather than always needing to chase more. Because if you grew up poor, you probably value simplicity in a way that makes you way better than normal people.
You might have grown up in a household where your parents were always strapped for cash, and now that you're living a more stable life, it means that you find joy in these small moments and little things. You don't get caught up in needing to chase things that you don't need. You, instead, are able to focus on what works and what will help improve your life.
You aren't trying to live a life that will impress other people. Rather, you're trying to live a life that brings you, and only you, the happiness that you might have craved while you were younger.
Your approach to money is just to have enough that you can live a quiet, normal, and stress-free life. You aren't trying to be the wealthiest person in the room, by any means.
8. You celebrate small wins
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Having grown up in an environment where resources might have been limited, you've learned to really celebrate those little wins. They're proof that progress is possible and it also gives you the motivation to keep going.
You've really learned how to savor these moments in a way that most people might not ever think to. You're someone that knows that success doesn't always mean a big leap, but a series of baby steps instead.
Recognizing progress, no matter how minor it might be, is something that gives you the encouragement to tackle the next challenge rather than feeling overwhelmed. You're learning to appreciate your life and all of the small moments that bring you joy.
"Celebrations shouldn't be saved for the huge achievements either. While those are important, so are the small steps that we make along the way," clinical psychologist Melanie McNally insisted. "There's something else that happens internally when we notice and commemorate our achievements. Our brains get a chance to solidify the lessons we've learned so far. It's an opportunity for learning and growth that can become a part of our neural networks."
9. You know how to make something out of nothing
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Being someone that grew up with almost nothing at your disposal, you're incredibly talented at being able to make something out of nothing. Whether it's making a meal from the scraps in the fridge or being able to fix tattered clothes because you didn't have enough money to go out and buy something new, if you grew up poor, you probably have these habits that make you way better than normal people.
You're skilled at just being resourceful. You can look at any problem that pops up in front of you and immediately start thinking of solutions instead of just giving up entirely. While other people might feel stressed and panic at the odds that seem stacked up against them, you're not intimidated at all, mostly because you've been through the trenches and nothing can truly get any worse than that.
10. You understand the value of hard work
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Growing up poor means that you have a real understanding of effort and resilience. You've seen your parents putting in long hours at work, having two jobs, and even taking on the late shift just to provide for you and the rest of your family.
They were weary and tired after a long day at work, but that never seemed to deter them from continuing to push themselves so that they could give their kids a good life. Seeing your parents work hard and instill a real sense of drive in you is probably the reason why you don't ever shy away from effort.
"Our values usually stem from the roots our families of origin provided. Parents typically hope that some, perhaps not all, of what they taught children sticks with them as a foundation for life by the time they launch into adulthood," licensed counselor Loriann Oberlin explained. "As we age, thinking through and understanding what we value helps us to outline priorities, triage problems, and reconcile our desires against needs, especially as we discern choices."
You know that the results you want in life will only come from working hard and focusing your energy on putting in that time. While some people might have been handed things on a silver spoon or just depend on luck to bring them the outcomes they want, you're someone that is much more disciplined. You don't expect results fast because you're someone that just understands the value of hard work.
11. You're fiercely independent
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Despite the fact that you're someone who can accept help without feeling shame, it doesn't mean that help was always readily available for you when you were growing up poor. Sometimes, there were things you had to just figure out on your own. So, being someone that's now fiercely independent means you're able to trust yourself to make decisions, even when there is no one else around you to be a guide.
You're able to take full responsibility for your actions and the outcomes that follow. When plans fall through or problems come up, you're able to just figure out the next step without stumbling. It also means you're incredibly confident in yourself, your needs, and even your boundaries.
"Holding ourselves with respect and dignity becomes increasingly ascendant — displacing our real or imagined thoughts about how we're being perceived by others. We delight in the discovery of how freeing and empowering it is to be our authentic self," encouraged licensed family and marriage therapist John Amodeo.
Nia Tipton is a staff writer with a bachelor's degree in creative writing and journalism who covers news and lifestyle topics that focus on psychology, relationships, and the human experience.
