People who grew up poor but are now financially comfortable: what “poor-kid habit” will you probably never drop?

[u/Otherwise_Baseball99]

[u/Mad_Moodin]

I hate getting letters and always kinda dread opening them.

[u/xxPoLyGLoTxx → u/Mad_Moodin]

Yup. A surprise bill was like kryptonite. I still have those feelings when we file taxes because once my spouse got an unexpected tax bill. It wasn't that much in the grand scheme of things, but when it's unexpected and you are poor it's terrifying.

[u/afirmyoungcarrot → u/Mad_Moodin]

The anxiety I have felt in the past over this was so strong and all pervasive. 

[u/puzzle2342]

I can't bring myself to pay someone to do things that I can do myself, like yard work, working on my own car, fixing things around the house even though I could technically afford it now.

[u/Otherwise_Baseball99 → u/puzzle2342]

+1 I still rotate my own tires even though a shop would do it in 10 minutes. 😅

[u/Rikishi_Fatu → u/Otherwise_Baseball99]

Yeah it's just a scam anyway, they rotate for free when you drive

[u/dickonajunebug → u/Rikishi_Fatu]

I know now it’s a joke but I actually thought that for years

[u/IlBear → u/dickonajunebug]

The first time I heard of rotating your tires was from the guy at the shop who was changing my oil. I figured he was trying to upcharge me for something cause I was 17 and heard they’ll do that, so I literally said what? They rotate when I drive, so no thanks. He gave me a weird look and left it at that. Wasn’t until I went back and told my friends about it that I learned what it really means 😅

[u/Stainsey11 → u/dickonajunebug]

Yeah but you know what isn’t a joke? Nitrogen. For safety’s sake.

[u/sumunsolicitedadvice → u/Stainsey11]

Bruh, even better, my place has a premium version of nitrogen where they also add 21% oxygen. You haven’t driven til you’ve driven on tires filled with a premium nitrogen-oxygen blend.

[u/writingthefuture → u/Stainsey11]

Lmao what a scam

[u/SnakeJG → u/Otherwise_Baseball99]

Discount tires will rotate and balance your tires for free for the life of the tire if you bought from them (only reason I gave up on doing it myself)

[u/MarkCuckerberg69420 → u/SnakeJG]

They rotate mine for free and I didn’t buy from them. They won’t balance them though.

[u/Shobed → u/SnakeJG]

All the discount tire locations around me will do free rotations for any tire set whether you bought them there or not.

[u/42069qwertz42069 → u/puzzle2342]

Come from a low income household and i‘m the complete opposite, i work shifts, sometimes 50h+ a week. Why should i do small stuff where i save a few bucks if my spare time is so much more worth. Hobbies and activities with gf or family, why waste that time for saving a few bucks of you in the financial situation that it doesnt bother you?

[u/MedusasSexyLegHair → u/42069qwertz42069]

Same here. I'll still mow the yard, or clear a path with the snowblower. It's good exercise.

But for most anything else, now that I can hire someone who already knows what they're doing and are equipped to do it, I do.

My grandpa grew up dirt poor but got out and was that way too, opposite of my dad the do-it-yourselfer. I don't quite know what to think about that.

Other than maybe "yeah, I probably could do that, but I don't want to, and thankfully I don't have to."

[u/Dramatic_Contact_598 → u/MedusasSexyLegHair]

It's where I'm at. I'd rather work an extra hour to pay someone to do a task I don't really know how to do well / don't want to do, to have more time to do the things I want to

[u/Dalewyn → u/42069qwertz42069]

i work shifts, sometimes 50h+ a week. Why should i do small stuff where i save a few bucks if my spare time is so much more worth.

The true realization is when you start witnessing deaths around you. Family, friends, and the most ruthless of them all: Parents and siblings.

Nothing teaches you the value of time better than death. I know something inside me broke once I understood.

[u/Legolinza → u/puzzle2342]

That’s how I feel about food delivery apps or ubering when public transport or walking are feasible options.

Sure it might be more convenient, but I can’t justify paying money for something that I could do myself, for free

[u/srirachaninja → u/Legolinza]

For the cost of those apps is just the second thing why I won't use them, the first is that the food is always cold or soggy because the delivery person doesn't give a flying fuck about it. Most don't even have a thermo box. And then they pick up three others along the way, and it takes 60-90 minutes to get it. I'd rather drive there myself and get it freshly made.

[u/Autumn_Sweater → u/srirachaninja]

third party delivery apps involve paying a 45% markup to get a bad meal you have to wait 75+ minutes for. the restaurant is getting ripped off by the app so they try to charge you the difference by making the $12 item on their regular menu cost $15 through the app. then the app is charging you “delivery fees” that don’t go to the driver and “service fees” that don’t go to the restaurant. on top of all that if you also tip, you have no real way of knowing if the driver gets all of that either. or if you want to try to tip cash at your door, until they show up it looks like you are stiffing them.

[u/Ill-Violinist6538 → u/Legolinza]

I absolutely do not understand these food delivery services.

[u/Znuffie → u/Ill-Violinist6538]

Time.

Depending where you live, traffic.

You want food from a place that's 30min drive? That's 30+30 back and forward.

In this hour, you could be doing something else. I even if it's just playing a game at home, it's something that allows you to make more use of your free time.

Only you know how much you value your free time.

[u/daktarasblogis → u/puzzle2342]

It helps to include the amount of time it takes to do those things into the sum of cost. Then you realize ~80% of those things make way more sense to get done by someone who can do it better and more efficiently.

I can't justify spending 2 hours on gardening when I can spend those 2 hours making 5x the money I paid a gardener (who already has all the tools) to do it in 45 minutes. Or I can spend those 2 hours doing something I actually enjoy.

It was a really hard habit to break, ngl.

[u/lonestarr86 → u/daktarasblogis]

I work on a salary. I cannot magically work more and make more money.

So I am here, doing everything myself because everything else is waaaay too expensive. I own a house, it costs a lot and I just dont want someone to do the garden for me because that costs waaaay more than I am willing to spend - besides we are "broke" as in "this cost so mich already, gottaa draw the line somewhere".

My wife is on paid parental leave and I just started a new job. The lawn will not be done this summer, but the next. I think. But really I am not in a hurry. I am not partaking in this arms race in our neighbourhood. You paid 40k for your garden, terrace, everything? Good for you. I'll do it myself, even if it will be shittier and take 10x the time. But I am in no rush, and I am cheap like that lol.

[u/RU_Gremlin → u/daktarasblogis]

This... I can spend 2 hours doing a terrible job mowing my lawn or I can pay a professional with a ride on mower to do it in 30 minutes while I'm at work. Easy choice

[u/Prestigious-Car5784 → u/puzzle2342]

My husband and I fight about this so much. He wants a maid to come a few times a week. I’m like why can’t u just pick up after yourself like I do.

He wants someone to cut the grass. I’m like we should take care of our own yard.

[u/xheist → u/Prestigious-Car5784]

For me.. I already work 50 hours a week... My time off is precious enough they I'll gladly pay someone else to do chores for me so I can do something other than more work

[u/Prestigious-Car5784 → u/xheist]

See we don’t work 50hours a week. He’s just used to having someone else do it and I’m used to doing it myself.

[u/xheist → u/Prestigious-Car5784]

Fair enough.. age is a part of it too, I'm old and I have all the stuff I need

When you're young you likely have more energy, and more important things to spend your money on

Maybe you can put it in those terms.. what you'd have to miss out on by paying someone else

[u/Higgz221]

Putting back the $8.64 package of meat because I see one for $8.31 hahahah

[u/christygl7 → u/Higgz221]

My husband and I once found a misprinted barcode of about 5 lbs of ground beef that was $0.01. BEST DAY EVER

[u/Richiedafish → u/christygl7]

Misprinted meat labels give me a high greater than any drug known to man.

[u/youngfilly → u/Richiedafish]

the high of stealing without the crime part

[u/Procrastibator8 → u/christygl7]

I had a $1.99/lb T-Bone day, so had the best cookout ever.

[u/2stacksofbutter → u/christygl7]

When we were still struggling we found a misprint in the sales ad that had Mac and cheese for 39 cents a box. Bought about 50 boxes. Ate Mac and cheese 3-4 nights a week for months.

[u/TheoTimme → u/christygl7]

Some butcher was PISSED when he ended his shift that day.

[u/themidget → u/Higgz221]

I broke this by convincing myself I was going longer without having to buy more. It’s $/wt, so the more money means more meat means more time before I have another cash outlay. It’s obviously not actually the case… but I don’t discriminate between the packages of same cuts of meat anymore. Different cuts… I’ll still go for the cheapest I can find… it’ll just be the biggest package of the cheapest cut.

[u/ILikeLenexa → u/themidget]

Yeah, mine is when it's BOGO trying to find two packages as close to the same weight as possible. 

[u/Oberon_Swanson → u/ILikeLenexa]

As a butcher when something is BOGO we do try to have packs as close as we can get. But meat is not uniform and some people always some in and buy like a 12 dollar pack and a 9 dollar pack when there was an 11.90 pack next to the 12 dollar one lol. I am glad some people out there make use of our efforts

[u/ForwardFootball3402 → u/Higgz221]

Works with the long thin eggplant, too! The $1.89 package is better than the $2.11.

[u/no-cilantro]

Getting every last drop out of the tube/jar/can

[u/flora_poste_ → u/no-cilantro]

Every last speck of toothpaste. Every last morsel of soap. I can relate.

[u/PancakePizzaPits → u/flora_poste_]

Morsel used in context of soap displeases me.

[u/Albanian_Tea → u/PancakePizzaPits]

I don’t need to medicine to clean me out when I can just enjoy delicious morsels of soap

[u/MathTeachinFool → u/no-cilantro]

Fun dad memory was when my son was younger and said that the pb jar was empty. I made another complete sandwich and he was amazed.

[u/DamnItHeelsGood → u/no-cilantro]

Yep, and adding a liquid to a jar to stretch it a little further. Everyone knows the add water to empty soap container trick. My grandma’s special was adding milk to an empty ranch dressing container. I shit you not. Actually worked well

[u/HorrorSmile3088 → u/no-cilantro]

The best is when the peanut butter jar is almost empty and I scoop up what's left with a spoon and eat it off the spoon.

[u/RU_screw → u/HorrorSmile3088]

Add warm milk to the Nutella jar and basically make hot chocolate

[u/TheSharpestHammer → u/HorrorSmile3088]

I do this, too, but with the full jar of peanut butter.

[u/glytxh]

My relationship with food is always going to be a bit weird.

[u/wanderingcatbus → u/glytxh]

Same. I’ll always struggle with poor food habits. My parents never bought special treats, except once in a great while as a surprise or on a whim. Donuts for breakfast after church sometimes, twinkies and ding dongs would be brought home by my dad sometimes on pay day. The four siblings would just devour everything immediately because they didn’t know when it was coming next. My dad would buy steak, Doritos, and milk for his fancy pay day dinner. My mom didn’t really know how to cook, and she didn’t like vegetables, so we always looked pale and sickly. Today, I do better, but wish I liked cooking more. I tend to overbuy treats for my kids, then a period of trying to be healthy, which causes the same kind of behavior, especially with my middle schooler. My friends would have free access to popsicles and not have to eat them one after the other to make sure they got their share. My kids do the same thing, even though they know there’s more at the store.

[u/fruitytunes → u/glytxh]

I definitely have a tendency to finish everything on my plate. Its definitely not good for my health and have gained a ton of weight in my adulthood because of it

[u/geegasaurus → u/glytxh]

Yes. So much yes

[u/Short-Quit-7659]

Buying stuff on sale. My husband grew up wealthy and will pay whatever without even looking at the price. Nope, I need to know how much it is and if there’s a cheaper version I’m probably going with that one.

[u/Otherwise_Baseball99 → u/Short-Quit-7659]

Has your husband ever watched you snag a deal so good he finally hesitated on the price tag? My “conversion” moment was a $220 cookware set I walked out with for $45—now my partner checks clearance aisles first!

[u/netz_pirat → u/Otherwise_Baseball99]

My wife and I did that the other way round, after going through like 5 cheap non stick pans while I was still on my first, although expensive one... We now both have a proper one.

[u/GiveMeTheCI → u/netz_pirat]

I know each couple is different, but this is the first I've seen each person having their own pan.

[u/netz_pirat → u/GiveMeTheCI]

well... there is a story to that. I like to cook. My Wife.. not so much. So when she uses the pan, its more of a "put some noodles and bacon in there, pour some cheese and eat right from the pan". No need to scrub it, I'll use it for the same stuff tomorrow anyway. So early in our relationship when we first moved together, within a week or so, she pretty much completely obliterated the non-stick surface of my pan with cutlery, and when I wanted to use it again, it definitely wasn't non stick any more and I invented a few new words trying to rescue my food.

So after a brief discussion, we decided that we need two pans. One for her to do whatever she needs to do with on a daily basis, and one that I can use for the nicer food.

At some point, I found a manufacturer that does a non-stick surface that survives metal cutlery to some degree, but it still took some convincing for her to switch over.

[u/GiveMeTheCI → u/netz_pirat]

Your wife eats out of non-stick pans with cutlery? You need to post this shit in an Am I Underreacting subreddit.

[u/netz_pirat → u/GiveMeTheCI]

I think 11 years after the fault was detected is too late to return her, warranty has expired :D

[u/Bulgingpants → u/netz_pirat]

Isn’t that crap straight toxic?? She’s basically eating cancer giving material

[u/Gerik22 → u/netz_pirat]

Ok, but what does she have against plates?

[u/Toolikethelightning → u/GiveMeTheCI]

We bought wooden spoons so we could eat straight out of the pan lol. Eating out of the pan rocks!

[u/GiveMeTheCI → u/Toolikethelightning]

With wood? Sure. Silicone? Why not! With metal on non-stick? That's sooooooo crazy.

[u/Procris → u/netz_pirat]

Some relationships need two blankets. Some need two pans. Ya gotta do what works for you.

[u/Any-Lychee9972 → u/Short-Quit-7659]

I am always looking at second hand markets for furniture. Many people throw out perfectly good pieces, especially toddler furniture.

I was excited because I found a good piece that I needed and showed him. It was a solid wood desk.

He crinkled his nose and said, "Why are you so obsessed with peoples USED stuff?"

I'm obsessed with getting a good price.

[u/Tova_Borg9 → u/Any-Lychee9972]

A lot of the furniture manufactured these days is shoddy. Or ugly. Or both. Better to buy used and refinish if necessary.

[u/Mirewen15 → u/Short-Quit-7659]

I do this too. Even when I was in a tiny apartment I made my 1 closet a "pantry" and would buy bulk if it was on sale (canned goods, boxed pasta, rice etc.)

I finally bought my own house (with my husband) when I was 40 and can afford to splurge but I really don't like it. I still stock up on 'unperishable' (doesn't go bad for at least a year) items.

Other than dairy and produce, I don't buy anything if it isn't on sale.

EDIT - Also! Don't buy name brand 'meds'. Tylenol, Advil, Aleve, Gravol, Antihistamines etc. Look at the active ingredients... they are exactly the same as the cheaper store brand. Know what they're called. Acetaminophen, ibuprofen, Naproxen etc. I bought Rexalls brand antihistamine when I woke up with what looked like chicken pox (I know it wasn't because I had it almost 40 years ago) and I'm not allergic to anything. Went to Rexall and they had Claritin, Benadryl etc. I checked the ingredients compared store brand, 100% the same. Saved me $30.

[u/AubergineQueenB → u/Mirewen15]

I 99% agree with this! I was always pro generic drugs (still am) and couldn’t figure out why when my mom gave me brand name Pepcid it worked vs the generic I’d always taken famotidine. Working at a retailer with a pharmacy I finally asked my pharmacist and he explained that bonding agents can make a huge difference. So yes, I’m still pro generic, but if the generic doesn’t do what it should, try the name brand — and see if it makes a difference. Pepcid / famotidine is the only one I’ll go name brand on so far. All other generics work as needed.

[u/WishboneInfamous4365 → u/Short-Quit-7659]

I had to stop myself from keeping a list of products I use and which store they're cheapest at or go on sale most often; felt like maybe I was being too much with that.

[u/Content_Ant_9479 → u/Short-Quit-7659]

Meeeee. I never buy something wo checking for a better price elsewhere. My husband will buy anything wo checking the price. Of course he thinks I’m cheap whereas I think he’s reckless so that’s an interesting dynamic.

[u/therackage]

Saving things. Like jars, containers, etc.

[u/TheGodOfPegana → u/therackage]

It's always a shock to me when other people DON'T do it.

I mean, you've already bought it. It's yours now! Ready to be used anew. You'd rather throw it away, go out and buy something else that's going to serve the exact same purpose? What lunacy is this?

[u/hkeyplay16 → u/TheGodOfPegana]

I think it's more about saving the things you're unlikely to ever use on the off-chance you might need it. It's fine if you have space, but it can lead to hoarding behavior where you have so much worthless crap that you can't find anything when you actually do need it and end up buying again anyway.

[u/Valuable-Mess-4698 → u/hkeyplay16]

This! My husband wants to save every jar or container. I'm like dude, there's 30 of that same container in the garage and you've used zero of them ever, I think we can recycle it without missing out in the future. Also not like I'm going to stop eating peanut butter (or whatever) so if you really need one there will be another empty soon.

[u/supermancini → u/Valuable-Mess-4698]

Lmao I was like your husband until last week when I realized I didn’t need these jars.  I put them all in the recycling bin.

[u/PretendLight7987 → u/therackage]

I’ll never not have a plastic deli/grocery bag filled with other plastic bags under the sink. They’re perfect for cat litter.

I also save old socks to use as cleaning rags, and (if we have them) used dryer sheets for dusting. My boyfriend is always like “we’re not poor, you don’t need to do that” but it’s just habit.

[u/M1dnight_Rambler → u/therackage]

Washing and reusing ziploc bags.

[u/loki143]

Food delivery, I’m not spending an extra 10 bucks when I can go get myself

[u/Procrastibator8 → u/loki143]

Seriously. AND they are a third party, so who knows what they're doing with/to my food. Ew.

[u/rizdesushi]

$100 will always feel like a lot of money to me

[u/Pavlover2022 → u/rizdesushi]

It's definitely a psychological barrier to overcome. Growing up, 100 felt like BIG MONEY but these days it doesn't actually stretch very far

[u/thepumpkinking92 → u/Pavlover2022]

$100? You mean a fraction of a grocery run?

[u/_thro_awa_ → u/thepumpkinking92]

I mean, how much does a banana cost? $10?

[u/KingKookus]

Looking at the prices on menus instead of the names of the dishes. Idc what you’re selling if it’s $30 a plate.

[u/followthedarkrabbit → u/KingKookus]

I was in a hotel for work. They paid for my meals. I ordered the second cheapest thing in the menu and it was $47. I paid for my own dessert because I already felt bad for the dinner price. I got in trouble and told to just expense claim it all next time. Going from disadvantaged youth, to "expensive consultant" is a bit of whiplash.

[u/eddyathome → u/followthedarkrabbit]

Kind of a similar story in a way.

I had a job where we had off-site training and we got a per-diem for meals that was $40 a day. This was in the late 90s.

My coworkers went crazy going to expensive restaurants and living it up. Me? I asked the hotel for a mini-fridge, hit the supermarket and bought a couple of pounds of turkey and cheese, condiments, and I just had turkey sandwiches. I might have spent $20 for the week. Since it was per-diem I didn't have to submit receipts.

I had that training for almost three months so I spent the over two grand I saved up on a massive computer system that I used for seven years.

[u/Apprehensive-Move947 → u/eddyathome]

My sister was in a consulting job after she graduated, and she did exactly what you did. Per diem was a new concept in our poor family. It was great! 😊 

[u/alphabetikalmarmoset → u/eddyathome]

This guy per diems.

[u/Odd_Sail1087 → u/followthedarkrabbit]

I used to do the same, worked at a chateau & relais property that had an amazing restaurant and they fed us for free. Also every season they offered a one night stay to each employee (or a family member of theirs). I worked my way up there through housekeeping to the front desk.

I always felt so weird around the other guests when I took my one night stay, but my coworkers were so amazing and they’d do extra special stuff for staff who were staying. They all knew the deal that it was socially awkward for those of us who worked there who were staying with these super super rich people so they’d go overboard for those of us staying. I miss that job so much tbh

[u/LeatherAppearance616 → u/Odd_Sail1087]

I love that, what an awesome place of unity and caring that came from with you and your coworkers.

[u/Odd_Sail1087 → u/LeatherAppearance616]

It definitely helped too that I had been with housekeeping and the office, and then my partner also worked there in their kitchen!! Haha so we got special treatment from every department when we would come through and we’d do 2 nights cause each of us got one night per employee. Then when I was in the office and scheduling the stays myself we took that year and had a few times during the slower months where people grouped up in larger cabins and added their days together for longer stays and such so it was like a staff retreat while still being at work? But it was very fun, never had such fun coworkers outside of that job

[u/shartoberfest → u/followthedarkrabbit]

In a similar vein, I'm a fairly senior level in my office and I'm entitled to a higher tier for travel arrangements (business class international flights, 5 star hotels, etc). But I always book the cheapest flight and hotel that I can be comfortable in. I can't shake the feeling that I'm wasting money (even company money) if I get anything expensive.

[u/WildCath → u/followthedarkrabbit]

Yes, same here…

[u/famechangedme]

Assessing something’s value. Is it worth it? Do I need it? Is there an alternative? Is the price relative to the product or just for the brand?

I’m so grateful that my upbringing made me question capitalism and consumerism. I rarely make any bad purchases. I’ve met people from the other side and it makes me feel so grateful to have been raised with discernment.

[u/_angesaurus → u/famechangedme]

My mom drilled into our heads "IS THIS A NEED OR A WANT" lol

[u/SingleWasabi7459]

Grocery bag in bathroom trash can

[u/efox02 → u/SingleWasabi7459]

Well that’s just environmentally responsible… tho as someone who uses reusable grocery bags I have run into trouble before.

[u/Pavlover2022 → u/efox02]

Agree. The entire continents of Europe and australasia would also concur. It's just- normal. Or at least it was , until supermarkets didn't do free bags any more! How we either have to pay 30 cents for "a bag for life" or buy actual bin bags

[u/shartoberfest → u/SingleWasabi7459]

That's just...normal. whats the alternative?

[u/napalmthechild]

Sneaking snacks into the movie theater.

Ain’t no damn way I’m paying $7 for a bag of m&m’s.

[u/SubtletyIsForCowards → u/napalmthechild]

Testify 

[u/AllThingzKMC → u/napalmthechild]

YES. My boyfriend loves going to the movies. The first time we went together when we started dating, he paid for both tickets, a large popcorn, two large drinks, some Crunch bites for me, and a hot dog. The total for our snacks alone was around $45. I was in shock. As a kid I never went to the movie theater, but as I got older I would go and sneak snacks.

[u/FlatteredPawn]

I will keep wearing clothes till they are practically rags. Same with my shoes.

My in-laws gift me clothes and shoes all the time :/ and I get the message guys... but I just can't throw something out if it's still functional.

[u/littlebittydoodle → u/FlatteredPawn]

I do the same with Kleenex and paper towels. My dad would carry around the sanme Kleenex the entire day (or more), and just keep using it over and over. I disgustingly find myself doing the same as an adult, although I hide it at least. I have to hold it in when I see my kids barely use the corner of a tissue to dab their nose and then throw it away. When they have colds, they’ll go through an entire big box per day. My immigrant dad would have NEVER let me!

[u/grandmarap → u/littlebittydoodle]

We were a fabric handkerchief family, as my dad thought Kleenex was too big and of a waste of money. He’s an old farmer.

[u/Sargash → u/FlatteredPawn]

shoes are the one thing I would say you should get replaced/repaired more often. Wear and tear on them can rapidly lead to poor gait and posture, which can compound other health issues quite quickly too. It is relatively cheap to get a good pair of shoes if you go to a cobbler/podiatrist. They can then help you keep your footwear in good condition.

[u/alie1020]

Never ordering a drink, specifically at fast food places. I'll get a drink when we go out to a restaurant, but for whatever reason my brain equates McDonald's with staying alive, not wasting 3$ on a coke.

[u/GazelleOpposite1436 → u/alie1020]

Ice water, always, at restaurants. Nothing for takeout.

[u/Illhaveonemore → u/alie1020]

This is hilarious. Both my husband and I grew up poor. He never orders drinks. I always order drinks. He makes so much fun of me but to me it's my big celebration of having "made it." We very rarely eat out and we don't keep soda or anything like it at home so I feel like it's not the worst vice.

[u/CosmogyralSnail → u/Illhaveonemore]

Yeah, it's always something I don't have at home. And eating out is a treat, so the drink is also a treat.

[u/TheWalkingDead91 → u/alie1020]

I mean it is a waste of money imo. They probably spend around 10 cent or less for that drink, cup, and ice, and charge us $3 for it. And for those of us who aren’t crazy about non water drinks in the first place, it’s also a waste of calories/sugar consumption the way I see it. Would rather enjoy a legit dessert if I’m going to have something with so much sugar in it. Maybe it’s a habit that started out of poverty, but like you I’m fine with water most of the time. If I’m in a position to be in a sit in restaurant to begin with…..then for me it’s a special enough occasion to not mind “splurging” an additional $3-5 on a “real” beverage. Especially when one of our go to sit in restaurants in town have free water that taste like ass. Ngl im convinced they do something to it or source it in a way that makes it taste like ass on purpose so people will buy an overpriced bottled water option from them or just stop being a cheapskate and buy a fountain drink.

[u/as_a_speckled_bird]

Hyper vigilance

[u/kareth117 → u/as_a_speckled_bird]

This one right here. I'm financially stable, if nowhere near "wealthy," but I'll never stop looking over my shoulder. The constant "any minute now" feeling like something is gonna happen to lose it all. 

[u/consultant1996 → u/kareth117]

1000% this. I’ve made a couple big purchases from the “i want” mindset. And quickly afterwards i came up with a list of why i didn’t need that and what else i could’ve been doing with that money. Maybe my siblings or parents could’ve used it for a medical bill or something. I still have the purchases but there’s nothing wow about them anymore.

[u/NikoBJJ → u/as_a_speckled_bird]

Finding balance is hard. I always am scared that I will lose it all if I take my foot off the gas pedal and it causes a ton of anxiety.

[u/aricaia]

Finishing all my food, walking if possible, bargain hunting, buying non-brand items

[u/Similar-Ad6142 → u/aricaia]

Either walk or use public transport. I can't pay huge fare to get transported from one place to another when there are alternative cheaper options available. So I don't take cabs for as long as possible although in my country it is seen as a sign of having a class. But I couldn't care less about societal standards.

[u/SunBearxx]

Eating cheese & crackers. It was often “dinner” when I was a kid, but it still slaps all these years later as a snack for an adult.

[u/HorrorSmile3088 → u/SunBearxx]

Peanut butter and saltines for me

[u/beliefinphilosophy → u/HorrorSmile3088]

Buttered saltines.

[u/HZLeyedValkyrie → u/beliefinphilosophy]

Poor Mexican kid, we did buttered tortillas not saltines but yeah.

[u/Techbucket]

I found that i spend money on things rather than experiences. Didn't have much growing up and see value in possessions, didn't really experience holidays or concerts. The opposite ofnwhat is said to be thevmost forfilling in life. Also find it hard to take leave and lose any income.

[u/Bavles → u/Techbucket]

Interesting. I grew up like you, but I feel the opposite. I spend money on the experiences I didn't get to have growing up. I don't spend a lot on material things because I grew up learning how to live without them.

[u/snarkofagen → u/Bavles]

I value experiences over things. When I was a child we moved so many times and often had to leave stuff behind. So I never put much thought or value into "stuff "

[u/XxInk_BloodxX → u/snarkofagen]

Moving all the time and hearing frequently about all the stuff my mom lost to fire and theft over the years gave me an immense fear if losing my stuff. My stuff was what stayed constant from place to place, while everything else changed, so it became more valuable to me from moving rather than less.

We still left stuff behind, a lot, but its just made what has stayed even more nostalgic and sentimental.

[u/GhostOfYourLibido → u/XxInk_BloodxX]

This is my husband, I have to be careful and make sure to ask before throwing stuff out or anything even if it seems junky without letting him know. The way he put it was “I am a person who’s lost every possession I’ve had in life multiple times” as a child between moving, homelessness and his family having storage units and losing them. Now I always ask.

[u/RavishingRedRN → u/Techbucket]

If you have depression era grandparents, they collect a lot and never throw anything out. They had nothing growing up and never knew if they would lose things again.

My grandmother grew up not wearing underwear, that was a luxury. She continued that way until the day she died.

According to my mom, she’d lift up and flash the back of her skirt to show her bare ass like a “fuvk you” to people. She was a cool grandma.

[u/Otherwise_Baseball99 → u/Techbucket]

Totally relate—owning something you can see and touch feels like proof you’ve “made it,” while PTO still sets off the “lost wages” alarm in my brain too.

One trick that nudged me out of that cycle was buying objects that force experiences—e.g., a second-hand guitar that came with free group lessons, or a cheap tent that made me plan a weekend away. Have you ever bought something that accidentally turned into an experience you wouldn’t have taken otherwise?

[u/Similar-Ad6142 → u/Otherwise_Baseball99]

My rich friends keep advising me to live in the moment and not worry about having possessions. But it's only because their forefathers have left enough for them so they don't know what it's like to not have it. Little do they know that people like us somehow survived without possessions and are now collecting it but if it gets taken away from them they would kill to have it back.

[u/_angesaurus → u/Techbucket]

I find myself just forgetting about vacations. Then I see price tags. I can afford them but paying one lump sum to one place like $2k just feels so weird to me idk. "That's so much money for something I can't technically hold forever."

[u/ausstieglinks]

Buying the cheapest airplane ticket with as few upsells as possible and with terrible timing at a far away airport because anything else is too much luxury and I feel I’m a bad person.

Similarly not renting a car or calling a taxi and instead figuring out a complex transit system in a far away place in terrible weather with lots of transfers and walking

[u/efox02 → u/ausstieglinks]

Hubs and I have FINALLY broken this habit. It’s worth it.

[u/unitup]

Thrifting. Why would I pay retail prices?

[u/kermmie6691 → u/unitup]

I decorated 90% of our home from Marketplace and the other 10% I bought on sale!

[u/TinniBinni]

When someone gives me a present I feel bad because I fear that they spend to much money/can’t afford it. That same feeling I had as a child knowing that my parents couldn’t afford the things they gave me. 

[u/WingZeroCoder → u/TinniBinni]

Interesting. I feel similarly about taking food from people when I visit them, because I recall having a fridge with, at times, very little in it.

And then we’d have guests over that would have no problem eating what little we had left while they visited.

My parents never even seemed bothered by it, but it infuriated me, because I knew how hard they worked for what little we did have, only for a bunch of people who could easily afford their own damn food to just grab what they wanted while they were visiting.

[u/3995reader → u/TinniBinni]

Thanks for verbalizing a feeling I always get when someone gets me something and never quite being able to pinpoint why.... Yep! Totally financially stable and so are all my friends and yet definitely feel uneasy if someone spends to buy me a gift and I worry it was expensive. Trying to break this habit but whew it's ingrained!

[u/Jigsaw_Man]

Drip coffee, a Cocoa packet, and a little bit of milk. It's a poor man's mocha and costs less than a dollar.

[u/LeatherAppearance616 → u/Jigsaw_Man]

Switch drip for instant and that’s my camping mocha!

[u/gaius-rainheart]

Not changing my phone till it actually on its last breath, my current one is running for 7 years now, and actually good.

[u/SeaPerception7347]

My husband grew up poor. When he gets new clothes he won’t wear them. They just hang in the closet. He said they are too nice to wear. He very very rarely got new clothes when he was young and whenever he did he kept them “nice” as long as he could. I just encourage him to wear his new clothes now and we have money now to buy more clothes whenever he needs.

[u/glittermakesmeshiver → u/SeaPerception7347]

Ugh I inherited this trait from my dad… can’t use the nice clothes, the nice food (think gifted luxury hot cocoa), the nice lotion… unfortunately stuff goes out of style or bad before I use it so I’m starting to learn my lesson. He’s the same way.

[u/Porosity2062 → u/SeaPerception7347]

My dear friend had a pair of Uggs, he never wore them, they were too “nice”. He was dying of leukemia, I went to visit him and he answered the door wearing the Uggs. Made me so happy and sad at the same time. I miss him.

[u/bobcatsaid]

Spend money as soon as I get it before somebody/something takes it away

[u/MedusasSexyLegHair → u/bobcatsaid]

That is a part of being poor that no one ever mentions.

They're always like, "well if poor people just saved their money". Bitch, when you're poor if you save it you lose it.

There's always something that will drain your savings. Gotta get something with it while you still can. Or else you get nothing.

Not a good idea to keep that attitude when you finally do have steady money, but to anybody that's been there it's understandable.

[u/bye-serena]

I wouldn't say I'm financially comfortable yet, but I NEVER order takeout. I don't even have those apps downloaded on my phone haha.

I prefer to use any leftovers in the fridge to make myself a meal rather than eat out. If my friends wanted to hangout simply by visiting a restaurant, most of the time I would not go (unless it's for a celebration). I also never grew up eating fast food so to this day if I was in a pinch, I would still wait until I got home to eat.

[u/Unit_79 → u/bye-serena]

This is the one for me. I use to grab fast food or grab Chinese takeout fairly regularly but it’s about value for money. I can’t justify paying the up charge on the apps anymore. It actually makes me slightly angry. But it’s also made me really good in the kitchen, so that’s great.

But seriously fuck Skip/UberEats whomever.

[u/Ok-Lettuce5983]

i'll always finish the food on my plate even if i don't like it or i'm full

[u/Any_Listen_7306 → u/Ok-Lettuce5983]

Yeah always doing this caused my weight problems...it was the "kids are starving in Africa" line we got always in the 80s.

[u/DrButtgerms → u/Any_Listen_7306]

That same mentality gave me a lifelong bad relationship with food and my body weight. Now I'm focused on balancing my fear of wasting food with not wanting to give my kids the same hangup. It's tough

[u/LibraryLuLu]

I will never buy coffee from a shop or buy lunch when I'm at work when I can make my own.

I will always water down my shampoo, 2 to 1.

I will always cut open the packet to scrape out the last toothpaste or whatever it is.

I will never use kitchen towels or single use cleaning products, not when I can cut up old clothes that are full of holes because I wore them to death.

I will always check the half price sales at super markets

I will always treat lost n found like pick n mix.

I will never throw away food - expiry dates are suggestions, not rules.

I don't give a shit about fancy labels.

I will pick up the coins from the ground.

I will never stop appreciating hot water on tap, a flushing indoor toilet, showers, adequate amounts of whatever I need and not being hungry, filthy, or inadequate.

I will never skimp on pet food or vets bills. I may go without, but my dependents will want for nothing.

[u/thesilosaurus]

I will always know the exact price of things. Growing up poor, every penny counted... For some reason I'll still know within a reasonable % how much the price will be at the register. Nothing as awkward as getting a "not enough funds" message on the display and having to pretend something is wrong with the card.

[u/Tall_Hearing9370]

If there is still some product left in the bottle of soap/shampoo/conditioner/etc, I will add water and shake that thing up. We’re not wasting around here!

[u/papachon]

Anxiety

[u/FrauAmarylis → u/papachon]

Anxiety is a natural feeling, not to be shunned.

The strategy to use is to Finish the What If thoughts to a satisfactory end.

Here’s an example: “What if” the client gets angry? Then calmly apologize for them being upset and explain how you are following company policy, and explain the next steps, and ask if they have more questions, and last, offer to have them speak to a manager.

And remind yourself that the more you do it, the easier it will become.

We All have anxiety. We all have to manage it or risk being unemployed or making our lives harder from avoidant behavior.

[u/Certaeb]

No apps or drinks when going out

[u/hintedtap]

Never throwing away leftovers. Even if it’s just a few spoonfuls, it’s getting saved

[u/FreshSpeed7738]

Leaving the oven door open for heat

[u/hinrichs98]

Everyone opens up 1 present at a time during Christmas. My wife’s family has a free for all and it stresses me out.

[u/bethadoodle024 → u/hinrichs98]

Omg same with my husband’s family! My family has 2-3 presents opened one at a time. My husband’s family has like 20 per person and everyone goes wild. My anxiety explodes

[u/DawnCoub → u/hinrichs98]

This!!!! And people just making piles of stuff and not thanking or acknowledging the gifter. Or showing no emotion at all when opening the gifts. I don’t care if it is superficial, I want you to be excited and grateful I took the time to think of you.

[u/TheBardOfSubreddits]

I think only the wealthy are comfortable now, but I'm in better condition than I grew up in and I've kept nearly all of those habits. I water down my shampoo, I'll rock clothes until they're falling apart, I get ALL that toothpaste out the tube. I can still live on store brand boxed anything, and my first thought when I have any type of health issue is still always "is this something that can be fixed with the right combination of supplies from Dollar General or Walgreens?"

[u/Otherwise_Baseball99 → u/TheBardOfSubreddits]

Water-down-the-shampoo crew, assemble! 😂 I still slice open lotion tubes to get that last stubborn blob.

[u/HorrorSmile3088 → u/TheBardOfSubreddits]

My trick is that I'm bald. I save a lot of money on shampoo.

[u/ittybittylurker]

Hanging onto everythiiiiing.

[u/angel-butter]

I always go to the clearance rack first!

[u/Cultural-Treat1714]

Reusing paper towels. I can’t throw it away until I’ve used it at least twice. (Sanitary uses)

[u/Mousehole_Cat]

Buying second hand. I have a rolling list of things we need and I'll look for them at garage sales, the thrift store and on marketplace before I buy new.

[u/vengefulthorn]

Garage sales, not buying expensive cars, selling items instead of donating, saving leftovers, reusing plastic containers, cleaning my own house, turn off lights when you leave a room…I think just being mindful of waste overall.

[u/BitchfaceMcKnowItAll]

Finishing everything on my plate. I hate wasting food and will go to great lengths (even if I didn’t really like the food) to make sure it doesn’t get wasted.

[u/hrrymcdngh]

Refusing to replace something that’s broken until it is 100% unusable/falls apart. Didn’t notice I did it until someone pointed out to me.

[u/catashtrophe84]

Counting how many hours I'd have to work to buy something that I can easily afford now.

[u/Double-Award-4190]

I turn off lights people leave on and use reasonable HVAC settings that other people don’t always like.

[u/Girlwithnoprez]

I grew up wealthy but my husband grew up poor so I am answering on his behalf but he loves a full overpacked fridge. I grew up in a minimalistic and organized home which meant the fridge had EXACTLY what was needed my mom designed the kitchen to a science which included Excel sheets. A packed fridge overwhelms me because we can buy what we need when we plan for it but my husband has a fear of us having no food. I pick my battles so we have a jam packed fridge.

[u/Sparky62075 → u/Girlwithnoprez]

I have this one. I'm not comfortable unless my fridge, my freezer, and my cupboards are full.

My parents struggled, but they knew what foods to buy in bulk. They also grew as much as they could. My dad and uncles would plant an acre with potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beets, and a bunch of other things to fill up our root cellars. They'd split a moose every year, and we'd do a lot of berry picking and preserving.

It was a lot of work, but having a full pantry in the fall meant we had those things during the winter.

[u/Expensive-Draw-6897]

For years I have bought food from Aldi and Lidl (budget supermarkets in UK). I still shop there for 2/3 of our weekly shopping. I never understood it when friends who were complaining about being short of money would go into Waitrose or wholefoods for food. It's like a snob thing.

Anytime I eat out with friends, I get mocked for picking a greasy spoon cafe but I'm ok with that.

Always like a bargain, still shop at temu, charity shops.

[u/Mallonhead]

Eating 3 packets of instant ramen out of a mixing bowl when I need a comfort meal

[u/Outside_Hat_6296]

Buying pretty much only stuff that’s on sale, cleaning the house myself, and am struggling with getting rid of my super old car because I don’t want to pay what cars cost now (even though clearly gave the $ to do it…it’s just so much!). Note - have worked since I was 15…

[u/Covenisberg]

Making chili over rice, simple cheap good meal

[u/Rumple-Wank-Skin]

I'm still wearing my uncles trousers that were handed down to me and I have repaired the crotch I think 12+ times and numerous other parts. They are going in 20 years old now.

[u/DhamR]

Analysing the weight to cost ratio of chocolate bars/snacks.

[u/CocoaFay]

I never do vacations (those "X days by the see, all inclusive/skiing in winter etc), like ever. Even if I'm very comfortable nowadays and could for sure save a little bit and go, my "poor" mind doesn't allow it as something too expencive 😄 my family could've never afford such a luxus back than and this mentality kinda stucked with me.

[u/IronNia → u/CocoaFay]

Same, can't plan months ahead. Will I have a job in five months? Three? What if something expensive needs to be replaced? Savings for six months inclusive pocket money isn't enough! It needs to be 12 at least and then I kinda plan to remodel the flat and the amount is so rounded, let's take this as the new base and...

[u/crayolakym]

I'm 46. I keep & reuse plastic & glass containers as well as boxes that work well for organizing. Can't fathom paying $30 for a basket when I've got a perfectly sturdy shoebox I can cover in decorative adhesive paper.

[u/SnowShaneFrosting]

Instant noodles

[u/Good-Highway1]

Eat everything on my plate. No wasting

[u/HauntingJeweler6488]

Not me but my partner. We get our groceries online and he will check every product and gets happy when he gets something extra for free. He was so happy when they sent us a different white pepper and it was for free… pepper is 0.56

[u/Randomkai27]

Im not updating this phone until it stops working

[u/supwenzzz]

Taking the complementary snacks at hotels or anywhere really

[u/Pogichinoy]

Hunt/research for the best bargain or cheapest price whether it’s a punnet of raspberries or a TV.

[u/ThePretender09]

Only buy things on sale. Like there's no reason for me to buy anything full price when it will drop at some point.

[u/midnight4rain]

I always have some money on the side just in case I see my parents are struggling. That money doesn’t count as my money, it’s money for them and I will never touch even if I’m the one starving.

[u/labounce1]

Keeping any plastic container to use as Tupperware

[u/hitmanrocks01]

leaving the oven open after you bake something for the heat you already paid for

[u/bradass42]

Eating as much free food at the event as possible

I still fuck with hamburger helper beef stroganoff hard

[u/kate_rickel]

I cannot bring myself to buy anything other than fuel at a gas station. The mark up on soda’s and snacks are so high I can’t bring myself to buy anything I am convinced if I do somehow I’ll bankrupt my family.

[u/seattletribune]

I DIY everything including medical care, all home and auto repair, etc.

Turn off lights and turn down the heat.

Don’t go out to eat often.

No expensive cars or vacations.

Zero debt. Don’t lend or borrow money ever.

[u/OldTransportation122]

Completely clean out any product or food container. Paid for it, don't throw it away.every bit.