8 harmless habits that betray those who did not grow up in a “cradle of gold”

New York City scientists studied the brains of more than 100 children who were born into families with different income levels. Children born into poorer families have been found to have a brain 6% smaller than those born into better-off households. However, “poverty” can not only affect our physiology — which was clear from the research — but also our behavior.

At the awesome.club, we learned what habits could distinguish people who grew up with greater financial difficulties. We also decided to illustrate certain moments with stories from real people. At the end of the post, we have prepared two special bonuses for you. Follow!

The desire of some parents to save every penny to get through the month until their next paycheck certainly leaves an impression on their children. Children who were brought up in such conditions, as adults, can easily spend money on things they don’t need. That is, it is like a mechanism of “trying to live differently”. Thus, very easily someone can prefer to take a taxi simply because they no longer “need” to take the bus, for example.

Also, if everyone around you is buying the same thing to fit in or because they think that’s the key to success, an adult raised in a more humble family will feel compelled to go with the flow. This is what happens with the fever of iPhones, for example, or the Apple Watch and Airpods. Many people go into debt to get the most modern device and thus fit better into the stipulated social standards.

Although very contradictory with what was said earlier, these same people also don’t have the courage to spend money on things they really want. They go shopping, find something they really like, but convince themselves it’s “too expensive.” As a result, they leave the stores empty-handed and with a feeling of utter powerlessness. The situation is similar with basic needs, from food products to work that needs to be done for months.

I feel extreme guilt when I have to throw away spoiled or leftover food. If I don’t eat all the lunches in the fridge or leftovers, I feel terrible. I also use the shampoo until the last drop. Even with soap it’s the same thing. I also have difficulty with other things, like throwing away old socks and clothes that I no longer wear and that have already been destroyed. © unknown author / reddit I lived without a couch for a year in my new house. Simply because I couldn’t think of spending that much money on buying a new one. I have no problem buying anything that costs less than 150 reais. If the price is higher, however, I stall and cannot decide. © OtillyAdelia / reddit I refuse to pay someone to do something I can do myself. Or maybe something I can learn to do. For example, fixing the car, furniture or even things around the house. © dyk3j3sus / reddit

The absolutely opposite situation is observed when this very person needs to buy a gift for someone close. People coming from simple families can spend everything they have to give a wonderful gift to some relative or close friend, especially not to embarrass themselves.

People who grew up with less financial means are more likely to take risks, as they have less to lose. Sometimes, they manage to multiply their bank accounts due to the “bold” behavior they usually exhibit, investing in projects or companies that other people would not have the courage to invest in.

People who grew up in low-income families typically didn’t have access to high-quality, expensive products, and sometimes even regular candy bars. Because of this, in adult life, they may have the need to eat whatever is available.

This theory has been studied in depth by scientists and proven many times by experiments. For example, a survey evaluated dozens of women, half of whom did not have wealthy parents while the other half were raised in families with at least stable financial conditions. All of them were offered a bottle of soda, and then a full lunch. It was observed that, regardless of the level of satiety of each one, those who had more restricted childhoods ate absolutely everything that was offered.

I always eat all the food in the fridge so it doesn’t go bad, as I don’t like to throw anything away. When she was little, she could rarely eat until she couldn’t take it anymore. © tc88 / reddit I can’t let food go bad. If I see that fruits and vegetables are already at the end, I will certainly prepare something with them to eat later. © auamethys / reddit I feel terrible when I see my boyfriend’s family throw away jars of sauce or jam that are almost gone. Wow, give me these pots and I can get even one or two more spoons from the bottom! © jnseel/reddit

Parents who were overly thrifty, literally counting every penny, will have children who are likely to develop an aversion to financial planning in the future. Such people will be ready to pay a little extra just to avoid discomfort. The most stressful situation for them is the need to think about saving.

I have a good salary and I can afford to spend as much as I want. Let’s say I don’t have money on hand to take a bus (I hate buses). In that case, I prefer to order a taxi, because I can afford it. I don’t want to waste even a second of my life thinking that I should save money, like my mother did. © Rick Morton / One Hundred Years of Dirt

A large amount of money in the hands of someone who grew up in a low-income family is crazy. These people will spend as soon as they receive their paychecks as they are afraid the money will somehow disappear. Similar situations happen to people who, for example, won the lottery. Maybe you’ve seen it in the news that “a mechanic won millions in the lottery and spent it all in just a few months”.

When I started earning my own money, I couldn’t plan my budget. No way. I received my salary and then spent it on something, just because I could afford to do so. In the first years of financial independence, I was practically unable to save anything. Recently, fortunately, I managed to open a savings account and I set aside part of my salary every month. Even so, I still have urges to buy irrelevant things, usually cosmetic products. © NeckForDays / reddit

Any topic related to money can cause embarrassment, but especially when it comes to something free. Or significant discounts. For example, lunches paid for by the boss or discounts at the gym on account of work are things that may simply not be accepted, or accepted with great “feeling behind” and a certain amount of shyness.

Someone who grew up in a low-income family will be somewhat embarrassed to eat something without paying, for example. This person will feel more comfortable paying for their own lunch, as they are no longer struggling. This even goes for freebies that are given in store boxes after a purchase.

I donate money to charity even if there is no specific reason to do so. In stores, I’m usually asked if I’d like to leave some money for some charity and I always do, even if I have almost nothing in my wallet. I try to control this impulse, but it’s still difficult. ©_fightme/reddit

There are no scientific studies that prove the fear of activating automatic payments, but this topic has been discussed among users of the social network Reddit. People born in more humble families were asked to comment on the habits they wanted to change, but could not. Many have written about how automatic payments make them feel stressed.

I can’t leave any installment or payment on direct debit. Although it is much more comfortable, I prefer to pay my bills manually each month. It’s like there’s a voice in my head that says, “What if you need that money later for something much more important? After all, if you have 60 days to pay the electricity bill, why do it at the beginning?” That dread haunts me to this day. © KnittinAndBitchin / reddit

In 2010, scientists conducted an experiment: they tested the mental capabilities of young people. The longer a person lived with financial difficulties, the longer it took them to finalize an idea. Interestingly, individuals who had enough money but thought they had little had the same results. Researchers believe that this apparent longer “reaction time” may lead to premature aging.

In addition, aging is also associated, in this case, with a possible lack of resources needed to treat illnesses and issues related to comfort and food — which, like it or not, reflect on anyone’s health.

I remember playing with the street children near my house. Someone asked me to go get toilet paper for some prank. The problem is that we didn’t have toilet paper at home, we used newspapers because we were very poor and that’s why I was paralyzed, I couldn’t leave the place. A girl then shouted: “Oh, please, now are you going to say that you don’t have toilet paper at home?!” And everyone started laughing at me. To this day, I remember that day with an ache in my heart. © Gofessor / pikabu

Until 2004 I lived in the interior with my whole family. We had pasta with onions and carrots (sometimes potatoes) for dinner on good days. On holidays my mother bought sardines and a handful of ham – but only on big holidays or birthdays. I won’t even comment on the clothes. To this day, I remember how my classmates shamed me for the clothes I wore to school after we moved to the big city. © foxirenna /…