The Habits You Still Have After Growing Up Poor
 

I have just read this article and I heartily agree.

I grew up in a poor ass black family. It was 1979 and we lived in this small decrepit building with rooms that didn't have windows. My parents were too proud for welfare and we suffered all throughout the year.

My mother was a part time caregiver to this mean old Greek woman who only gave her 50 cents for six hours as her day's wages (and constantly gave her shit for every little thing my mother did wrong), and my father was a drunk black man who worked odd jobs painting houses or cleaning septic tanks. I remembered our winters were very cold (and I still remember that at the end of our block is where a bunch of young kids were abducted while they were sleeping in their bedroom).

Looking back as I grew up, I and my brother somehow had developed habits that we still have today. Though our living conditions have improved immensely, that feeling of losing everything again were in my thoughts constantly. So most times, I do these inexplicably paranoid things that to an outsider might look a bit screwy.

1. I don't and can't sleep on a bed, I sleep on a futon or just the floor. When I go to conventions, I still don't sleep on the bed. I sleep in the tub or in any hard confined space.

2. I stock too many canned goods even though there's a farmer's market a few blocks away. And I don't go to the supermarket without coupons.

3. Most days I just eat peanut butter and jelly on white bread as breakfast and dinner. I don't eat lunch.

4. I don't have toilet paper. Believe it or not I wash everything with water.

5. I got this from my Mom. The sofa? It's covered in plastic.

6. I can't save money because I always think that the money I earn will disappear or get stolen, so I have to spend it immediately.

7. I secretly save other people's trash and hide them on the garage so I can sell them later.

These are things I notice. Sometimes, I stop myself from doing this habits, but it only places me on edge. So I do it regardless. It sucks sometimes.

So if you're one who grew up poor and has gotten better in your adult life, what other strange habits do you still continue doing as a result of your childhood?

i eat p b n j daily too, love it

i didn't grow up poor... but I was told never to throw away food... (war)

so even now... I always eat my plate... even if I am full... when for example my girlfriend doesn't want to finish her plate.. I eat it... even if I don't want to... I never throw food away

I blow strangers for spare change ...

Ditto. I'll even continue eating food that seems a little 'off' if it's on my plate. It has to be absolutely wretched for me to consider throwing it in the trash.

I get all my entertainment from megaupload.

If you could get over #6 you could get rich, being frugal as you make decent money.

not sleeping in a bed ever, not eating food with any nutritional value, not using toilet paper (ew), spending all your money and not saving any.. Hey, man no offence but these aren't little habits that we pick up from childhood. That seems more like obsessive compulsive behavior, and it doesn't sound like you are enjoying your life or accomplishments since then at all..

Why rise above the bad and not live in comfort and good health? Not judging, but I just don't understand it.

Pilgrim on the box on the stove in the kitchen.

Great post. Rise above man. Only you are in control of breaking the cycle.

:thumbsup Damn straight.

My parents lived through WW2 and rationing, my Grandparents through WW1 and WW2. So we were taught not to waste food. To watch the pennies and to rush to the shelters when the sirens sounded. :winkwink:

Going nearly bankrupt in 1977/8 taught me the most harshest lesson and since then been bit of a miser. Only sins were travel and girls. Travel I tried to do it on the cheap but sometimes spent a little too much. Girls I never had a problem with as far as money was concerned. Ex wives were bit of a drain on the finances. Thankfully the last one is out working overtime with her mop.

To pay for our new TV. :1orglaugh

Still a bit of a miser though. :thumbsup

adultsitecms see a therapist. Glen's right.

same here

met many people in my trips that throw all the food away from their dishes , they not save it...

If I don´t want anymore, I save it in a plastic tapper

well the peanut butter and jelly sandwich diet is actually healthier than 90% of what the average person eats.

i know a fair number of people who sleep on the floor, the Japanese do.

all considered though, you have some deep seated psychological issues relating to childhood and should get some counseling. life's short, don't deny yourself.

i kant afford to grow up poor... :(

I'm poor and do a lot of the things explained in that article lol, for the same reasons.

You don't really think twice about living that way when you have had to your whole life.
Imagine your parent fed you toast with jelly every day for breakfast.
You get used to that and many people may stick to that regime, even after they split from the nest.

The one about spending money even when you have it made me lol a little bit.
I don't buy much for myself other than domain names but I remember telling my girlfriend when we purchased a powerball ticket for like 125 million bucks that the first thing I would do is go back to school and geting the education I wished I could afford because that money won't last forever. :1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

P.S. not using tp isn't in the article, just ops personal preference.
(for anyone who didn't read it).

Back in 1993, we had 500,000,000,000 bank note in our country fucked by war, crazy politicans and after communist era, yeap i write it right, so guess what habit i have, i want one EUR banknote with same numbers in my hand now :)

Im poor now can i get your software on a payment plan? Im serious. Or like half down? Just need for one site :helpme

The writer is pretty cool: http://www.cracked.com/members/John%20Cheese/

The reason why some toilets use water hose is because it's more hygienic than toilet paper. In other words - using toilet paper = eww. You probably still have your mommy wipe your ass for you so you wouldn't know, but people who are 80 years ahead of you already know that.

I'm still a cheapskate from growing up middle class and becoming poor when the steel mill shut down and my dad with left without work.

I still clip coupons and shop bargains (maybe I have some Jewish blood in me). I hate to see wasted food. I always try to re-purpose leftovers into stews, soups and goulashes.

Oh man many of these habits.

I sleep with my clothes on, ready to rock and roll at any time.

It's a very difficult thing to break childhood training, and at times I don't think it can be done with any amount of education or therapy.

You really have to learn how to be rich and move away from the poverty psychology, and it ain't easy.

i have mercs yet prefer to ride my bike everywhere cause i hate buying gas at $5/gallon here

Careful, don't end up on the next episode of Hoarders!

I agree on having the instinct to not waste things though, it used to annoy me in my old apartment when people would throw perfectly good furniture etc. in the trash, although I never did rescue it. And I always hate to throw my own things out, I would rather put something in a yard sale for 10 cents than see it go to waste.

I grew up poor, but don't really have any strange habits other than really budgeting my money and spending wisely.

A friend of mine's dad was poor as a kid and they only drank powdered milk. Now he is successful and owns a business that does well, but he still drinks powdered milk.

I know a couple of people who grew up poor who have a hard time throwing anything out because they feel like they may need it someday or it may have some value.

I am the queen of leftovers. Don't waste food! Tonight's mashed potatoes will be tomorrow morning's hash browns. I can't even throw out cold coffee. It goes in the fridge for mochas and gravy flavouring. Also from my grandparents - don't pay someone else to cook for you. ie: buy the staples and make it yourself. A 10lb bag of potatoes will cost a whole lot less than instant potatoes.

The overuse of Kool Aid and Tang. Just add tap water.

ewww

whats your address ill mail you some

Splurge, get the 50 pound sack. :winkwink:

I know some friends who are like that. They have tons of junk in their backyard because they don't want to dispose it.

this guy doesn't have a bidet. no idea what he uses but its not like he came from europe or something. i'm guessing he doesn't have many visitors.

'too proud for welfare', no offense but that is really naive of them. The government is squeezing out every penny from the people, so if you could get welfare I would take advantage to it to the max. Alot of people look down on people who have welfare, that's because they've been brainwashed to be a fucking slave. Truth is, people who exploit the welfare system are smarter than them, so more power to them.

I grew up boring middle class. Not rich but we did have toilet paper.

That's major insecurity. I used to do the same - still do when I am not in good form.