25 Poverty Habits People Hang On To Despite Being Financially Stable
Unshakeable poverty habits that have stuck despite people’s change in circumstances.
Independently testedUnbiased Demilked scoreFree to implementTools included
Certain childhood experiences become so deeply rooted in our minds that it’s hard to distinguish between what we've been conditioned to do and what we desire. This subtle influence can permeate various aspects of life, including creating specific mindsets around finances.
Recently, a thought-provoking discussion started on Reddit: “People who grew up poor but are now financially stable, what is a 'poverty habit' you can't seem to shake?” Participants engaged in deep self-reflection, drawing on a keen sense of self-awareness built over the years, and openly shared their observations. Below, we’ve highlighted some of the most insightful and revealing responses from the thread.
Image source: EmployAlternative349, Freepik {not the actual photo)
Pushing the slip of soap onto the new bar of soap.
Image source: crownapplecutie, redzen/Freepik (not the actual photo)
crownapplecutie:
My dad was a depression baby (1936), he hoards napkins and sugar packets anytime we go out to eat
LawOfSmallerNumbers:
My mother is a depression baby (1931). Oklahoma.
She lives in the suburbs and has a fridge/freezer in the kitchen, and standalone fridge and separate freezer in the basement. We were pretty glad when she got rid of the mini-fridge in the TV room, and the chest freezer in the garage. The latter had the remains of steaks and organ meat from a side of beef purchased years ago. Kept it just in case.
Image source: JLFlyer, Freepik (not the actual photo)
Not getting rid of things because I might need them in the future. We never had the $ for random things so we didn't get rid of things, just in case.
Image source: Repulsive-Owl-9466, Freepik (not the actual photo)
I'm not rich, but I don't think I will ever give up using those "Tupperware" things lunch meat comes in as.. Tupperware.
Image source: lavlithlion, DC Studio/Freepik (not the actual photo)
I rarely buy anything that is not on sale
Image source: PrudentOwlet, EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo)
PrudentOwlet:
Waiting until something is completely unusable/broken/dead before I replace it.
People sell old stuff at yard sales and on marketplace and stuff, but that concept is foreign to me. If I'm not using it anymore, it's because it's trash and nobody else would want it anyway.
canisdirusarctos:
My wife wanted to do a garage sale and she wanted me to contribute, but it broke my brain. I had no childhood experience with such a thing. You need to have stuff you don’t need. The stuff I buy that I don’t need is stock for lean times.
Image source: supergooduser , Freepik (not the actual photo)
I still make my lunch for work every day.
The cost every day is insane if, assume a reasonable $10/day meal... that's $50/week, $200/month, $2400 year...
But then it's backed up by saving calories and then saving time... I don't need to go anywhere, wait for them to prepare it, etc.
I still socialize and will go out with coworkers and stuff but day to day, nah.
Image source: jaxxon, Sven Brandsma/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Put good money into things that you use a LOT and don't spend money on stuff you really won't use. Only use a weed whacker once or twice a summer? Buy a cheap-ass weed whacker. Cook a lot? Buy the best pans you can afford.
Image source: Pipry, pvproductions/Freepik (not the actual photos)
The one I've never been able to shake is having way too many blankets. I have more blankets than I'll ever need. Cause you never know when you aren't going to have heat.
Never missed a single utility bill as an adult. Never had my power off for anything other than a utility outage. But at 35, I still need atleast two blankets in every room.
Coats and hoodies too, to a lesser extent.
Image source: lycosa13, kwangmoop/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Buying multiples of things and having both open. Like chips, that was a big one growing up. My mom went to the grocery store once a week so we'd get one bag of chips to last for the week for a family of 4. If we ran out, oh well, gotta wait for the next grocery trip. And it was only ever one flavor. Same for cereals, cookies, juice etc. Oh you don't like that flavor? Too bad, maybe next week will be one you like. It wasn't until a few years ago when I was at the grocery store with my husband and I saw a bag of chips I really wanted but we already had a bag in the cart and he said "well just get it." And I was like "I can just get it?" And then, I struggled with having two bags of chips open. Like I wanted one to be empty before I opened the other one, but why should I have to wait when I wanted those chips?
Image source: avettestingray, DC Studio/Freepik (not the actual photo)
avettestingray:
Buying more groceries than I need during sales - or "food hoarding" as my husband calls it.
Tomytom99:
My dad has always done this, and I thought it just makes financial sense, mainly on shelf stable foods that you'll be using eventually anyways. Of course I picked the habit up from him.
I think I once drove my girlfriend insane by buying five packs of something to get a discount. It might have been apple sauce? It's been a while.
Image source: MOSbangtan, Freepik (not the actual photo)
I def price shop - meaning, Im never not looking at the price - I don’t care if it’s a can of beans, let’s get the 1.19 one over the 1.79.
Image source: cold_quinoa, magone.Envato (not the actual photo)
Stuffing my glove compartment with those brown napkins
Image source: mofomeat, Stas Kirilash/Freepik (not the actual photo)
I still eat like I'm poor. Beans, rice, pasta, potatoes. Meat is a flavoring, not a main course.
The other issue that comes to light (now that I'm moving from a 2-bedroom apartment to a 1-bedroom apartment) is hoarding things. Growing up, the few things I did have were hard-won and if anything happened to them, they'd never get replaced. Therefore, if I get ahold of anything I feel like I must hang onto it or I'll never have it again.
I'm getting better about it, but while getting rid of stuff, some choices are easy, some are not.
Image source: 4lien4ted, sananimtiaz383/ Freepik (not the actual photo)
Saving extra condiment packets from fast food places.
Image source: FunkyPunk99, azerbaijan_stockers/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Growing up with food insecurity I definitely have a need to always have extra food in the house. Always extra canned, frozen, dried food products and baking supplies. Just in case there is a zombie apocalypse and I want to make some poundcake.
Image source: IHaventTheFoggiest47 , EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Nothing feels as good as having an emergency fund. Impulse buys and instant gratification purchases just chip away at my peace of mind. Nothing is worth that.
Image source: sea-elle0463, wirestock/ Freepik (not the actual photo)
I grew up having to use an outhouse. To this day, at 62 and upper middle class financially, I still check the inside of the toilet paper roll for spiders.
Still eat biscuits and gravy too
Image source: dharmattan, Freepik (not the actual photo)
dharmattan:
Fear of spending money.
WhisperingHope44:
The amount of times I stress over a purchase… like I used to have to make sure whatever I bought was worth every penny… now I have the resources to buy what I need without hesitating, most of the time, and yet I’ll make my self sick with anxiety over if I should buy the item or if I’m buying the right one.
Image source: dotandtoto13, sanjit536/Freepik (not the actual photo)
I prefer still to thrift.
Image source: anonymous, EyeEm/ Freepik (not the actual photo)
Clean plate syndrome... Always eat everything on the plate and never throw food away
Image source: MyViewNotYours, Freepik (not the actual photo)
90% of all meals are eaten and cooked at home. Minimal processed foods
Image source: jillsvag, Freepik (not the actual photo)
C*****g open the lotion, shampoo, or soap bottles to get the last bits out of the bottom. The pump bottles leave a lot in the bottoms.
Image source: Alexreads0627, Yunus Tuğ/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I hoard sh*t like “I can afford it now but maybe not tomorrow, so I’ll buy a f**k ton of it now and then I won’t have to worry about it later”. It’s stupid but I can’t let it go.
Image source: laaumaster, Freepik (not the actual photo)
Adding water to the last bit of the hand soap bottle and shaking. Unlimited soap glitch
#1
Image source: EmployAlternative349, Freepik {not the actual photo)
Pushing the slip of soap onto the new bar of soap.
#2
Image source: crownapplecutie, redzen/Freepik (not the actual photo)
crownapplecutie:
My dad was a depression baby (1936), he hoards napkins and sugar packets anytime we go out to eat
LawOfSmallerNumbers:
My mother is a depression baby (1931). Oklahoma.
She lives in the suburbs and has a fridge/freezer in the kitchen, and standalone fridge and separate freezer in the basement. We were pretty glad when she got rid of the mini-fridge in the TV room, and the chest freezer in the garage. The latter had the remains of steaks and organ meat from a side of beef purchased years ago. Kept it just in case.
#3
Image source: JLFlyer, Freepik (not the actual photo)
Not getting rid of things because I might need them in the future. We never had the $ for random things so we didn't get rid of things, just in case.
#4
Image source: Repulsive-Owl-9466, Freepik (not the actual photo)
I'm not rich, but I don't think I will ever give up using those "Tupperware" things lunch meat comes in as.. Tupperware.
#5
Image source: lavlithlion, DC Studio/Freepik (not the actual photo)
I rarely buy anything that is not on sale
#6
Image source: PrudentOwlet, EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo)
PrudentOwlet:
Waiting until something is completely unusable/broken/dead before I replace it.
People sell old stuff at yard sales and on marketplace and stuff, but that concept is foreign to me. If I'm not using it anymore, it's because it's trash and nobody else would want it anyway.
canisdirusarctos:
My wife wanted to do a garage sale and she wanted me to contribute, but it broke my brain. I had no childhood experience with such a thing. You need to have stuff you don’t need. The stuff I buy that I don’t need is stock for lean times.
#7
Image source: supergooduser , Freepik (not the actual photo)
I still make my lunch for work every day.
The cost every day is insane if, assume a reasonable $10/day meal... that's $50/week, $200/month, $2400 year...
But then it's backed up by saving calories and then saving time... I don't need to go anywhere, wait for them to prepare it, etc.
I still socialize and will go out with coworkers and stuff but day to day, nah.
#8
Image source: jaxxon, Sven Brandsma/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
Put good money into things that you use a LOT and don't spend money on stuff you really won't use. Only use a weed whacker once or twice a summer? Buy a cheap-ass weed whacker. Cook a lot? Buy the best pans you can afford.
#9
Image source: Pipry, pvproductions/Freepik (not the actual photos)
The one I've never been able to shake is having way too many blankets. I have more blankets than I'll ever need. Cause you never know when you aren't going to have heat.
Never missed a single utility bill as an adult. Never had my power off for anything other than a utility outage. But at 35, I still need atleast two blankets in every room.
Coats and hoodies too, to a lesser extent.
#10
Image source: lycosa13, kwangmoop/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Buying multiples of things and having both open. Like chips, that was a big one growing up. My mom went to the grocery store once a week so we'd get one bag of chips to last for the week for a family of 4. If we ran out, oh well, gotta wait for the next grocery trip. And it was only ever one flavor. Same for cereals, cookies, juice etc. Oh you don't like that flavor? Too bad, maybe next week will be one you like. It wasn't until a few years ago when I was at the grocery store with my husband and I saw a bag of chips I really wanted but we already had a bag in the cart and he said "well just get it." And I was like "I can just get it?" And then, I struggled with having two bags of chips open. Like I wanted one to be empty before I opened the other one, but why should I have to wait when I wanted those chips?
#11
Image source: avettestingray, DC Studio/Freepik (not the actual photo)
avettestingray:
Buying more groceries than I need during sales - or "food hoarding" as my husband calls it.
Tomytom99:
My dad has always done this, and I thought it just makes financial sense, mainly on shelf stable foods that you'll be using eventually anyways. Of course I picked the habit up from him.
I think I once drove my girlfriend insane by buying five packs of something to get a discount. It might have been apple sauce? It's been a while.
#12
Image source: MOSbangtan, Freepik (not the actual photo)
I def price shop - meaning, Im never not looking at the price - I don’t care if it’s a can of beans, let’s get the 1.19 one over the 1.79.
#13
Image source: cold_quinoa, magone.Envato (not the actual photo)
Stuffing my glove compartment with those brown napkins
#14
Image source: mofomeat, Stas Kirilash/Freepik (not the actual photo)
I still eat like I'm poor. Beans, rice, pasta, potatoes. Meat is a flavoring, not a main course.
The other issue that comes to light (now that I'm moving from a 2-bedroom apartment to a 1-bedroom apartment) is hoarding things. Growing up, the few things I did have were hard-won and if anything happened to them, they'd never get replaced. Therefore, if I get ahold of anything I feel like I must hang onto it or I'll never have it again.
I'm getting better about it, but while getting rid of stuff, some choices are easy, some are not.
#15
Image source: 4lien4ted, sananimtiaz383/ Freepik (not the actual photo)
Saving extra condiment packets from fast food places.
#16
Image source: FunkyPunk99, azerbaijan_stockers/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Growing up with food insecurity I definitely have a need to always have extra food in the house. Always extra canned, frozen, dried food products and baking supplies. Just in case there is a zombie apocalypse and I want to make some poundcake.
#17
Image source: IHaventTheFoggiest47 , EyeEm/Freepik (not the actual photo)
Nothing feels as good as having an emergency fund. Impulse buys and instant gratification purchases just chip away at my peace of mind. Nothing is worth that.
#18
Image source: sea-elle0463, wirestock/ Freepik (not the actual photo)
I grew up having to use an outhouse. To this day, at 62 and upper middle class financially, I still check the inside of the toilet paper roll for spiders.
Still eat biscuits and gravy too
#19
Image source: dharmattan, Freepik (not the actual photo)
dharmattan:
Fear of spending money.
WhisperingHope44:
The amount of times I stress over a purchase… like I used to have to make sure whatever I bought was worth every penny… now I have the resources to buy what I need without hesitating, most of the time, and yet I’ll make my self sick with anxiety over if I should buy the item or if I’m buying the right one.
#20
Image source: dotandtoto13, sanjit536/Freepik (not the actual photo)
I prefer still to thrift.
#21
Image source: anonymous, EyeEm/ Freepik (not the actual photo)
Clean plate syndrome... Always eat everything on the plate and never throw food away
#22
Image source: MyViewNotYours, Freepik (not the actual photo)
90% of all meals are eaten and cooked at home. Minimal processed foods
#23
Image source: jillsvag, Freepik (not the actual photo)
C*****g open the lotion, shampoo, or soap bottles to get the last bits out of the bottom. The pump bottles leave a lot in the bottoms.
#24
Image source: Alexreads0627, Yunus Tuğ/Unsplash (not the actual photo)
I hoard sh*t like “I can afford it now but maybe not tomorrow, so I’ll buy a f**k ton of it now and then I won’t have to worry about it later”. It’s stupid but I can’t let it go.
#25
Image source: laaumaster, Freepik (not the actual photo)
Adding water to the last bit of the hand soap bottle and shaking. Unlimited soap glitchDE
Written by
Demilked Editorial
SaaS Review Specialist · Demilked
With 5+ years in the creator, entertainment, and publishing spaces, Demilked shortlists, reviews, and ranks leading tools that actually make your life easier.