Does growing up poor make you more aware of money?
@morgandrake (2136)
United States
October 5, 2007 12:48pm CST
A thought that was tossed out in a reply to another one of my discussions was that growing up in poverty makes one more interested in making money.
Now, I can see the logic behind the reasoning, but based on my own experience I am not sure it holds water.
I am the oldest of eight kids. My father was always working, and I started working at a young age myself. There was always concern about where the next meal and mortage payment was coming from.
Having became a high school failure, and spending twenty years in food service, money-wise I have not done well. Yet after a year being unemployed when I slipped into college, I chose a degree that is not exactly money oriented: an associate in English. My long term college goal is Literature. Hardly something that I can take and make a buck at.
And I chose to be a freelance writer. Not a smart career move if you are truly interested in money.
Growing up poor didn't instill a hunger to make money in me. In fact, the people I see who are most interested in making a buck grew up in much better economic situations than I did.
I tend to be more interested in helping people and accomplishing a set of intellectual goals than making money.
So is it just me? It won't surprise me if it was--let's be honest, I am a little weird. Or have other people experienced things that would suggest that growing up poor does not necessarily make one interested in making a fortune.
2 people like this
15 responses
@tintin7978 (102)
• Philippines
6 Oct 07
For me, people are born with survival instincts not much different with animals, we were just given more skills and knowledge. We have tried to grab life the best we could no matter how we perceived it. An infant would cry out when he's hungry or in pain. He's trying to live or he wants to live.
For the question; Does growing up poor make you more aware of ( or let's say-greedy for) money? I'll answer, yes. Poverty can challenge or endanger one's survival. So, what could one do? Just sit there and wait for his end? I believe it might happen but one would try to fight for life.
One 9-year old girl from my country became popular in Japan because her life story was put in a documentary of one broadcasting station there for the purpose of encouraging their people to give out charity for her poverty-sticken area, which eventually became famous too in Japan. Her mother was very ill, she's got 2 younger brothers and her father ran away. There was no choice for her but to work as a scavenger just to bring in some money fo her helpless family. In this case, I think she would carry this mindset for a very, very long time. She would do this routine in order to eat. She would definitely want money for her family and for herself.
I don't want to generalize but let's try to observe some more.
@bishopeto (1)
• Kenya
6 Oct 07
personally i fil that life is all about survival so any one who exist will alway want to hav a purchasing power wether rich or poor.you see people from poor home struggling to change their status whlle peole from rich home tries to keep the trend going.so i think every normal individual has the instinct
1 person likes this
@poohgal (6845)
• Singapore
5 Oct 07
Hello there. I came from an average income family. My parents are not rich and they do not earn much. I learn the virtue of thrift and generosity since young. Coming from such a background, I learn to see money as important but not the most important in the world. There are many things more important ie. love and kinship.
2 people like this
@tuhpaul (475)
• India
5 Oct 07
Hats of to you my friend -I value your decision -appreciate you hard work and your positive frame of mind-to help people -wonderful -keep it up and believe in God -things will change for the better-I have passed through the same stage as you,and I dont have a craze for money -though it is needed for a better living-I am happy with what I have and thank God that atleast I am better that many who dont have what little that I have.Dont be depressed my friend but carry on your good work-reward is there waiting for you one day -have faith.Yes people who have money long for more and more-the more they get the more they want-but are they happy-I dont think so -but you and I may not have everything in life but we are happy with what we are doing for others-cheer up and praise the Lord.
2 people like this
@ravinskye (8237)
• United States
5 Oct 07
My sister in law grew up poor. her family has always been on welfar and she grew up in a really crappy trailer park. you'd think that would make her appreciate what she has. nope. she trapped my brother in law into marriage by getting pregnant. now she spends all his money on spoiling their rotten kids. shes a "housewife" who dropped out of school, has no license, no job, and won't do housework. she doesn't cook or clean or barely watch their two kids. yet she thinks she deserves a new car. people go out of their way to help them and give them things and all they can say is "more more more". I don't think it matters where you come from, people just desire different things.
@silvernutbar (904)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I'm not sure it matters so much how much money you have growing up. It will affect some people and cause them to work hard, be dilligent, and make a fortune later in life.
Others will simply not care, and settle into a decently financed life in a comfortable zone.
Many others will end up as poor as their parents and may or may not make an effort to make more than that.
I have noticed though, that it is the wealthier people growing up that seem driven to maintain that life style.
I noticed a major divorce in my habits when I had a much higher paying job, than my current freelance writing. Now 20 bucks seems important and sometimes hard to come by. Back then 20 bucks was pocket change.
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
6 Oct 07
When I was working in food service, twenty bucks was nothing. Now that I am a self-employed college student, twenty bucks is my entire lunch budget for the week.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I think that growing up poor does make one more aware of money. However, it's more aware that you need money to survive. So some may grow up and learn to keep money and not spend it badly so as to be able to live well... Not to mention that if you grow up and get money you may not always spend it wisely! Because you're like OMG I HAVE MONEY. But you're definitely more aware of money.
1 person likes this
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I have said that a couple of times in my life--Oh My God, I actually have some money. I am not necessarily a wise spender--I buy a lot of books I don't need. On the other hand, I know that I can live without the facny car orr latest computer.
@raychill (6525)
• United States
6 Oct 07
my splurge is dvd's. A few here and there don't hurt! I mean, I pay my bills and buy food and take care of my cat first. Then I splurge a little on DVD's. So I hear ya. We all need splurge a little if we got it...and heck even if we don't...so long as it doens't put us in a hole!
1 person likes this
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I grew up poor and God, family and friends are way more important to me than money. I have a family heirloom someone was lusting after once and tried to offer me lots of money. I kept saying no and he said "everyone has their price" I told him that there are some things that are priceless and no amount of money or wealth in the entire world can buy it. He didn't get my heirloom and he didn't get the concept some people don't care about money.
@raijin (10345)
• Philippines
6 Oct 07
That's a great experience you shared my friend, as I also grew up from the a poor family and being the eldest of three children. I grew up in a neighborhood where poor families support one another, by helping each other.
Like you, I worked on foodchains because I want to share something for my family and also help support my parents as my father is the only one who brings up income. He worked abroad, with our mother being the one left to take care and look for us. So when I decided to work, I obliged myself to give my earnings mostly to her so she could use them in paying other bills.
I never thought much about having money in my pocket most of the time, infact, I'm always the ones my friend would invite me to relax and enjoy outside. I sometimes feel guilty, because some of them I haven't treat much whenever I have dough. I spend most of it on giving to those other friends of mine who are less-fortunate and are still living a life of "one-hit-one-eat" way of life.
1 person likes this
@rosie_123 (6113)
•
6 Oct 07
Interesting thoughts. I guess it has to make you more aware of money from an early age, because you have probably grown up hearing your parents talking about it, - maybe arguing about it, and wondering where their next meal was coming from. I guess in most people it might develop an urge to "save for a rainy day" and have secuirty, so they are never in the same position themselves. Certainly it probably tends to make them more aware of the value of money and how bad it is not to have it. From my own point of view - spolit little rich girl with the private school education (well - a least I admit it!), - I have never really thought about money - always had it - presume I always will! If I want something I buy it - and I've never been a saver or a frugal person. Not saying that is the right way to be - but it is the way I am! Guess everyone is different.
@morgandrake (2136)
• United States
6 Oct 07
But we still all love you despite that. *wink* I am always looking at the worst case scenrio when it comes to risking money, due to the fact that it was a constant worry; that and my father lost everything he owned in one business venture has really colored my willingness to take risks. There was a lot of fighting between mom and dad after the produce business went under.
He had to start the business because he got blackballed as an union supporter, and ironically it was one of mom's friends who wrote him all the bad checks that sunk his business. But it was all his fault that he lost her house as far as she was concerned. Go figure.
@miamilady (4910)
• United States
6 Oct 07
I think it makes us more "aware" of money, but not necessarily more interested in "making money".
I think, just like everything else in life, growing up poor affects people differently.
I didn't think of us as dirt poor, but I would say we were lower middle class. I think we had an adequate amount of money, but my father was a bit of a miser.
Money was always an issue in our home. My parents argued about it A LOT.
As an adult, I've come to thing that my father had (and still has) OCD. He was extremely concerned with putting money away and also with controlling the exependitures in the household. My mother on the other hand, was more of a "live in the moment" kind of person and didnt have the same philosophies about money.
Needless to say, all the fights over money certainly did affect me and my siblings. But, it affected each of us differently.
Two of us became stay at home moms. Another sister is a Judge and is financial more well off than the rest of us. It was important to her to be financially independant and be able to spend money when she wanted too.
My brother is a music teacher.
I think it taught 3 of us how to "make due" with the money we have and it taught my sister that if she wanted to spend money, she needed to earn it.
Good discussion. Thanks for thinking it up.
1 person likes this
@eachen2002 (889)
• United States
6 Oct 07
Well my mom grew up poor and she spends money like it water these days.You would never know she didn't have any when she was younger.
@jhanna (334)
• Philippines
6 Oct 07
I agree growing up poor or just below poverty level makes us aware of the value of money and it's importance in our lives.
Sure, if you have been poor as a kid, you would always be dreaming of becoming rich someday, when you can buy almost all the things you want and need.
You're not alone with this. Even the rich are not satisfied with what they have right now. Human beings are in nature have the insatiable hunger to want more. They say the more you have, the more you want.
But it's a good thing that growing up as poor gives us the drive and the motivation to be successful people.
1 person likes this
@wishme_luck (249)
• Philippines
6 Oct 07
well most of the people i known from poverty are striving hard to make money and save wisely.i think theres nothing wrong with that.. i think i more worried if i will suffer and worried about the next meal or where to find money for my next bill. its being responsible of everything in life..money is not everything but it can do a lot.and its a huge part in life.
1 person likes this
@ragini155 (56)
• India
6 Oct 07
growing up poor makes on know the true qorth of money. value the money and its ussage accordingly. But as far as carreer and hobiies go, i dont think that they are correlated.
However man what you think is really sweet, doing intellectual work and helping people. There are really few pwoplw who think like this.
@someonesmom (5761)
• Canada
5 Oct 07
Hi morgandrake,
I'm speaking from experience here, as far as growing up poor. I watched my widowed mom struggle to put food on the table, and to make ends meet. Today, as it turns out, I'm also widowed, and am the mom of a sixteen year old daughter. We definitely have our struggles, and I 'do' want so much more for her, as I'd hate to see her go through the hard times we've seen, once she's an adult. I don't have any desire to make a fortune, but would like to be much more comfortable than we currently are. Like you though, I'm interested in helping people, and in 'giving back' to those who've been so kind to us. I agree with what you've mentioned about 'a lot' of people who grew up financially well off, being very driven to achieve more and more financial success. Very interesting topic.
1 person likes this
