15+ Surprising Luxuries for Those Who Grew Up Poor
Disclaimer: When you buy from links on our site, we may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more
Coming from humble beginnings can shape our perceptions of what’s possible. The question is asked: “People that grew up poor, what’s one thing you do now that you thought before was only for ‘rich’ people?” Join us as we explore inspiring stories of personal growth and triumph, delving into the newfound possibilities that come from breaking free from limiting beliefs. Through these shared experiences, we gain a deeper appreciation for the power of determination and the transformative journey from scarcity to abundance.
Purchases
To start, one person shared, “Buy something just because I want to. I’m not very materialistic, so it doesn’t happen often, but once in awhile, I see a piece of jewelry or an interesting book or something I think a friend would like and buy it. Growing up, I thought only rich people could buy things they didn’t actually need.”
From Blah to Bliss: Transform Your Life!
Are you tired of putting your goals on the back burner? Imagine taking decisive steps that not only help your dreams come true but also allow you to be the incredible mom you aspire to be. Your first step towards refocusing on your goals starts here. Let’s dive in!
Get your FREE 5-Day Email Launchpad – just 5 minutes a day!
Another person said, “Buy something on impulse without checking my bank account balance first.”
Cars and Traveling
A comment was, “Run the air conditioning in the car. My mom always said it burned gas.”
A second comment was, “Having two vehicles. Both of mine are used, but I remember my parents making do with one heap.”
Investing
Dining Out
A user commented, “Eating at Olive Garden and Red Lobster. That was the epitome of fine dining growing up poor.”
A second user replied, “Appetizers and dessert at restaurants.”
Home Ownership
One comment was, “Always thought owning a house was for rich people. I still don’t own a house.”
Another comment was, “I grew up in a trailer, and I thought that everyone that lived in a house was rich. I live in a house now. Definitely not rich. LOL”
Higher Education
Saving for Retirement
Household Items
A most-liked comment was, “Owning a washer and dryer. Used to help grandma do hand laundry, run the clothes through a wringer, and hang them on a clothesline.”
Another comment was, “Having tissues and paper towels consistently.”
Buying Brand New Items
One user said, “Buy new books. Until the age of like 17, I’d never owned a brand new book, aside from the workbooks for school.”
Another user added, “Buying anything new, really. I grew up with second-hand (or even more-hand) everything. From clothes to furniture. I still buy a lot of second-hand items, even books. But every now and then I “splurge” on something brand new. It’s still special to me. Especially since I’m in no way rich or comfortable financially.”
Health Insurance
One person shared, “Going to the doctor when I don’t feel good.”
Another person said, “Being able to go to the dentist and having insurance to pay for a portion of it.”
Vacations
A user replied, “Travel on airplanes instead of long road trips.”
A second user commented, “Traveling abroad.”
A third user added, “My wife and I went to Martha’s Vineyard 2 summers ago. We both had never been, even though it was not far away. We always thought it was just a rich people’s playground. Turns out for $30 each, you can just take the ferry over there and hang out all day.”
Expensive Hobbies
A comment was, “When I was 3, I found a guitar in someone’s garbage. After playing with a broken guitar as much as I could, I wanted to get a working one, but I thought it was just a Rich people thing(famous rock stars only), so I never asked my mom. I’m 34, and I play guitar now. It’s pretty fun.”
Buying Habits
One person shared, “Buying groceries without checking specials or clipping coupons.”
Another person added, “Buy the brands my family likes instead of what’s on special that week. We always have the same toilet paper and toothpaste. It’s great.”
A third person said, “I go grocery shopping whenever I feel like it, not just twice a month when the fridge is completely empty. And I don’t worry about the total on the register or if every single item is on sale or not. Food shopping as a kid was sooo stressful, and sometimes embarrassing when you have to put things back.”
Spa or Wellness Treatments
One popular comment was, “Yep. Getting nails done – mani and pedi. Facials (only most recent, but I have rosacea, so I view it as medical more than anything).”
Another popular comment said, “I now buy expensive face creams. I absolutely love the confidence that amazing skin gives me.”
Access to Technology
A user replied, “Home computers that you can play Doom and Wolfenstein on.”
A second user said, “How many people in here grew up with family/friends who would only make a long-distance phone call in the evening because it was cheaper? Of course, this was back when people only had landlines and no cell phones.”
Events and Activities
Someone said, “Go to concerts, get good seats (not lawn). Buy more than one beer while I’m there and buy merch.”
Hiring Professional Services
One person shared, “hiring cleaning people every 2 weeks.”
Another person added, “Getting a house cleaning. I’m not rich. I do ok. But I have a repetitive motion injury in my dominant arm. I can’t do that cleaning and scrubbing for long before it starts to hurt.”
Pet Care
Finally, someone said, “I grew up REALLY poor, like squirrel soup poor, so pretty much everything was for rich people only, but as a kid, taking an animal to a vet was literally a shock to me when my neighbor’s dog got sick and off it went to the vet. I remember thinking, “I didn’t know they were rich.”
Source: Reddit
10 Exceptionally Aggravating Things The Boomer Generation Says All The Time
10 Annoying Things The Boomer Generation Says Daily Millennials and Gen Z often want them just to SHUT UP! So, What is something annoying the boomer generation always says to the younger generation?
10 Places Women Always Want To Avoid When Going On a Date
10 Places Women Always Want To Avoid When Going On a Date– Is there a place where you would never go on a date? After someone recently asked the women of Reddit for examples of these places, these are the top-voted destinations to avoid.
21 Crucial Items You’ll Kick Yourself for Not Holding Onto in 40 Years
21 Crucial Items You’ll Kick Yourself for Not Holding Onto in 40 Years – In 40 years, what will people be nostalgic for?
10 Things Boomers Passionately Dislike About Modern Society
10 Things Boomers Passionately Dislike About Modern Society – The list could probably go on forever. You might agree with some.
10 Movie Moments It Became Obvious That a Movie Ran Out of Budget
Have you ever watched a movie and thought, ” What did they run out of money?” 10 Movie Moments It Became Obvious That a Movie Ran Out of Budget
As a full-time working mom of three, I know what it’s like to feel like life is out of balance and out of control.
While I don’t have it all figured out, I am committed to sharing helpful tips and tricks with other mommas who are ready to break free from negativity, ditch mom guilt, & finally, live life on their own terms.