I grew up in a lower middle class family, and these 10 habits reveal it without fail
I have always believed that your youth leaves fingerprints over your habits – the kind that you don’t notice until you caught yourself on an old pot to use as storage or hesitate about splitting something ‘too chic’.
For me, those fingerprints tell a story about growing up in a lower middle class family.
It is not the kind of upbringing that you wear on your sleeve, but it appears in how you see the world, how you spend and what you appreciate.
It is in the way you let things stretch, how you find joy in the play store Treasure Hunts, or that automatic “do I really need this?” Filter that starts without permission.
These are not only peculiarities – they are customs, formed by necessity, which are still hanging around, even when life becomes a little more comfortable.
So here are 10 habits that remind me of my roots to this day. They are partly resilience, partly ingenuity and all the heart – guidance that have formed me into the person I am now.
1) Do
Growing up in a family from the lower middle class often means learning to do what you have.
The concept of economy is not just a trend or a lifestyle choice, it is often a necessity.
Those among us who grew up in families in the lower middle class are not strangers to the art of stretching a dollar. From reusing items to finding multiple applications for one thing, making was an essential part of our youth.
This deep -rooted habit is not only about financial caution, it is also about creativity, ingenuity and resilience. And even when the circumstances change and the socio -economic ladder is climbed, this habit often remains.
For example, we can still notice that we reuse old pots for storage or repairing clothes instead of throwing them away.
2) Value in sparing stores
Thrift Store Shopping was a normal part of my upbringing. It was not only a trendy thing to do, but rather a necessity to stretch the family budget. And I learned to appreciate it.
I clearly remember that my mother took me on a trip to our local second -hand store. We would spend hours with clothing with clothing, looking for the best deals.
It was like a treasure hunt and the satisfaction to find something beautiful and affordable was huge.
Even now, despite the means to shop in high-end stores, I still feel attracted to second-hand stores. I love the sensation of the hunt and the satisfaction to find value in something that others have overlooked.
This habit without a doubt reveals my lower middle class education.
3) Homemade meals
In families in the lower middle class, eating out is often a luxury that is saved for special occasions.
The norm is home -made meals, prepared with time, effort and lots of love.
Growing up in such an environment, the value of a home -made meal is deeply ingrained. It is not only the food that was great, but also the connection and binding it within the family.
This habit remains an important part of my life and reveals my lower middle class roots.
4) DIY mentality
Another habit that is deeply rooted in my lower middle class education is the mentality “Do it yourself”.
If you don’t have the means to hire someone to repair every small thing that breaks, you learn to do it yourself.
From repairing a leaking crane to restoring a torn dress, these tasks were treated in the family. This does not only save money; It also learns valuable practical skills and promotes a sense of self -reliance.
The DIY -the -self -mentality extends beyond the repair of things. It is about taking initiative, problem solving and getting the best out of what you have.
Even today, this approach influences my decisions and actions, a constant memory of my modest beginning.
5) Respect for hard work
Growing up in a lower middle class family, I was learned early to respect hard work.
This was not only about recognizing physical work, but also to understand the efforts that occur to make ends meet.
I saw my parents juggling jobs, chores and upbringing with non -repellent dedication. This brought me an in -depth respect for those who work hard, regardless of their function or social status.
This respect for hard work has formed my approach to my own career and interactions with others.
It is a habit that subtly reveals my upbringing in the middle class and continues to supervise my values and actions.
6) Cherishing simple pleasures
A habit that undoubtedly reveals my lower middle class upbringing is the cherishing of simple pleasures.
When extravagant vacations or expensive toys are not the norm, you learn to appreciate the smaller things in life.
A family game evening, a walk in the park or a homemade meal – these simple moments become occasions of joy and togetherness.
This habit has been a disguised gift. As I get older, I realize that these simple pleasures are often the most meaningful.
They taught me to delay, enjoy the moment and to appreciate the beauty in daily life.
Even now, in the midst of the hustle and bustle, I notice that I cherish these simple pleasures. They bring a sense of satisfaction that money cannot buy – a clear indication of my lower middle class roots.
7) Big dreams
Growing in a lower middle class family, resources are often limited, but that was not the size of our dreams.
I remember that I spent countless hours on proposing a better future, a better life.
I would dream to go to university, travel around the world and make a difference. These dreams were my escape, my motivation to strive for more.
And although those dreams often seemed far -fetched in the light of our financial reality, they were never fired. My parents encouraged them and feed my conviction that I could achieve everything I focus on.
These dreams played an important role in shaping who I am today. They pushed me to work harder, to persist and never establish.
Nowadays, while I live some of those dreams, they serve as a constant memory of where I come from and how far I have come.
8) To hug economy, no poverty
An interesting habit that is derived from my upbringing of the lower middle class is the concept that being economical is not synonymous to be poor.
It simply means making conscious decisions about where to spend and to save.
This mentality was not born out of deprivation, but rather out of the need to manage resources wisely. We have learned to distinguish between needs and wishes, a skill that is valuable to everyone, regardless of their financial status.
Even today, with a more comfortable life, I still notice that I practice this economy. It is not because I have to, but because it makes sense.
It is proof of my lower middle class roots and one that often surprises those who equal economy with scarcity.
9) appreciate education
Growing up in a lower middle class family, education was always emphasized as the key to upward mobility.
It was seen as an investment, a way to a better future.
The importance of doing well at school, the pursuit of higher education and constant learning was ingrained in me at a young age.
This focus on education was not only because we wanted to secure a good job or earn a decent income. We wanted to broaden the horizon, understand the world and strengthen ourselves.
Even today, this deep -rooted belief in the power of education influences my decisions and attitudes.
10) Gratitude and resilience
The greatest habit that I have worn from my lower middle class upbringing is a mix of gratitude and resilience.
It means appreciating what you have, while you also have the power to overcome challenges.
When we grow up, we didn’t have everything we wanted, but we learned to appreciate what we had. This brought a sense of gratitude that stay with me to this day.
At the same time, confronted with financial limitations and setbacks to me resilience. It taught me to bounce back, despite the opportunities to continue.
This combination of gratitude for what I have and resilience in the light of adversity is perhaps the most determining habit of my lower middle class education.
It has formed my character, my approach to life, and continues to lead me on my journey.
Last thoughts
You know, I thought habits such as reusing old pots or hunting bargains were just survival tactics from my past.
But the truth is that they are more than that. They are a route map of where I have been and the values that I produce – recovery, gratitude and appreciation for the simple things.
Growing up on the lower middle class did not define me, but it has taught me lessons that I will never forget. It showed me how to dream bigger than my circumstances, to find beauty in daily and to hold on to the people and experiences that matter the most.
Of course there were challenges, but those challenges built a kind of resilience that you cannot buy.
And if there is one thing that I have learned, it is this: the habits with which you grow up not only form your past – they keep coming to remind you of everything you have overcome.