NEWS
RELATIONSHIP
PARENTING & FAMILY
LIFE HACKS
About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy
AMPLIFY UPWORTHY is part of
GOOD Worldwide Inc. publishing
family.
© GOOD Worldwide Inc. All Rights Reserved.
AMPLIFY.UPWORTHY.COM / LIFE HACKS

If you relate to these 20 signs, you probably grew up poor — the list is as real as it gets

Sometimes, people think if they didn't have a TV, it meant they were poor, but for others, not being homeless was the ideal definition.
UPDATED NOV 27, 2024
Teenage girl wearing worn-out shoes. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Nick David)
Teenage girl wearing worn-out shoes. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Nick David)

Different generations have vivid childhoods and distinct ways to predict who had the more glamorous one. What was considered a luxury earlier doesn't hold as much importance in current times. Moreover, what used to be a necessity back then is probably a luxury today. Times have turned around and the way people are raising their kids is varied. Nevertheless, there has always been a question in the minds of many adults to know whether they grew up rich or poor. The tricky part is that the factors to identify the same are spaced out so much that it's confusing to determine. Sometimes, people think if they didn't have a TV, it meant they were poor, but for others, not being homeless was the ideal definition.

Poor family sitting and having basic meal. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Hispanolistic)
A lower-middle-class family sitting and having a basic meal. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Hispanolistic)

A Reddit user, u/Puzzled-Painter3301, shared a post asking people to reveal "a sign that someone grew up poor." With over 13,000 comments, several people pitched in about what it meant to have a poor childhood back in their days. From swearing by reusables to revamping stuff to an unbelievable extent, these responses are as vivid as they can get. Here are the top 20 signs you can look at and try to crack the mystery of whether you were poor while growing up or not.

1. Unusual hoarding


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

2. Reusing to the last stitch


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

3. Quantity over quality


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

4. Not having peak dental health


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

5. Efficiency over style


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

Child wearing worn-out shoes. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Ralfe Geith)
Child wearing worn-out shoes. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Ralfe Geith)

6. Never leave leftovers


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

7. Not owning appliances


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

8. Poverty 'toes'


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

9. Extreme financial literacy 


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

10. Reusing like a pro


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

Woman hoarding disposable plastic containers. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Karl Tapales)
Woman hoarding disposable plastic containers. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Karl Tapales)

11. Mixing and matching 


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

12. Not being able to pursue childhood hobbies


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

13. Feeling guilty to ask for help


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

14. Doing it all


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

15. Checking out prices before products


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

Complimentary toiletries from hotel. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Nadya So)
Complimentary toiletries from hotel. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images| Photo by Nadya So)

16. Labeling freebies as essentials


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

17. Survival over ambition


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

18. Finishing everything on the plate


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

19. Making do with what's available over preferences


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

20. Anxiety for the future


Comment
byu/Puzzled-Painter3301 from discussion
inAskReddit

 

POPULAR ON AMPLIFY UPWORTHY
MORE ON AMPLIFY UPWORTHY