#1
#2
#3
Redditor nicknamed WALLSTREETBRIDE, who started this discussion in the first place, told Bored Panda that what inspired them to take this question online was a random thought they had.
"I was thinking about how much our past shapes our present, and the relationship with money is one of the strongest examples of that. I was genuinely curious to see the common threads in people's experiences."
#4
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.
#5
#6
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.
Answering their own question, the redditor said, "I constantly check my bank account. It's not about enjoying the number; it's a fear-based habit, just making sure it's all still there."
Having a few mindful spending habits themselves, the redditor agrees that money-saving behaviors can benefit everyone, not only people with low income. That said, they believe it's important to distinguish healthy frugality from a scarcity mindset.
#7
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.
#8
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.
#9
"For those who are well-off, habits like repairing items, reducing waste, and avoiding debt are smart for building long-term wealth and are better for the environment. It’s about being resourceful," they said.
"However, the habits born from poverty often come with a heavy dose of anxiety and trauma. So while the actions might look similar, the feeling behind them is completely different. The goal for everyone should be to practice wise financial habits from a place of security, not a place of fear."
#10
#11
#12
As we all know, too much of a good thing can become harmful, and redditor believes the same thing can be applied to frugal habits.
"You take it too far when you're 'penny wise and pound foolish.' For example, buying the cheapest possible shoes that hurt your feet and wear out in three months, or avoiding a $100 car maintenance that leads to a $1,000 repair down the road."
#13
Still eat biscuits and gravy too
#14
#15
Lastly, the redditor wanted to leave our readers with a kind reminder.
"Anyone who is still struggling financially, know that things can get better. And for those who have made it to a more stable place but are still fighting those mental battles, be kind to yourself. It takes time to unlearn a lifetime of scarcity."
#16
#17
#18
#19
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.
#20
