People Who Grew Up In Middle Class Families Usually Learned 9 Old-Fashioned Lessons Before Everyone Else
DukiPh / ShutterstockOur socioeconomic status can easily change several times over the course of our lives, but the class you grow up in is highly influential in shaping who you become, as it affects the way you think about yourself and the world around you in big ways.
Anyone who grew up in the middle class had the interesting experience of not being completely broke, but not being wealthy either. Their family wasn’t immune to economic struggles, and they had to live frugally in a way some others didn’t. This led them to develop certain behaviors early in life that people from better-off families didn’t pick up on so young.
People from middle-class families learned these 9 lessons before other people did
1. You need to be able to rely on yourself
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It can feel a bit ironic to find out that some of the richest people who are thought of as the world’s greatest success stories didn’t actually start at the bottom. Instead, they had certain privileges or advantages that made it easier for them to get to where they are now, and they had more support available when things went wrong.
Middle-class kids experience something completely different. Their parents had to solve their own problems and be independent because there was no one for them to fall back on. Even if these kids make more money later in life, they’re still likely to have a self-reliant spirit and be able to do things themselves instead of expecting someone else to fix everything for them.
2. It’s better to take good care of what you already have
Upper-class folks don’t really see a reason to hold onto things for as long as they can. If their car breaks down or their phone glitches, replacing it isn’t a big deal.
It’s different for people in the middle class who can’t afford to make those big purchases on a regular basis. Some things just can’t be fixed, but it usually costs less if something can be. And the best way to ensure that as few things as possible need to be replaced, or even repaired, is to treat your things well. It’s not always the most convenient thing to do, but it really does pay off in the long run.
3. Just because someone looks rich, that doesn’t mean they are
The old adage that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover has been around for so long for a reason. It’s easy to look at someone who lives in a big house or drives a nice car and assume they’re doing great financially, but that isn’t always the case.
This is where people’s spending habits come into play. Even if they make a lot of money, they may never be wealthy if they spend it all right away, since they don't build up sustainable savings. Middle-class kids understand this important distinction, and they know they can’t take anyone’s status at face value.
4. Having more money or a fancier job doesn’t make someone better than anyone else
Our society definitely places a higher value on certain professions than others, and it’s usually the jobs that traditionally come with higher salaries. White-collar professionals with good incomes are placed on a pedestal while everyone else is more or less ignored.
If someone grew up watching their parents work hard for a smaller paycheck, they know that a bigger paycheck has nothing to do with a person’s character. Research has shown that people with more money might actually struggle with empathy and making ethical choices, so there’s no reason to treat them like they’re different from the average person.
5. You have to make strategic purchases
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Growing up in a middle-class family doesn’t mean that you don’t have the means to buy anything, but it does change your perspective. When there isn't endless money to go around, you learn about why you should save before making some purchases and why you don’t have to buy something right away just because you want it.
Seemingly small actions like waiting for sales and shopping around to compare different prices can save you a lot of money over time. This is a mindset that’s unique to middle-class kids because those who grew up wealthier just didn’t have to think about that.
6. Delayed gratification is worth it even if it’s not fun
It’s difficult not to buy the things that you really want, but some people learned about the power of waiting early on. Modern technology has made it easy for everyone to get what they want in seconds, but you can’t apply that philosophy to financial decisions.
Waiting to make a purchase until you have more money saved up or can even get a better deal helps you build a more stable future, both financially and personally. People who didn’t have the funds to buy whatever they wanted on demand as kids witnessed the power of delayed gratification sooner than others.
7. The effort you put in is what matters most
Have you ever noticed that the people who could be classified as prodigies are often the ones working in powerful positions with big paychecks? Meanwhile, ordinary people who make up most of the workforce are typically recognized as hard workers rather than as some kind of geniuses.
Middle-class families put less stock in the idea that some people are more special than others and that you can get farther in life based on your skills alone. They’re more focused on showing up consistently and giving their all in whatever they do, which has been shown to lead to success.
8. There’s no amount of money that’s too small to save
It’s not always easy to see the value in putting an extra $50 into your savings account instead of just spending it, or to time your laundry so you’re as energy-efficient as possible and save a few dollars in the process. When it’s so little, it doesn’t seem significant.
However, saving money is a powerful way to prepare for anything bad that could happen and to reduce the stress you feel, so it does make a difference. No one saves money by waiting until they can put a substantial amount aside. Little things add up until they aren’t really that little anymore, which these people understand well.
9. Debt is a real thing you have to face eventually
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Taking out a loan or swiping a credit card can feel almost magical because it’s like you’re buying something without having to actually pay for it. People from the middle class know that’s just a temporary feeling, though, because bills will come in demanding that the debt be paid.
If someone doesn’t fully understand debt, they might not know how important it is to pay it off or how to use it sparingly. Upper-class families can make big purchases in full, but middle-class families rely on paying a little at a time, which teaches their kids this lesson.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and Journalism who covers news, psychology, lifestyle, and human interest topics.
