8 household habits that instantly reveal you grew up in a lower-middle-class home

There's a clear distinction between growing up in different socioeconomic classes. Your family's income can subtly shape your habits, particularly at home.

The weird thing is, many of these habits are so ingrained they persist long after addresses and incomes change. Case in point - there are several household habits that immediately reveal you hail from a lower-middle-class home.

We'll delve into 8 such habits in this article. So, buckle up and get ready for a fascinating journey recounting some common practices that might just reveal a bit more about your upbringing than you'd think.

1) Value for money

If there's one characteristic that seems pervasive among lower-middle-class families, it's an acute awareness of the value of money.

These families tend to create habits rooted in saving, stretching the dollar, and making sure nothing goes to waste. This trait is often demonstrated in the home through little habits that underscore the respect for money.

For instance, reusing groceries bags as trash liners, drying and reusing aluminum foil, and watering down dish soap to make it last longer. While these may seem like small acts, they provide clear indications of a certain upbringing focused around frugality.

The reasoning behind such habits is simple and born out of necessity - when every penny counts, you find ways to maximize the use of everything you have. It's a lifestyle of careful consumption and endurance, which often results in lifelong habits.

Growing up in a lower-middle-class home often means learning to appreciate the value of money, and it’s a lesson that tends to stick around, no matter where life eventually leads you.

2) Making do and mending

This one takes me right back to my childhood. Growing up, we didn't just discard things when they broke or wore out. You'd try to fix them first, no matter how small or large it was.

I remember my Dad sitting at the kitchen table, armed with a toolkit he'd had for as long as I could remember. Whether it was a leaky faucet, a frayed wire, or even a hole in my favorite pair of trainers, he'd work tirelessly until he fixed it.

This "do it yourself" attitude didn't stop at repairing items either. Our home was filled with wonderfully repurposed items. An old ladder became a bookshelf, tin cans turned into plant pots, and my childhood crib was transformed into a quirky loveseat.

These habits, forged from necessity, reflected the need to save where we could, to reuse and repurpose, rather than splurge on new things. And believe it or not, these are habits that I’ve carried into adulthood - a lasting testament to my lower-middle-class upbringing.

3) Home-cooked meals

In a lower-middle-class home, meals weren't just about feeding the family, but about stretching the budget and bringing everyone together. Hence, home-cooked meals dominated dinner tables across this class.

Did you know an estimated over 80% of American household meals are prepared at home? And the frequency of preparing home-cooked meals was particularly high among lower-middle-class households.

Whether it's leftovers creatively transformed into a new dish or delicious casseroles that could last the family a number of meals, food always seemed to go that extra mile. The habit of cooking at home not only reveals a sensible and economical lifestyle but also our capability to make the most of what we have.

This just goes to show, meals cooked with love and shared as a family, no matter how simple or elaborate, can result in more than just a fulfilled appetite. They become a symbol of our roots, and a culinary homage to our upbringing.

4) Resourceful recreation

Entertainment often took on a resourceful nature for those growing up in lower-middle-class homes. Instead of frequent trips to amusement parks, cinemas or shopping malls, entertainment was often creatively improvised.

Weekend pursuits involved reading books borrowed from the library, playing in local parks, or mastering the art of homemade crafts. Board games and backyard sports were also big on the list, entertaining us for hours without costing a dime.

Furthermore, vacation times didn't always mean jetting off to distant places. Instead, local attractions, camping trips, or visiting relatives became the go-to options for a family getaway.

These activities might not sound as flashy as their costlier alternatives, but they carve beautiful memories and nurturing family bonds while teaching us the value of inexpensive, simple joys.

5) Hand-me-down treasures

Growing up in a lower-middle-class home, you quickly learn to appreciate the value of hand-me-downs. From cardigans to bicycles, these items come with their own unique history - worn by, played with or thoroughly enjoyed by siblings or cousins before you.

What some might categorize as second-hand, we loved as pre-loved. Every item held a story, carrying the mark of those who had owned it before, making them less of an item and more of a heartfelt heritage.

Above all, these hand-me-downs were a lesson in sharing, recycling, and family bonding. So, every time you slip into that comfy sweater knitted by your grandmother, or ride the bike that three older siblings learned to balance on before you, know that a piece of your family's history lives on with you.

6) The saving jar

Back in the day, my family had what we affectionately called "the saving jar". This was a simple glass jar kept on the high shelf of our pantry, often filled to the brim with spare change and occasionally, a note or two.

Every time mum finished her grocery shopping and had some money left, into the jar it went. Anytime I or my brothers found some lost coins under couch cushions, we added it to the stash. It was our family collective piggy bank.

The saving jar wasn't just a place for money; it stored dreams. It was a way of teaching us the importance and value of saving towards something and, more importantly, working together as a family to reach a goal.

Be it a road trip, a new TV, or simply a treat for the family, the saving jar was always our fallback plan. And it was always a little celebration when we finally counted the money and found we'd reached our goal. In the end, it wasn't just about what we saved for; it was about the unity and cooperation that the saving jar taught us.

7) Precious public resources

In lower-middle-class homes, there is an ingrained appreciation for public services and resources. These are seen not just as community amenities, but as precious means to supplement what we might not afford otherwise.

Libraries, for instance, become cherished havens of learning and entertainment. The motto 'why buy when you can borrow?' rings particularly true. Similarly, public parks and community pools are great for leisure and recreation, without placing undue strain on the family budget.

Public services like these become lifelines, helping families save while also providing opportunities for growth, learning, and enjoyment. The reliance and respect for these public offerings tell a tale of resourceful living, a noteworthy habit of households in the lower-middle class.

8) Emphasis on experiences over things

The most telling habit gleaned from growing up in a lower-middle-class home is the emphasis put on experiences over material possessions. Life is less about owning the latest gadgets and more about fostering meaningful experiences and creating memories.

Whether it's an evening filled with home-cooked meals and laughter around the dining room table, or a simple family outing to the community fair, these moments of togetherness hold more value than any store-bought items.

In essence, they're reminders of love, family, resilience, and the simple joys of life. They uplift the importance of who we are and who we have in our lives, over what we have. Because at the end of the day, it's these palpable experiences and shared moments that we remember, cherish and hold dear, not the things we owned.