9 money phrases that instantly expose someone's lower-middle-class upbringing

Growing up, I spent countless Sunday dinners at my grandmother's house in Sacramento. She'd serve pot roast on her best china - the set she got as a wedding gift forty years earlier. During one of these dinners, a family friend mentioned they were thinking about investing in stocks. My grandmother's response stuck with me: "The stock market is just gambling for rich people."

Looking back that moment epitomises something I've been noticing for years. The way we talk about money often reveals far more about our upbringing than our current bank balance ever could.

After two decades of observing these patterns, I've noticed certain phrases that instantly signal someone's lower-middle-class roots. These aren't criticisms. They're observations about how our childhood experiences shape our financial mindset, often without us realizing it.

Here are nine such phrases. 

1. "Must be nice to have money"

This phrase usually comes with a slight eye roll or resigned sigh. Someone mentions their vacation to Europe, and boom - there it is.

The underlying message? Money is something other people have. It's a fixed resource distributed unfairly at birth, not something you can actively create or grow.

I used to say this myself until I realized it was keeping me stuck. Every time those words left my mouth, I was reinforcing the idea that financial success was for "them," not me.

2. "I could never afford that"

Notice the word "never"? It's absolute. Final. No room for possibility.

When someone from a lower-middle-class background sees something expensive, the immediate response is often this phrase. Not "I can't afford that right now" or "That's not in my budget" - but never.

This reveals a mindset where current circumstances feel permanent. If you can't afford something today, the assumption is you won't be able to afford it tomorrow either.

3. "Money doesn't grow on trees"

Every kid from a lower-middle-class family has heard this one. Probably multiple times a week.

While technically true (unless you're in the avocado business), this phrase teaches scarcity from childhood. It frames money as something rare and difficult to obtain, rather than something that flows and can be earned through value creation.

The wealthy families I've encountered through my work rarely use this phrase. They talk about money as a tool, not as a scarce resource to be hoarded.

4. "We're not the type of people who..."

Fill in the blank: invest in real estate, start businesses, hire housekeepers, fly first class.

This phrase creates an identity around financial limitations. It's not just about current resources - it's about who you fundamentally are as a person.

I've mentioned this before, but identity drives behavior. When you believe you're "not the type" to build wealth, you won't even try.

5. "Rich people are all crooks"

This generalization serves a psychological purpose. If wealthy people got there through dishonest means, then not having money becomes a moral victory.

Growing up, I heard variations of this constantly. It wasn't until I started reading behavioral psychology that I understood this was a protection mechanism. If rich equals bad, then struggling financially means you're good.

But here's what I've learned: wealth amplifies who you already are. Good people with money do good things. Bad people with money do bad things.

6. "I'll never be able to retire"

The resignation in this phrase always gets me. It's usually said with a bitter laugh, as if retirement is a luxury reserved for the elite.

What strikes me most is how this becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe retirement is impossible, you won't bother learning about compound interest, index funds, or other wealth-building strategies that could actually make it possible.

7. "That's highway robbery!"

Ever notice how people from lower-middle-class backgrounds often frame prices in moral terms? Something isn't just expensive - it's theft, a rip-off, or highway robbery.

This reveals a worldview where pricing is about fairness rather than market dynamics. The idea that something might be expensive because people willingly pay that price doesn't compute.

I catch myself doing this sometimes, especially at airports. But I've learned to reframe it: if the price seems high, maybe I'm not the target customer, and that's okay.

8. "You have to have money to make money"

This phrase particularly frustrates me because it contains both truth and limitation.

Yes, having capital makes building wealth easier. But using this as an excuse not to start? That's where the lower-middle-class mindset shows.

People who build wealth from nothing exist. They start small - selling items online, freelancing on the side, learning skills through free resources. They don't wait for money to make money. They start where they are.

9. "At least we have our health"

Don't get me wrong - health is invaluable. But this phrase often comes up as a consolation prize for financial struggles.

It implies you can have health or wealth, but not both. It's another either/or mindset that keeps people stuck.

The reality? Taking care of your health often requires money. Good food costs more than processed food. Gym memberships, preventive care, stress reduction - these things are easier with financial resources.

Wrapping up

Recognizing these phrases in ourselves isn't about shame or judgment. It's about awareness.

Our upbringing shapes our money mindset in profound ways. The phrases we heard around the dinner table become the soundtrack to our financial lives. But here's the thing - once you notice these patterns, you can start changing them.

I still catch myself slipping into these thought patterns sometimes. Old habits die hard. But now I pause, recognize the limiting belief, and consciously choose a different perspective.

The goal isn't to pretend you grew up differently than you did. It's to recognize that your past doesn't have to dictate your future relationship with money.

What phrases do you catch yourself saying? Which ones resonate with your experience? Awareness is the first step toward change, and change is always possible - regardless of where you started.