If you grew up lower-middle-class, you probably still have these 8 money habits without realizing it

Growing up, my family's financial reality was simple: we had enough, but just barely. There was always food on the table and a roof over our heads, but vacations meant camping at the state park, and back-to-school shopping happened at discount stores during end-of-summer sales.

Even after spending nearly 20 years as a financial analyst, I discovered something surprising during one of my monthly "money dates" with my finances. Despite my professional expertise, I was still carrying money habits from my lower-middle-class childhood that no amount of financial knowledge seemed to shake.

These habits aren't necessarily bad, but they can hold you back from building the financial life you deserve. And if you grew up in a similar environment, you might recognize yourself in some of these patterns.

1. Buying the cheapest option by default

Do you automatically reach for the store brand at the grocery store? Or spend hours comparing prices to save a few dollars, even when time is more valuable than the savings?

This was me for years. I'd spend my lunch break comparing prices on a $30 purchase while billing clients hundreds per hour for my expertise. The mental math didn't add up, but the habit was so ingrained I couldn't see it.

Growing up, buying the cheapest option wasn't just smart, it was survival. But when you're no longer living paycheck to paycheck, this habit can actually cost you more in the long run. That cheap pair of shoes you replace every six months? They end up costing more than the quality pair that would last for years.

The key is learning to evaluate value, not just price. Sometimes the cheapest option is the best choice. Sometimes it's not. But making that decision consciously rather than automatically is where real financial wisdom lives.

2. Feeling guilty about spending on yourself

When I finally bought myself a proper ergonomic desk chair, the guilt hit me immediately. That money could have gone to savings, to charity, to literally anywhere but my own comfort.

Sound familiar?

When you grow up watching your parents sacrifice their needs for the family, spending on yourself feels selfish, even irresponsible. You might justify work clothes or necessary repairs, but anything that feels like a "want" triggers immediate guilt.

Here's what I learned after years of analyzing spending patterns: people who invest in themselves thoughtfully tend to build more wealth over time.

That desk chair? It's helping me work more comfortably and productively. That gym membership you keep talking yourself out of? It could save you thousands in future health costs.

3. Hoarding cash in low-interest accounts

For the longest time, I kept way too much money in my checking account. Seeing that balance gave me a sense of security that no investment portfolio could match. Even as a financial analyst who understood compound interest and inflation, I couldn't shake the need to see accessible money.

This habit comes from witnessing financial instability. Maybe you watched your parents scramble to cover an unexpected car repair or stress about making rent. That fear of not having immediate access to cash becomes part of your DNA.

While emergency funds are essential, keeping excessive cash in low-interest accounts means you're actually losing money to inflation.

The solution? Start small. Move just a portion of your excess cash to a high-yield savings account or conservative investment. Build your comfort with it gradually.

4. Avoiding "rich people" financial tools

Credit cards, investment accounts, financial advisors, these all felt like things for "other people" when I was starting out. Even with my finance background, I had this underlying belief that certain financial tools weren't meant for people like me.

Growing up lower-middle-class often means absorbing subtle messages about what's "for us" and what's not. Maybe your family distrusted banks or viewed the stock market as gambling for rich folks.

But here's the truth: these tools aren't just for the wealthy, they're how people build wealth. Used responsibly, credit cards offer protection and rewards. Investment accounts help your money grow. Financial advisors can provide valuable guidance at many income levels.

5. Stockpiling when things go on sale

My pantry used to look like I was preparing for an apocalypse. If pasta went on sale, I'd buy ten boxes. Shampoo half off? I'd grab six bottles. The irony? Half the time, things would expire before I used them.

This scarcity mindset makes sense when money is tight and sales are rare opportunities. But when you have steady income and adequate savings, this behavior ties up money in stuff you don't need yet, taking up physical and mental space.

I've learned to ask myself: Will I actually use this before it expires? Do I have space for it? Could this money work harder elsewhere? Sometimes bulk buying makes sense. Often, it's just anxiety dressed up as frugality.

6. Never negotiating prices or asking for raises

For years, I accepted whatever salary was offered, whatever price was listed. Negotiating felt presumptuous, like I was asking for something I didn't deserve. It took me until age 35 to pay off my student loans partly because I didn't negotiate my starting salary or ask for raises early in my career.

When you grow up grateful for whatever you can get, asking for more feels ungrateful, even greedy. But employers expect negotiation. Many prices are flexible. Not asking means leaving money on the table that was already allocated for you.

7. Keeping money secrets from shame

I used to hide my financial struggles even from close friends. Credit card debt felt like a moral failing. Taking years to build an emergency fund seemed embarrassing compared to colleagues who came from money.

This shame around money keeps us isolated and prevents us from learning and growing. When we don't talk about money, we miss opportunities to learn from others' experiences and realize we're not alone in our struggles.

Opening up about money doesn't mean sharing your bank balance with everyone. It means being honest about your goals and challenges with trusted friends or professionals who can offer support and guidance.

8. Planning only for survival, not growth

My financial goals used to stop at "pay the bills" and "don't go into debt." Planning for growth, for abundance, for actually thriving financially? That felt like tempting fate.

When your childhood financial planning meant stretching to the next paycheck, thinking beyond survival feels almost dangerous. What if you jinx it? What if planning for more means losing what you have?

But staying in survival mode when you're no longer just surviving keeps you stuck. Growth requires intentional planning, setting goals beyond the basics, and believing you deserve more than just getting by.

Moving forward

Recognizing these patterns in myself was uncomfortable but liberating. These habits served a purpose once, they helped our families survive and taught us resilience and resourcefulness. But holding onto them when they no longer serve us limits our financial potential.

Change doesn't happen overnight. I still catch myself checking the price of store brand pasta first. Sometimes I still feel that flutter of guilt when I invest in something just for me. But awareness is the first step.

Pick one habit that resonates most strongly with you. Work on that one consciously for a month. Notice when it shows up, question whether it's serving you now, and practice a new response. Remember, you're not betraying your roots by growing beyond them. You're honoring the sacrifices that got you here by making the most of your opportunities.