Our socio-economic status can easily change several times over the course of our lives, but the class you grow up in has a huge impact on shaping who you become because it affects your life. the way you think about yourself and the world around you in big ways.
Anyone who grew up middle class had the interesting experience of not being completely bankrupt, but not rich either. Their family was not immune to economic struggle, and they had to live frugally in a way that others did not. This led them to develop certain behaviors early in life that people from wealthy families had not picked up at such a young age.
People from middle-class families learned these nine lessons before other people did
1. You have to be able to trust yourself
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It can feel a bit ironic to discover that some of the richest people, who are seen as the world’s greatest success stories, didn’t really start at the bottom. Instead, they had certain privileges or advantages that made it easier for them to get where they are today, and they had more support available if something went wrong.
Middle-class children experience something very different. Their parents had to solve their own problems and be independent because there was no one to fall back on. Even if these children earn more money later in life, they will likely still have a self-reliant spirit and be able to do things themselves rather than expecting someone else to solve everything for them.
2. It’s better to take good care of what you already have
Upper class people don’t really see a reason to hold on to things for as long as possible. If their car breaks down or their phone breaks down, replacement is no problem.
It’s different for middle-class people who can’t afford to make big purchases regularly. Some things just can’t be fixed, but… it usually costs less if something can be done. And the best way to ensure that as few things as possible need to be replaced or even repaired is to take good care of your belongings. It’s not always the most convenient thing to do, but it really pays off in the long run.
3. Just because someone looks rich doesn’t mean he or she is
The old saying 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 well financially, but that’s not always the case.
This is where people’s spending habits come into play. Even though they make a lot of money, they may never get rich if they spend it all at oncebecause they do not build up sustainable savings. Middle-class children understand this important distinction, and they know that they cannot simply accept anyone’s status.
4. Having more money or a better job doesn’t make someone better than anyone else
Our society certainly places more value on certain professions than others, and they tend to be the ones that traditionally come with higher salaries. White-collar professionals with good incomes are put on a pedestal, while everyone else is more or less ignored.
If someone grew up watching their parents work hard for a smaller salary, they know that a larger salary has nothing to do with a person’s character. Research has shown that people with more money actually have difficulty with empathy and making ethical choices, so there is no reason to treat them as if they are different from the average person.
5. You need to make strategic purchases
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Growing up in a middle-class family doesn’t mean you don’t have the means to buy something, but it does change your perspective. When endless amounts of money aren’t available, you’ll learn why you should save before making a purchase and why you don’t have to buy something right away just because you want it.
Seemingly small actions, like waiting for a sale and shopping around to compare different prices can save you a lot of money in the long run. This is a mentality unique to middle-class kids, because those who grew up wealthier simply didn’t have to think about it.
6. Delayed gratification is worth it, even if it’s not fun
It’s hard not to buy the things you really want, but some people learned early about the power of waiting. Modern technology has made it easy for anyone to get what they want in seconds, but you can’t apply that philosophy to financial decisions.
Wait to make a purchase until you have saved more money or can even get a better deal helps you build a more stable future, both financially and personally. People who didn’t have the money to buy whatever they wanted on demand as children were more likely to witness the power of delayed gratification than others.
7. The effort you put in is the most important thing
Have you ever noticed that the people who can be classified as child prodigies are often the ones who work in powerful positions and get high salaries? Meanwhile, ordinary people, who make up the bulk of the workforce, are generally seen as hard workers and not some kind of geniuses.
Middle-class families place less value on the idea that some people are more special than others and that you can get ahead in life based on your skills alone. They are more focused on showing up consistently and giving their all in whatever they do, and that has been true appears to lead to success.
8. There is no amount of money too small to save
It’s not always easy to see the value of putting an extra $50 into your savings account instead of just spending it, or of timing your laundry to be as energy efficient as possible and save a few dollars in the process. If it’s that little, it doesn’t seem significant.
However, save money is a powerful way to prepare for anything that might happen and reduce the stress you feel, so it really makes a difference. No one saves money by waiting until they can put a substantial amount of money aside. Small things add up until they aren’t so small anymore, which these people understand well.
9. Debt is something you will eventually have to deal with
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Taking out a loan or using a credit card can feel almost magical, because it’s like buying something without actually having to pay for it. However, middle class people know that this is only a temporary feeling as bills will come demanding the debt be paid.
If someone doesn’t fully understand debt, they may not know it how important it is to pay it off or how to use it sparingly. Upper-class families can pay for major purchases in full, but middle-class families rely on paying a little bit at a time, which teaches their children this lesson.
Mary-Faith Martinez is a writer with a bachelor’s degree in English and journalism, covering news, psychology, lifestyle and human interest topics.
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