7 money habits that instantly expose whether someone grew up rich or poor

Ever notice how some people check the price of everything while others barely glance at the bill? After decades of observing colleagues, friends, and family members handle money, I’ve realized these habits aren’t random. They’re deeply rooted in how we grew up.

Money habits are like accents – you might not notice your own, but they tell a story about where you come from. And just like accents, they’re incredibly hard to shake, even when your circumstances change.

1. The way they look at restaurant menus

Here’s something I noticed during countless business lunches over my 35 years in insurance: people who grew up with money read menus from left to right – they look at what sounds good first, then check the price. Those who grew up counting pennies? We read from right to left, checking prices before we even consider whether we want the dish.

Even now, years into retirement with a comfortable nest egg, I still catch myself doing the price-check dance. Old habits die hard. My wife laughs when she sees me calculating the “value per ounce” of appetizers, but when you grew up in a house where your mother stretched every dollar to feed seven people, that mental math becomes second nature.

2. How they handle unexpected windfalls

Got a tax refund? Bonus at work? Here’s where backgrounds really show themselves.

People who grew up wealthy tend to invest windfalls or use them for planned purchases. They see extra money as an opportunity to grow wealth.

But those of us who grew up poor? We often spend it immediately – not because we’re irresponsible, but because deep down, we learned that money disappears if you don’t use it quickly. When you’ve watched your parents’ savings evaporate due to car repairs or medical bills, you internalize that money in hand is safer than money in the bank.

3. Their relationship with brand names

Want to spot someone’s financial upbringing? Watch how they react to generic brands.

Those who grew up rich often buy quality brands without thinking twice – not to show off, but because that’s simply what they know. Meanwhile, people from poorer backgrounds fall into two camps: either they completely avoid brand names (seeing them as wasteful), or they overcompensate by buying designer everything once they have money.

Growing up sharing a bedroom with two brothers, wearing hand-me-downs was just life. Even today, I get a little thrill from finding a good deal on store-brand cereal. My kids used to roll their eyes when I’d proudly announce how much I saved, but now I catch them doing the same thing with their own children.

4. How they talk about money (or don’t)

Here’s a fascinating paradox: wealthy families often discuss investments, assets, and financial planning openly. Poor families? Money talk is often limited to what we can’t afford.

In my childhood home, money conversations happened in hushed, stressed tones behind closed doors. My father would come home from his double shifts at the factory, and I’d hear my parents whispering about bills. Money equaled worry. It took me years to realize that healthy families actually discuss money without the anxiety soundtrack.

This silence around money in poorer families creates a cycle – we don’t learn about investing, compound interest, or wealth building because those conversations simply don’t happen. I only learned to budget properly after my kids were born and money was tight. Necessity became my teacher.

5. Their approach to bulk buying

Costco membership? That’s actually a wealth indicator, believe it or not.

Bulk buying requires two things poor families often lack: upfront cash and storage space. When you’re living paycheck to paycheck, spending $50 on toilet paper – even if it lasts three months – isn’t feasible. And when you’re in a small apartment, where do you put 48 rolls anyway?

People who grew up wealthy buy in bulk without thinking. Those who grew up poor often continue buying small quantities even when they can afford more, partly from habit and partly from a deep-seated fear of waste. What if you buy 20 pounds of rice and have to move? What if something happens and you need that money back?

6. How they respond to financial emergencies

When the car breaks down or the water heater dies, watch how people react. This tells you everything.

Those from wealthy backgrounds might be annoyed, but they handle it methodically – call insurance, transfer from savings, maybe use a credit card for points.

For those of us from poorer backgrounds, every emergency feels like a potential catastrophe. Even with an emergency fund now, I still feel that familiar stomach drop when unexpected expenses arise.

My mother was a master at creative problem-solving during tough times – bartering, payment plans, selling things we didn’t absolutely need. That resourcefulness is a skill, but it comes from a place of survival stress that never fully leaves you.

7. Their definition of “expensive”

Ask someone what qualifies as “expensive” and you’ll immediately know their background.

For some, a $5 coffee is nothing. For others, it’s an absurd luxury. These benchmarks get set in childhood and rarely adjust fully, even when income changes dramatically. I still remember my shock at a colleague casually mentioning his “affordable” $200 dinner. Meanwhile, I was internally calculating how many groceries that could buy.

After downsizing our home recently, I’ve discovered that experiences matter more than possessions. But it took me six decades to feel comfortable spending on experiences without guilt. That voice saying “that money could go toward something practical” – that’s not wisdom, it’s childhood programming.

Final thoughts

These habits aren’t character flaws or virtues – they’re adaptations to the environment we grew up in. The checking prices first, the emergency hoarding, the brand avoidance or obsession – they all made perfect sense in context.

The key isn’t to judge these habits in ourselves or others, but to recognize them for what they are: stories our past is still telling. Once you understand where these patterns come from, you can choose which ones still serve you and which ones you’re ready to rewrite.