She Strengthens

The Power of Upbringing: How Our Parents Shape Our Spending Habits

Growing up, we’re often told that we’re becoming more like our parents. While this may seem like a cliché, it’s surprisingly true – especially when it comes to our spending habits. Our parents’ behaviors, values, and financial decisions can have a lasting impact on how we manage our own money.

Learning from Experience

As I reflect on my own upbringing, I realize that my parents’ habits have influenced my spending decisions in significant ways. For instance, I never developed a taste for soda because it was rarely available in our household. Similarly, I never felt the need to subscribe to cable TV or buy expensive holiday decorations because they weren’t part of our family’s traditions.

The Habits We Adopt

Our parents’ spending habits can shape our own in both positive and negative ways. While we may adopt some of their best practices, we may also pick up some of their worst. In my case, I’ve inherited a tendency to avoid buying certain items that were scarce or discouraged in my childhood home. Here are 15 things I don’t buy because of my upbringing:

Food and Drink

• Soda: Rarely available in our household, I never developed a taste for it.
• Beef: As a Hindu household, beef was off-limits, and we opted for less expensive meats or fish instead.
• Takeout: With my mom’s emphasis on cooking at home, takeout was a rare treat.
• Sweets: We didn’t have a steady supply of sweets at home, so I never developed a sweet tooth.

Entertainment and Leisure

• Cable package: Without cable TV at home, I never felt the need to subscribe to it as an adult.
• Electronic games: Board games were the norm in our household, and I still prefer them today.
• Booze: We didn’t have a “pick up a bottle on the way home” culture, so I don’t buy alcohol regularly.

Lifestyle and Habits

• Landlines: With my mom’s decision to ditch our landline in favor of cell phones, I never saw the need to invest in one.
• Holiday decorations: We kept things simple and didn’t go overboard with decorations.
• Magazine subscriptions: We didn’t have a stack of magazines at home, so I never developed the habit of subscribing to them.
• “Just for fun” clothes: Shopping was always purpose-driven, not a leisure activity.
• Halloween costumes: We made our own costumes or found creative alternatives instead of buying them.

Environment and Transportation

• Bottled water: With environmentally friendly parents, I opted for tap water instead.
• New cars: We often had older or used cars, so I followed suit when buying my first car.

The Takeaway

While our parents’ habits can shape our own spending decisions, it’s essential to recognize that everyone’s experiences are unique. What works for one person may not work for another. By understanding our own upbringing and the values we’ve inherited, we can make more intentional financial decisions that align with our goals and values.