While poverty is a complex issue with diverse experiences, people who grew up poor have many experiences in common. As well as the hard times that being poor brings, there are lots of opportunities to build skills for life. We take a look at 18 life skills people who grew up poor can relate to:
Making the Most of Limited Resources
Living with limited resources often fosters creativity and problem-solving skills. Individuals who grew up poor had to learn to stretch a dollar, find alternative solutions, and adapt to changing circumstances.
Determination
Facing scarcity, hardship, and limited opportunities often demands a strong will to keep going. Individuals who experience poverty may develop remarkable persistence and determination to overcome obstacles and create a better future.
Problem-Solving Under Pressure
Dealing with unexpected situations and limited timeframes can sharpen decision-making abilities and ability to act quickly when faced with problems. Thinking on their feet is something many poor people who grow up need to do, and they will keep this skill well into adult life.
Grit and Perseverance
Learning to overcome setbacks and bouncing back from adversity are critical skills people who grew up poor learn quickly. When the chips are down, the grit and perseverance poor people can show means developing resilience in their later years.
Empathy
Individuals who experience poverty first hand might develop a deeper understanding of the struggles and challenges others face in similar situations. Witnessing or facing hardship can cultivate compassion and empathy and enable more people to help others experiencing hardship.
Gratitude
Experiencing challenges can shift focus away from material possessions and towards the importance of relationships, community, and shared experiences. This reorienting of values can foster gratitude for the aspects of life that money cannot buy.
Budgeting and Managing Money
Knowing how to prioritize needs and track spending was a necessity when growing up poor, and they are vital skills for living an adult life. People who grew up poor would have seen their parents make difficult decisions around their spending, meaning they now have the skills to make informed financial decisions.
Independence
When parents worked long hours, they had to learn to do things for themselves, solving problems independently and relying on their resourcefulness. This could have meant getting dinner for themselves, doing homework without help, or finding odd jobs to help pay the bills.
Negotiation
Knowing how to advocate for themselves and negotiate better deals were essential skills for people growing up. They would have struggled to survive if they could not stand up for their rights and try to negotiate a good deal, whether it be the cost of new shoes or getting a pay rise. Even when poor people have money when they are older, they are used to negotiating everything they do.
DIY Skills
Developing good DIY skills is a great way to save money on a variety of household tasks and repairs, so these are likely to be skills that people who grew up poor have learned. From fixing the kitchen sink to mending torn clothes and decorating the home, poor people are likely skilled in home maintenance.
Time Management
Living with limited resources and juggling multiple responsibilities often demands efficient time management to meet basic needs and fulfill different roles. Knowing how to prioritize tasks, manage their time effectively, and get things done despite distractions is an essential skill learned by people who grew up poor.
Situational Awareness
Growing up poor often meant living in a poor area, which meant heightened awareness of their surroundings. With potential dangers around every corner, becoming street-smart and learning to navigate challenging situations was essential.
Finding Joy in Small Pleasures
Focusing on small joys can shift our attention away from negativity and cultivate a sense of gratitude for the good things in life, even when faced with challenges. For people growing up poor, this could have been getting a small present at Christmas and, as an adult, it could be getting a candy bar from your friend.
Understanding Needs Over Wants
When money is tight, evaluating what is an absolute necessity to spend money on is essential; otherwise, it can result in a lack of food, warmth, and clothing. This means that the things we need are put to one side to buy the essentials. In later life, being more mindful of your purchases means people who grew up poor will likely be less wasteful.
Strong Sense of Community
Recognizing the value of community was how many people who grew up poor managed to thrive in life. Leaning on others for support, whether in the form of making food for one another or calling on them for emotional support, poor people hold on to a strong sense of community.
Effective Money Management
Growing up with little money meant budgeting as much as possible so that every penny is accounted for and no money is wasted. Whether it be meal planning and budgeting for a grocery shop or saving money for vacations, people who grew up poor develop practical money management skills for the rest of their lives.
Appreciation for Second-Hand Items
Growing up poor meant rummaging through garage sales and thrift stores for clothes and household items. With little money to buy things brand new, poor people are not accustomed to luxury, a trait that carries on into later life even if people’s financial fortunes do turn around.
Recognizing the Value of Education
People who grew up poor may have experienced a poor education themselves, as they may have had to leave school early to support their household or could have had to skip school to help their family with younger siblings, for example. As poor people grow up, they value whatever education they can get and ensure their children get the best education possible.
