While some kids grew up throwing tantrums because their Porsche was the wrong color or feeling embarrassed to be seen in an older BMW (the horror!), I grew up walking. Everywhere. For miles. Uphill both ways, if you ask my guardian angel (my parents were MIA). At some point, I was lucky enough not to snag a second-hand bike from a church donation, and for a brief moment, I was living the dream—until the tire went flat, and my tin can bank laughed at the idea of affording a replacement. So, back to walking it was.
But here’s the thing: when you grow up dirt poor, you learn to appreciate every little thing. You settle for what’s workable, even if that means duct-taping your shoes together or eating rice in water with salt three times a day. Growing up with empty pockets was like a crash course in survival, resourcefulness, and a lot of improvisation. And while it wasn’t always fun, I’ve come to appreciate the lessons that shaped me. Here are nine powerful lessons I learned from growing up with a budget that could be summed up as “You’ve got more dust than dollars.”
1. The Value of a Dollar (And How to Squeeze the Life Out of It)
When you’re poor, every dollar is like a rare Pokémon—hard to find and valuable beyond belief. I knew the worth of a dollar before I knew how to spell my name. While other kids were spoiled with the latest gadgets, I was figuring out how to make that dollar stretch from now until kingdom come. Spoiler alert: sometimes, it involved not eating.
2. The Power of Resourcefulness (AKA Making a Feast Out of Fumes)
When your pantry looks more like an art installation called “The Echoing Shelf,” you learn to get creative. We could turn three ingredients into a five-course meal—well, maybe more like a one-course meal with creative plating. And when clothes got too small, we didn’t just toss them out. They became hand-me-downs, patched-up versions of their former selves, or—my personal favorite—fashionable rags.
3. The Importance of Hard Work (Because Even the Tooth Fairy Was Tight on Cash)
Growing up, I knew there was no magic money tree in the backyard (I checked, just to be sure). If I wanted something, I had to earn it. Whether it was doing chores, taking on odd jobs, or pulling out all the stops to win a school competition for a $10 prize, I was on it. The hustle was real, and it set the stage for a work ethic that still makes me roll my eyes when I see young, capable people trying to scam a few bucks by standing at the corner with a sign, asking for change. Get a job!
4. Appreciating the Simple Things (Like Candles and Matches)
Forget the latest toys or fancy vacations—if we had candles, matches, and aluminum cans, we were living the high life. Catching fireflies in a jar or having a picnic in the backyard (which was just dinner on the grass because we couldn’t afford an AC) were the highlights of my childhood. Those simple moments are still the ones I treasure most.
5. Pro Wings Shoes Were a Luxury (And I Got Bullied for Them)
While other kids paraded around in the latest Nikes, I was rocking a pair of Pro Wings. Getting a new pair of shoes was a luxury in my world. Of course, the privileged kids in my school often mocked me about my “fancy” footwear. But hey, those Pro Wings taught me to walk with my head held high—because when you’re laughed at for your shoes, you learn pretty quickly that confidence isn’t about the brand you wear, but how you wear it. And let’s be real: those shoes got me where I needed to go, even if it was the “poor” people’s shoes.
6. Empathy and Compassion (Because We All Could Use a Sandwich and Laugh)
Experiencing struggle up close and personal taught me a thing or two about empathy. I learned that when someone’s going through a tough time, they don’t always need advice—they might just need a sandwich and a laugh. Growing up with nothing made me quick to offer whatever I could to others, even if it was just a kind word or a joke about how I once screwed up cutting my hair and got a lopsided mohawk.
7. The Power of Community (Or How to Borrow Everything But the Kitchen Sink)
In our building, “Can I borrow…” was the start of every conversation. Sugar, cooking pots, rice, eggs—we shared it all. Our uptown apartment building wasn’t just a place to live; it was our survival network. I learned that no matter how little you have, there’s always enough to share, even if it’s just a laugh over how broke we all were.
8. Gratitude for What You Have (Even If It’s a 20-Year-Old TV)
Growing up poor taught me to be grateful for what I had, even if it was a hand-me-down from a stranger at the local church. Gratitude wasn’t about having the latest or the greatest—it was about appreciating the fact that the TV didn’t blow up when I turned it on. And hey, not causing a fire in the building was something worth celebrating.
9. The Strength to Overcome Anything (Including Life Without a Cell Phone)
If there’s one thing growing up poor taught me, it’s resilience. I learned to face challenges head-on, from the minor inconveniences like not having a cell phone until I was old enough to buy my own, to the bigger ones like figuring out how to pay for college with nothing but working two jobs and earning a scholarship. Growing up with nothing gave me the strength to overcome anything life throws my way—and to do it with a sense of humor intact.
People who grew up dirt poor tend to see life differently, with a deep appreciation for the little things that others might overlook. My experience gave me a one-of-a-kind education that taught me lessons money can’t buy. It shaped me into someone who knows the value of a dollar, appreciates the simple things, and has a sense of humor about the whole crazy journey. So, if you’re in the same boat or have been there before, remember that these lessons are your true wealth—because let’s face it, you can’t put a price on a good laugh, a kind heart, and the ability to eat rice in water with salt for every meal and not died.
