If you grew up poor, what frugal habits have you kept now you're more comfortable?

[OhamIreally]

Mine is that I always buy in the sale. I bought dresses from Monsoon a couple of years ago and paid full price as they were for a wedding DD and I were going to. Saw them in the sale a short while later and returned them and bought them again in the sale (we hadn't yet worn them and the labels were still on) as I couldn't bear to "waste" the difference.
My luxury is that I (pre-Covid) eat out quite a bit but even then I make sure I use vouchers/gourmet society.

I always shop around for the cheapest price and try and find discount codes when shopping online.

Lessons from childhood mean I’ve learnt most to save for rainy days, take any job if needed, live within my means and to limit my family to what I can afford so they never experience a poor childhood. It stays with you forever I’ve found.

I’m good with food. I can make anything with cheap veg and really cheap cuts of meat and can stretch things to last days.

I have kept my old battered beat up car...I paid cash for it and it was 2000 £ 5 years ago even then it was 15 years old.! I could go out and get a new one any time I liked but I won;t! I think its just my mindset really as I have seen people loose things via repossession and its mine bought and paid for and I dont owe anyone anything.Its a great feeling! to me anyway!

I still do most of it, like you I only buy clothes in a sale or second hand and when I need them and making sure we meal plan so nothing goes to waste and use aldi for most food.

I turn the thermostat down, not that we had central heating growing up. In fact we didn't have carpets either, just lino; it was cold (NE Scotland).

Having ridiculous amounts of food in the house, it's currently serving me very well!

Don't buy anything that is disposable. Cheap fast fashion and furniture made of weetabix is an expensive way to live. Buy good quality, not in fashion so it doesn't date but buy to last.

When I was a child and wanted the heating in my Dad used to tell me to put a jumper in first. I do this with my kids now.

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Having extra food in the back of the cupboard - few tins of tomatoes, beans etc, pasta, rice, bag of flour, yeast. My mum was self-employed so income fluctuated and some weeks we relied on that, and just bought a few fresh veggies and milk. Restocked on the next 'good' week.
I also make my own oat milk now, costs pennies.

I keep old envelopes and cut them up to use as shopping lists.

I also never look at anything in clothes shops that isn't on the sale rail. You can't want it if you don't see it

We both save and buy the best quality big ticket items we can.

Clothing is charity shop or sales, and I sew so I modify and repair as necessary.

Food too. We eat better than we did, but we don't waste anything, leftovers, batch makes etc

We weren’t really poor as kids but my parents were frugal. It’s had the opposite effect on me-for example. the heating goes on whenever I feel slightly cold, it was miserable feeling cold all through the winter, waking up to ice on the windows and being able to see your own breathe (old house). We also only had hot water for our baths so face and hand washing were done in cold water and when I was in my teens I had awful greasy hair and had to wash it in cold water every morning or boil a kettle.

Yes to sale shopping too. I never ever pay full price. I shop out of season. It baffles me that anyone wouldn’t do this especially now that internet shopping makes it so easy:

I don’t go shopping as a leisure activity. Walking round the shops if I don’t need anything isn’t a fun way to spend time, it’s just creating a want where none existed before. No browsing. I shop if I need to replace something.

I can't replace anything until it literally falls to bits.
And I can't buy anything unless I need it rather than want it.

Radn how rude are you! Op is not lying or a cheeky fucker! If you have a receipt you get a refund for the price you paid!

I wasn't poor as a kid but as a single parent I was. Now I keep the sensible tricks -

Cashback for everything, always find the cheapest good deal and go through the cashback websites. Then save the cashback for when you need it. I've had Amazon and Smyths vouchers recently that paid for both DCs birthday presents, for something I had to buy anyway.

Pay all bills on payday. Then immediately transfer 'pocket money' into a separate account. When it's gone it's gone.

Start with the cheapest brand of food and work your way up. If you happen to find the cheapest brand ok then all the better.

I always try and buy second hand from the charity shop if I can.
I can make a meal out of very few items and I don't waste food as I will use the items that are due to go off soonest.
I grow veg and fruit and we walk everywhere as we don't own a car.

I buy good quality second-hand furniture, from auctions and “do it up”. All except sofas and mattresses, which I spend a fortune on!

I’ll put a blanket over me on the sofa when watching the tv instead of putting the heating on, especially later in the evening.
I keep butter wraps for greasing.
I use the heel/end of a loaf for toast.
I freeze any leftovers, even the small amount of gravy left after Sunday dinner.
We buy value items of lots of things, tinned tomatoes for instance and beans (especially if they are going in a Cowboy stew).

I grew up really poor & it had a knock on effect that as soon as I got money all I wanted to do was spend spend spend as I had never known that. I bought new clothes, having lived in grotty hand me downs my whole childhood, I chopped and changed cars, i ate out having never had anything so much as a McDonalds until I was 18 and inevitably i got into debt.

Now we're almost clawed out of debt and trying to teach our kids that moderation is better. Save your money, but if you really want to buy xyz you can as long as it's a sensible time to purchase.

If you've bought an item full price and still have the receipt, you can return it for full price, regardless of whether it has since gone on sale. Be careful of calling people lists or cheeky fuckers Radn