8 things people who grew up lower middle class still do at the grocery store without realizing it says more about their character than their budget - Silicon Canals

"Growing up outside Manchester, I spent countless Saturday mornings trailing behind my mum through the aisles of our local supermarket. Back then, I thought everyone shopped the same way we did. It wasn't until years later, after university and settling into a different economic bracket, that I realized those early shopping habits revealed something profound about character that transcends bank balances."

"These habits aren't just nostalgic quirks. Last week, while picking up groceries in my London neighborhood, I caught myself doing something I've done for decades: mentally calculating the price per unit on everything, even though I no longer need to. That moment of self-awareness got me thinking about all the behaviors from my working-class upbringing that still shape how I navigate the grocery store."

"This isn't about being cheap. It's about understanding value at a fundamental level. My mother taught me this skill when I was eight, showing me how the bigger package isn't always the better deal. Today, even though my budget has expanded considerably, I still can't help but do the mental math. What does this say about character? It shows someone who questions assumptions, looks beyond surface appearances, and makes decisions based on logic rather than marketing."

Regular supermarket trips during childhood instilled persistent shopping behaviors, such as calculating price per unit, that endure after income changes. These practices reveal values including resourcefulness, respect for hard work, and prioritization of essentials. Mental price comparisons, taught early, emphasize logical evaluation over marketing and continue even when budgets expand. Observations across friends, family, and strangers show these habits recur among those raised with financial constraints. The same inclination toward careful assessment translates into negotiating salaries, spotting investment opportunities, and passing practical wisdom to the next generation.

Read at Silicon Canals