10 Frugal Life Lessons From Growing Up Without Much Money

Recently I was reflecting on my childhood and the fact that we didn’t have a ton of money. My parents would say we had everything we needed, and I would agree with them. In fact, my brothers and I have fantastic memories from our younger years and still share so many stories from that time.

I personally don’t have a strong opinion on whether growing up with money is better or worse than growing up without it, as long as you have your basic needs met. But I will say that the experiences of my childhood helped shape my view of the world and it’s a perspective I’m grateful for. It’s one that I still carry with me in my day-to-day life today.

For families or individuals that are living on a tight budget, I hope these lessons from my frugal upbringing will remind you of the good and that a happy life is absolutely within reach. Here are 10 frugal lessons from my personal experience growing up without much money.

You actually don’t need a lot to get by

As kids we were largely shielded from the realities of living on a budget, but we picked up on enough to know that money was tight. But, honestly we didn’t think much about it because our lives were just as full as anyone else’s. We may not have all the stuff that our peers had, but we had just enough for our needs, and more than enough of the things that were important to us. This shaped the way I think about contentment today— you adapt to whatever your situation is, so don’t worry about having a little less than others, I’m sure you have more than enough for your unique path in life.

Resourcefulness is a mark of creativity

One of the things I’m most proud of is that our parents were able to give us so many amazing childhood memories despite having less money to work with. This meant we couldn’t just buy our entertainment or pay to be involved in things. We had to make our own fun and work together to create the life we wanted. Knowing that we were able to do that has given me confidence to approach my own life in more of a DIY style. There’s real pride in making things happen from scratch.

Waste not, want not

The expression “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without” perfectly sums up how I felt about our family’s approach to money. There was no waste in our house. We didn’t throw away food just because it was starting to go bad. We’d eat it up, or find a way to finish it up before it went to waste. This instinct, to see waste as a form of failure, is something that has stuck with me. Why buy more than we need at any given moment? Satisfaction is realizing you have enough, not reaching for more.

Hard work is its own reward

On our small farm, the work was never done. This meant that my brothers and I had a lot of chores to do for the family. After dinner, when our friends were playing video games or watching TV, we’d have to go out to the barn and scoop manure or help my dad move hay. At the time we thought it was unfair, but looking back I think it’s one of the best gifts my parents gave us. Hard work is good for the soul and it’s a skill you can cultivate and pass down to future generations.

You can always fix something before you have to replace it

Like any family living on a tight budget, my parents didn’t replace things that were broken— they fixed them. In fact, they rarely even paid to have someone fix things, they just figured it out as they went along. And that’s how I know so many random things about home repair, car maintenance, and construction, that I probably wouldn’t know otherwise. It’s also a big reason for my DIY attitude when it comes to something breaking around my own home. It’s usually cheaper, more efficient, and faster to do something yourself if you’re willing to learn.

Sharing experiences is better than buying stuff

Frugality means that your money doesn’t go as far because it has to be spread across more things. One area that got less money in our family was gifts for birthdays and Christmas. We got them, but they were simple and less extravagant. To make up for this, my parents put a large emphasis on celebrating together. We would have a fancy family meal with all of our favorite foods. And a special dessert for each person. My memories are far richer from these experiences than any gifts we received. It’s a principle I try to keep alive in our own gift giving with our kids today.

The library is a treasure, use it

Many families like ours didn’t have the money for cable TV or streaming subscriptions. This meant that my parents were always on the lookout for free or cheap forms of entertainment for us kids. One place we spent a ton of time was our local library. We checked out books, played on the computers, and attended special events. I loved going to the library, and it made me a lifelong reader. To this day I consider going to the library one of life’s simple pleasures and still make good use of this amazing public resource.

Cook your own food, it’s cheaper

One of the most universal frugal living tips is to simply eat out less. We rarely ate out growing up which meant that all of our meals were home cooked. I have vivid memories of being in the kitchen with my mom helping her prepare meals and would say that this is where my love of cooking started. There are definitely times when it’s more convenient to eat out, but I think most people underestimate all the benefits of being able to cook and save money by doing so. In the long run, cooking consistently saves you an enormous amount of money which can be used for other things.

Secondhand is underrated

Our family’s frugality meant that we spent significantly more time than most shopping for used things at thrift shops and yard sales. I remember being embarrassed of this as a child, but now as an adult I see how silly that was. Not only did we find great deals by buying secondhand, it was often a more enjoyable way to shop than a big, stuffy store. Now I believe that more people should at least consider buying used, even if they don’t have to, because it’s not only cheaper but better for the environment.

Friendships are better than any material things

One of the best parts about growing up on a farm was the large outdoor space we had to play. We took advantage of this by inviting our friends over throughout the year to play sports, explore the woods, or have campfires. I vividly remember those memories and feel grateful for all the rich experiences I had in my childhood, even if I wished we had more money. I learned a lesson early on that friendships are far more satisfying than having lots of stuff. That’s another lesson I try to live out with my own family today.

Time is the most important resource you have

Growing up without a ton of money, it’s obvious that having more money gives you more options and more freedom. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that out. But what’s less obvious is that the main constraint in our lives isn’t what we can afford, it’s how we spend our time. My parents maximized their time by spending it with us, and I now put a similar emphasis on how I spend my time. It’s the biggest lesson I took away from my childhood: make sure you’re spending your time on the things that matter most to you.