Perks of growing up poor. I find I am not attracted to or mirror a lot of the expensive behaviors/ habits like most of my consulting friends. Perfectly happy staying at a Marriott or la fitness, I don’t have that desire to always stay at the Ritz Carlton or be an equinox member.

likeupliftinghelpful
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I’m perfectly happy working out in my living room and to stay at a Marriott (or even a cabin or cute B&B) on my own, but I also 100% will stay at a Ritz on a work trip just for the peace of mind and service

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Same slalom hahaha

I grew up a homeless youth and learned the value of a dollar. Always stayed in Super 8s, shopped exclusively at Walmart and dollar stores, and found ways to save by clipping coupons and looking for deals everywhere.

Sometimes at Deloitte, it feels like everyone speaks a different language than me. I experienced quite a bit of culture shock when I began traveling with PPMDs and listening to my colleagues’ life stories.

I would say after about 5 years things I began to feel more comfortable spending more and living a more lavish lifestyle. I like the sense of security I get having money now and at times it feels a little odd in comparison to my past, but I just feel so grateful.

I’m rambling now, but just wanted to say that you’ll get used to the “finer things” and if you don’t, good on you for staying true to yourself. But liking those things is human nature and you shouldn’t feel ashamed of it.

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Feel you so hard. Took me about 5 years as well but boy were those first 2-3 awkward…

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I grew up poor as well and felt the same way. Then I slowly started experiencing the finer things. Now I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself because I feel so uncomfortable doing some of the stuff I used to do

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When I crossed the 120k salary line. , I realized holy shit. Nice things and more money are making almost 0 impact on how I feel about myself or my levels of happiness.

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My wife and I both grew up poor. We both have good jobs. I think you generally go two ways when you grow up poor. I look at the price of a Marriott and the price of a Ritz Carlton and I ask my myself am I getting that much of a benefit from the cost difference? I generally will lean towards no because I am comfortable with less creature comforts. My wife will lean towards yes. Her family was poor but they always spent all their money on whatever they wanted because they never new when they were going to have that money/opportunity again. I'm not saying either way is wrong.

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Being able to buy McDonald’s without worrying about it was when I realized I made it!

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this was another one

Damn Marriott and La fitness made me feel like I made it, it was def a step up from days inn and planet fitness

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Conversely, plenty people who grew up poor love the luxuries you mentioned and more. To each their own!

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You stay at LA Fitness? That must be weird. Do you sleep on the bench? Do you eat protein bars for dinner? You must be poorly-rested and super swole.

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This conversation has a wheel? I’m even more confused now. OP, you need to spend less time developing your already enormous trapezoids at LA Fitness and more time working on the clarity and precision of your written expression.

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It’s not inherently better and it doesn’t make you a better person to prefer a cheaper gym or lifestyle. It’s good to know you can be happy without money, but if someone does have money, there’s no need to judge them for enjoying a nicer experience at a higher price point than you prefer.

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I second this.

I did not grow up poor. But when my colleagues buy a Herman Miller chair, my jaws drop thinking- "This person just spent a thousand dollars on a chair. And guess what, their job involves traveling 4 days a week."
Finding happiness in expensive items is common in high paying jobs.

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Herman Miller chair while working from home is officially an investment now

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I grew up poor - like when we were on trips red roof inn level. Now I stick with Marriott. My client I have for training horses they are staying at Biltmore for Thanksgiving. He has me looking at a new horse for him starting at 20k…he makes comments about my rehab project that in his heyday was an 90k horse

Sorry I have a side gig training horses - it doesn’t ever cause an issue with any company I work for as a conflict of interest

That's perfectly fine. Everyone has their preferences. Some like luxe experiences, it motivates them. You on the other hand, find joy in other things and that is perfectly okay.

If you stay at a Ritz you are actually a better person

I fly business over > cattle class for long haul flights. I grew up poor.

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