It has lasting effects. My childhood was on the poverty line. I’m now, due to plenty of hard work but let’s face it - luck and opportunity (I’m very aware of my privilege in this regard), I’m now considered a high income earner in my country.

But I still struggle to make purchasing decisions without extremely close scrutiny of the value comparisons. I harbour anxiety about running out of money, despite being comfortable and debt free.

My childhood left permanent scars. When you are poor your baseline is stress. It impacts everything you think and do. Even when your situation changes, you can’t completely shake it off.

I think people who’ve never experienced it, somehow think it’s compartmentalized from the rest of your life. Like, ‘oh well, I have no money - that’s ok, everything else is fine’. It pervades every part of your identity.