Those of you with good money habits - How were those taught or learned?

no idea. I feel like I've been tight since birth.

I have had to learn how to manage money. I like to think observing my mother and her spending habbits growing up taught me everything I needed to know about how NOT to spend money. She'd buy a new car every other year, trading in the old one that was upside down. I think she filed for bankruptcy once or twice...I can't remember. All of this while being a pharmacist and making damn good money. She's going to be working the rest of her life because she didn't plan for retirement.

I just know that whatever happens, I don't want to make the same mistakes she made. Thanks for the life lesson, mom.

Learning from dumb mistakes.

One of two things happen: Money manages you or you manage money and therein lies the difference.

Not wealthy by any stretch and that is okay. Meeting life's needs and the occasional wants with no second thoughts, is a nice place to be.

A healthy combination of both. My parents both came from poor families and built their way up by living within their means and investing wisely. Neither believed in allowances, you had to work for your money. That instilled a greater appreciation in me for money and its worth.

The best way for me to motivate myself in saving is to find something very expensive I want. If everything I ever wanted was easily affordable why would I ever need to save, eh? Carrot on a stick and all that jazz.

My parents taught me by example. They were of modest means and frugal. They were comfortable in retirement.

I learned the difference between a want and a need.

And I was motivated to make money and did so by making smart real estate investments.

About 5000 hours of listening to my man Dave Ramsey!

Honestly, I have no idea.

Wife taught me, I was awful with money until after college.

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I never knew I had good money habits, until I got married.

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Same, kind of.

I watched my mom struggle with poor money management skills, while my dad always lived within his means (divorced when I was young). I decided my dad's life seemed less chaotic and I wanted that. I graduated college with school debt and credit card debt but within my first year out, I started working hard at both. I had a few lucky breaks early on but I also worked really hard at whittling away my debt.

I didn't realize that was a "radical concept" until I got married and we had very different views towards spending, debt, financial planning, etc. It's still a work in progress...

growing up borderline poor will help you big time. We never went on vacation and lived in a very modest house. My grandparents saved a lot and spent little. They would only buy stuff including cars if they had the cash saved up for it.

My wife and I were both fortunate to graduate debt free. We both lived at home with out parents during college and had part time jobs. It makes me sick to see these college kids with brand new cars and luxury apartments. They will be paying those loans back for years to come.

We both have newer cars but other than the house and cars, we have no debt. I do buy toys from time to time but it is with cash money I have saved up. I've flipped a few vehicles on the side for some play money. my wife stays home for now with the kids until they are older. We survive on one income and we don't have a lot left over but we have fun with our kids. Once she gets a job we will be more comfortable.

Moral of the story is live within your means and earn to make a follow a budget.

My parents are frugal and never had debt outside of their mortgage that wasn't interest free, they just bought everything cash when they had the money to do so. They taught me to appreciate the money I earn and use it wisely. They never made much, and their frugal habits were out of necessity and common sense more than them proactively trying to be frugal. They lead by example.

Until I started making more money than they ever did. Being frugal by choice instead of out of necessity was a different ball game for them. Same guidelines applied, but my means are bigger than theirs ever were (thanks to them). Once that happened, the price of experience went up. You are welcomed to call it stubborn. I'd agree with you.