Money has the ability to have a significant impact on people's lives as well as their upbringing. It is an aspect of life around which most things revolve around, and more recently the political and social issues associated with money have come to light leaving people exposed. Money has the ability to shape people’s livelihoods in terms of what they can and cannot do. Some individuals have the novelty of spending their money in any way in which they see fit, while others struggle with having little money which can be a result of many factors. The remainder of this article will focus on the effect that money has on shaping people's upbringing.
Effect 1:
The first way in which money can shape people's upbringing is through the expectations that come with having acquired wealth. For instance, if an individual was to come from an especially wealthy family, they may feel pressured to maintain their family’s social status and wealth. Additionally, if wealth is extended beyond immediate family, this could alleviate the pressure even more due to the fact that there are more people with high expectations. The idea of high expectations could have detrimental impacts on the individual's mental health. This is because they are likely to overthink situations such as receiving school results or worrying if the salary at their first job is high enough. However, this is entirely dependent on the attitudes of the parents. The majority of parents are likely to provide reassurance to an individual who is worrying about continuing the family’s legacy, whereas others may have a slightly different outlook.
Effect 2:
Another way in which money can shape an individual's upbringing is based on access to resources. This point will focus on the positive impacts that money has on shaping someone’s upbringing. Children who come from wealthier families will often have access to quality education and better healthcare. This means that they are likely to grow up surrounded by the right people who will help shape them into well-rounded, respectable members of their community. Conversely, non-wealthy families are likely to send their children to non-fee-paying/ comprehensive schools that sometimes have a reputation for shaping children into criminals and thieves.
Effect 3:
A third way money can shape someone’s upbringing is through lifestyle expectations. For instance, children who grow up in a wealthy family are likely to experience a slightly more lavish lifestyle such as expensive holidays and various leisure activities, which they could experience from a young age. This will likely impact a person’s sense of entitlement for what they believe they should have, without considering other factors. This is known to be quite an unattractive personality trait as it completely disregards other people’s situations and ways of living. This may be dependent however on the family's attitudes towards children making their own way in life. Some parents expect their children to be self-sufficient, while others don’t think twice before gifting their children whatever they ask for.
Effect 4:
A fourth way in which money can shape people's upbringings is through their values and beliefs. For instance, people from wealthy families may have a different outlook on how success is measured. They may measure success in terms of materialistic possessions, as opposed to personal fulfillment or happiness. Children who grow up in wealthy families may not be familiar with the idea of working to earn their money, as it is already provided for them. Additionally, as long as they are relying on their family to fund their lifestyle, they may never be able to experience what it is like to be personally fulfilled by funding themselves.
Effect 5:
The final way in which money can shape people's upbringing is through social relationships. Individuals that come from wealthy families are likely only to be familiar with conversing with people from a similar social background. Additionally, they may find it difficult to relate to individuals from different backgrounds. As a result, they may tend to avoid conversing with people from opposite backgrounds. This has a negative impact on less fortunate people who come from non-wealthy families as it creates an unhealthy stereotype.
Conclusion:
In summary, the impact of money on a person's upbringing can vary greatly depending on the family's attitudes and values towards money.
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