Igrew up with an almost painful awareness of money – how little my family had, how hard it was to come by, and how much having it mattered. The lack of money defined my entire childhood and “want” was counterbalanced with “can’t” so often I stopped wanting altogether.

I learned to stretch one lunch meal into two – eating just enough to quell hunger, but never enough to be satiated.

I learned to not reach for the toys and clothes other kids brought and wore to school, if just to avoid the disappointment in my parents’ eyes when they told me no.

I learned that even if I couldn’t legally work until 14, a local business would let me anyway if it meant paying me half the minimum wage.

Most importantly, I learned to prioritise and save what little earnings I had and make it last a year by ma

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