Have you ever found yourself hunched over two nearly identical products, one just slightly cheaper than the other—and you’re fixated on picking the lesser price tag, even though money isn’t exactly a problem right now?

I’ve been there. And I’ve also wondered: why do I do this? Why do I feel the pull to compare a bunch of price tags, even if I’m not currently tight on cash?

Turns out, there’s often more to it than being “smart with money.”

According to psychologists, certain habits and mindsets we develop in childhood can shape how we act around money today—even when we’re doing perfectly fine financially.

Today, I’m diving into nine behaviors from our youth that could explain why we can’t resist comparing prices.

If you spot yourself in any of these, don’t worry: it’s all about becoming aware of these patterns so we can choose whether or not they still serve us.

Let’s jump in.

1. You have a lingering scarcity mindset

“As Seneca once said: ‘It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor.’”

When you’re always comparing prices, you might be operating from a belief that there’s never enough to go around—no matter what your bank balance tells you.

This is what psychologists call a scarcity mindset, and it usually starts early in life.

Maybe you grew up in a home where money was tight, or your parents constantly stressed about finances.

Even after you land a steady paycheck, the old fear can follow you around like a shadow.

That voice in your head says, “What if something goes wrong and you lose it all tomorrow?”

If that voice keeps telling you to pinch pennies when you don’t actually need to, it’s possible you’re replaying old memories of not having enough.

Learning to let go of that scarcity mentality can be tough, but it can also be game-changing. It means retraining your brain to see that you’re actually okay now—even if you weren’t in the past.

2. You place too much emphasis on getting a deal

Even if money isn’t a big issue, some of us just can’t resist the thrill of a bargain.

It’s like we want to prove we got the “best” price, and paying more than necessary feels like we’ve lost some sort of competition.

On the surface, that sounds harmless. But sometimes it runs deeper.

In childhood, if you learned that being frugal was a sign of “good” behavior—or if your family praised you for saving every coin—you may internalize this as an adult and equate your self-worth with how economical you can be.

For instance, I remember a friend whose parents took pride in never paying full price for anything.

She grew up thinking that buying something at full price was almost sinful.

Even though she’s financially comfortable now, she can’t resist combing through coupons and discount sites for hours.

It’s one thing if you genuinely enjoy bargain-hunting as a fun pastime.

But if you feel a sense of shame or guilt when you buy something without a discount, it might be worth reexamining where that feeling comes from.

3. You tie self-worth to being financially responsible

There’s nothing wrong with wanting to be responsible with money.

But there’s a difference between thoughtful spending and believing your entire value as a person hinges on how much you save.

If you grew up in an environment where being “fiscally prudent” was the main measure of character, that belief can stick.

I know a couple of people who were raised with the mantra “Waste not, want not.”

Their families didn’t just encourage wise spending— they made it the ultimate moral code.

Fast-forward to adulthood, and these friends would rather juggle three spreadsheets comparing every grocery store’s prices than risk paying extra for convenience.

It’s an admirable habit, but can also become a source of anxiety.

When we conflate financial decisions with our entire identity, every little purchase becomes a test of our personal goodness.

And that’s a heavy load to carry.

4. You fear financial instability deep down

Fear of losing everything, even when you’re stable, is more common than we think.

This fear usually develops if you grew up witnessing financial struggles.

You might have seen parents or guardians losing jobs, or you had to get by with extremely limited resources for a while.

It was later in life when I realized how much of my financial stress was tied to old memories.

Even though I’m far from broke these days, I noticed I’d get anxious about certain purchases—like that old panic might come roaring back.

5. You find it hard to spend on yourself

Some of us grew up with the idea that we shouldn’t “waste” money on ourselves.

Maybe you were told that spending on fun or leisure was frivolous. Or perhaps you felt guilty when you received something nice, like it had to be justified.

That feeling can creep into adulthood and lead to a constant search for cheaper options—even if you can well afford the nicer choice.

You stand in a store aisle, you find something you love, but you think, “I’m not sure if I’m worth it,” or “That’s too fancy for me.”

It’s a subtle but powerful form of self-denial.

It’s one thing to be mindful of your budget; it’s another to never allow yourself to enjoy what you’ve worked hard for.

At some point, constantly choosing the cheapest route can actually diminish the quality of your life.

And ironically, it might end up costing more if you keep buying lower-quality items that need frequent replacing.

6. You consistently question your decisions

I’ve noticed that people who were criticized a lot as kids often grow up second-guessing every choice—even if they’re logically in the clear.

When it comes to money, this could look like hyper-analyzing price tags, flipping between them again and again, convinced you’ll make the “wrong” decision.

Buddha famously said, “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think.”

If your formative experiences taught you to doubt yourself, it’s no surprise your mind might be flooded with negative self-talk over the smallest purchase.

For instance, I used to run big decisions by multiple friends.

Then I’d Google and read reviews for an hour, compare costs, switch between two options—only to come full circle.

In time, I realized it was more about the fear of messing up than the actual money.

And that fear traced back to old criticisms that lingered in my head, telling me my judgment might not be good enough.

7. You learned to fear waste

Some people were raised with the idea that anything extra is a waste: leftover food, unused household items, or a single penny that could’ve been saved.

This kind of upbringing often comes from a place of survival—maybe resources were scarce at one time.

But habits born from survival mode can become limiting beliefs when your circumstances change.

If you still associate comfort or abundance with “wastage,” you’ll probably default to scouring for the cheapest possible deal.

Even if you’re not in danger of overextending your finances, you could still feel pangs of guilt if you buy something that might not be labeled as a necessity.

A little caution is a good thing, but there’s a fine line between not wanting to waste and missing out on the value of living.

And ironically, always opting for the cheapest route can sometimes lead to more waste—both in terms of time (over-researching everything) and money (buying cheaper stuff that breaks sooner).

8. You might have unresolved guilt about money

Here’s a paradox: those who have money sometimes feel guilty for it.

When you’ve got more than you used to, or more than others you grew up around, part of you might think you don’t deserve it. So you hold yourself back.

You try to appear “humble” by never splurging, or you make sure everyone knows you’re still frugal.

Maybe you’ve heard phrases like “Must be nice!” when you buy something your parents or siblings couldn’t have afforded back in the day.

Over time, you learn that enjoying your money can trigger jealousy, resentment, or judgment.

So you resort to always choosing the cheaper option—even if your finances are solid—so you don’t stand out.

It’s a coping mechanism, but a limiting one.

Money guilt can keep you from fully embracing what you’ve earned, or from sharing it in constructive ways.

And it often stems from deep-seated shame about surpassing the financial status you had in childhood.

9. You associate security with control

“As Epictetus said: ‘Wealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.’”

For many people, meticulously comparing prices is a way to feel in control.

Perhaps your early life was chaotic, with lots of uncertainty around resources.

Knowing every cent is accounted for can feel like you’re regaining a sense of order.

But if that sense of order drifts into obsession—where every purchase has to be triple-checked against all other options—it can become a prison.

By controlling every financial detail, you try to guard yourself against the unknown.

But life can’t be fully controlled, can it? At some point, the cost of perfect security is an ongoing undercurrent of stress.

And ironically, you might still be anxious even when you do everything “right.”

Recognizing this trait is key. If you tend to over-manage your finances to feel safe, ask yourself: is that sense of security worth the mental toll you’re paying?

Rounding things off

If you constantly compare prices (even though you’re not broke), you might be holding onto some old scripts from when you actually needed to be hyper-aware of every penny.

These behaviors can stem from childhood lessons about safety, worthiness, responsibility, or even guilt.

But knowing this isn’t about judging yourself harshly. It’s about awareness and choice.

Once you realize why you’re doing something, you’re free to decide if it still makes sense for you today.

You can say, “Okay, I get why I’m so hung up on bargains. Do I want to keep doing that or not?”

For a long time, I thought it was just part of my personality.

Then I dug deeper (with some help along the way) and realized it was rooted in past circumstances that don’t apply anymore.

So I choose differently now.

Here’s to using our resources wisely, while also remembering we’re allowed to enjoy the fruits of our labor.

Because when we align our spending habits with our present reality rather than old fears, we invite more freedom and ease into our lives.

And that’s what true wealth feels like.