The Guardian is asking readers to share how their childhoods shaped their attitudes to money and personal finances. The invitation is aimed at people willing to reflect on their upbringing and the ways family messages, behaviours and circumstances influenced how they now save, spend, borrow or think about wealth.
What to consider when you respond
Were conversations about money frank and routine in your family, or were finances treated as private or shameful? Did you grow up in a household that emphasised frugality, encouraged risk-taking or modelled financial insecurity? Think about concrete memories — allowances, chores, rewards, parental debt or inheritances — and how those experiences affected your choices as an adult.
Why this matters
Childhood experiences can have long-lasting effects on financial behaviour: they can shape saving habits, attitudes to credit, career decisions and how people plan for the future. Understanding the variety of personal histories helps illuminate the social and cultural roots of financial behaviour across different backgrounds and generations.
If you want to take part
If you have a story to tell, consider describing the key moments or messages from your childhood that you think influenced your money habits, and briefly note your current situation (for example your age group and whether you live in the UK or abroad). The Guardian is looking to speak with a range of people from different backgrounds; if you are willing to be contacted for a follow-up conversation, please get in touch with the publication via its usual reader contribution channels.