how to avoid appearing like you just escaped the lower classes:

• stop keeping everything, just in case you might need it
• stop buying random crap without seeing how it can justify your space/money/time.
• stop eating garbage. eat consciously, expect you will need to feel great instead of stopping hunger.
• stop keeping in touch with toxic people just because you might need them someday.
• stop seeking attention with the way you dress and talk, etc. don't appear needy. aim for tasteful.
• preventative maintenance. fix things that are wonky before they fail at a bad time.
• appear competent and secure, give eye contact, listen.

"the sticks" doesn't mean poor, it just means in the countryside (at least in the UK). On the estate(s) would be correct for us.

I didn't grow up particularly poor, but became poor upon moving out of the family home. This led to making do with very limited ingredients, finding bargains, and that has stuck with me ever since. I've saved a lot of money down the years, can live very frugally for a period of time when I really need to, and as such became a homeowner because I knew how to knuckle down and avoid unnecessary expenditure, perhaps to the detriment of my health at times.

I stopped pulling over to pull useful items out of other people's trash.

I still look, but I haven't yanked a chair or TV in years.

I've CPTSD

I used to keep EVERYTHING under lock and key, or under my direct supervision. I have been robbed multiple times. Turns out, not everyone is a shitty person. TBH I kinda still do it. Not to the extremes I used to though.

I'm really good at surviving with a very small amount of money. For a while I also would steal food from wherever I could get it, I thankfully don't have to do that anymore but the skills are there.

Casual racism that only intensified the inequity. Realize it's the billionaire class that's benefiting from the in fighting.

A big thing is thinking about finances constantly and asking those kinds of questions in social settings. It's more of a common thing to do when you're in a poorer environment.

I stopped expecting to need to fight every time I have to pass someone on the street, or every time someone approaches me.

I still to this day when leaving the house or a building. I need to look both ways before I exit. When I was younger and living in the ghetto I almost got shot because there was a shoot out down the street.

I grew up lower middle class in Rural Alberta Canada in the 70's. I moved to a mid sized city in the beginnings of my teens. and one major thing that stuck out to me was the amount of swearing the city kids did. I heard more curse words in one recess than I pretty much did in my entire lifetime up to that point.

Not to say that we didn't know swear words it was just REALLY frowned upon by every one. Adults didn't swear in front of kids, and men/boys didn't swear in front of girls.