For the first time in my life I'm actually comfortable, I know I can pay all my bills on time, I've eliminated most of my debt and if an emergency happens it would suck but I have enough saved it wouldn't crush me. I actually have enough money I can do things to improve my quality of life. I've had times in my life where I was homeless and years where the only food I could really afford was rice and beans. I'm just now realizing the scars they've left on me.
I still check dumpsters for salvageable furniture. I have trouble buying cloths aren't second hand or at least on clearance. I can't spend even $15 to see a movie more then once every two or three months. Even though everything is taken care of financially I can never let my self really relax. My wife who went through similar conditions still uses razor blades that are dull enough they cut her because she can't bring her self to spend $4 on on a new blade.
The scars are real and I doubt they'll go away any time soon. I'm sure some of my comrades here have gone through something similar but people who have never been through that level of poverty just can't seem to understand at all. Not sure why but I felt the need to express these feelings to people who actually can understand
Being poor again is always on my mind, it's not the overwhelming anxiety it used to be but still present enough that I can't relax. Shopping used and refurbished or at least epic sales is obviously smart but forgoing basic quality of life things just because you've learned to live without them seems detrimental.