Losh, you got me beat I reckon. By a very long way.
Me, it was when I was small, mum wasn't the best health wise (kidney failure) but she was studying to be a nurse, working and raising me all on her own, and while I didn't really know it at the time she had almost nothing, except a drive to keep on going. She wasn't getting any help from anyone, but she eventually qualified, got a job (which she worked at her whole life) and got a mortgage.
Long story short, I'm pretty sure I got my unwillingness to pack it in from her, but also got an understanding of when to simply say "%$#%$ it" and move on when needed, which is almost as valuable.
Myself, living in Japan on $600 a month was pretty tough, but I was young, in good health and I had some help from a young lady with whom I now fight over the covers with every night. Didn't mean we didn't do it tough, and I cried my eyes out when my daughter was born on Dec. 6th and I had to save up a whole week to buy her a very small stuffed toy for Christmas and that was all I could manage. Swore to myself I would not ever be that low ever again, I wouldn't put my kids what I went through if I could help it.
13 years later (because she's turning 13 on Sunday), I'm short a mum and dad (mum 3 years ago, dad early this year) but the house is paid for, 3 cars all paid for and we're not in the slightest bit hurting $$$ wise, but still don't waste it. More would add comfort and confidence, but we're not going hungry or cold. Just frustrating that I'm a counter jumper who's so ridiculously over qualified for what I'm doing it's insane, it's no secret to anyone and I'm sure the higher ups know they're getting a pro for a pittance. But it's close to home, good people to work with every day so while it's annoying, it could be a heck of a lot worse. I don't think I could screw up bad enough to get even a warning...
So thanks for the suggestion on a second hand phone, but it's not happening. She'd reject the latest and greatest on principle, but she's got a preference for something that's reasonably priced and that's what I'll get her. She'll take good care of it, so it's not like it's going to be landfill in a year or two. I married her, not her sister.