I think such an experience would definitely go towards defining what you do with money. I had a fascinating conversation with a good friend about different upbringings and treatment of money. She's a (self described) low socioeconomic background materialistic social climber, so she spends most of her money and looks down on those who don't have flashy things. However, she's also very risk averse, so any large purchase has already been subject to rigorous investigation and testing in her budget. Meanwhile, I'm less materialistic, but from a middle class background (not sure if it's "low" or "high"), who probably fits the pattern of trying to copy her parent's current lifestyle. I haven't experienced a lack in my life, so I never expect to... Just outside the realm of experience.
Once we put it in those terms the difference in our spending made a lot more sense.