Cameron Diaz has opened up about her family's financial struggles when she was a child, insisting the experience taught her to be sensible with her wealth.
The Charlie's Angels star was raised in Long Beach, California with her elder sister and her parents, and was taught the importance of hard work early in life as her family was far from wealthy.
However, Diaz insists her thrifty upbringing did not prevent her having a happy childhood, telling Britain's Stella magazine: "I had amazing parents, they were awesome. We weren't privileged - very much the opposite. My family would collect (soda) cans to turn in for extra money, because $US20 ($A21.51) meant something to us. But we were very happy."
Diaz's experiences as a child also helped her avoid the lavish spending many other A-list stars are famous for. She only spends her money on things that matter, saying: "I come from a frugal upbringing so I'm not just going to throw my money away. I love to be close to my family and friends, so I spend money on plane tickets, having feasts, buying a tonne of groceries and cooking, or going out for an amazing meal, knowing I don't worry about how much the bill costs."
* Diaz's latest film The Other Woman is currently screening in Australia.
