Kelly Clarkson never expected her success to last.

The 'Stronger' hitmaker shot to fame winning the first series of 'American Idol' in 2002 and admits she spent very little money on her stagewear afterwards because she thought she needed to save for her future as much as possible.

She said: ''I like literally bought minimal stuff because I was like, 'This isn't gonna work out' and I need this money to pay all the bills so I didn't even spend my money.''

Kelly - who has eight-month-old daughter River Rose with husband Brandon Blackstock - found times very tough before she competed on the show.

She told 'Entertainment Tonight Canada': ''I had nothing but a car and I really didn't own that, because the repo man was trying to take it and I just kept moving it.''

The 32-year-old singer missed last month's Grammy awards ceremony because she had ''no reason'' to go and would rather be at home with her family.

She said recently: ''There was no reason for me to go. I don't have anything out, I'll go next year.

''Also I have a beautiful little baby, so if there's no real need for me to leave home then I don't.''