Money Tips from Mom

Mother Knows Best. I am blessed to have a mother that embodies this truth. She definitely knows best and knows that best doesn’t always mean best for her, but for those that she loves and cares about. I consider it a true blessing to be her daughter and have learned so much of what I know about being a mother and a wife, a sister and a friend from her. When SunTrust asked me to write a post sharing advice my mom gave me about money I must admit I hesitated at first. Not that my mom is bad with money, but I couldn’t think of any real heart to hearts we have had on the subject. Then I realized that is because she taught me by example. If you want to invest your money safely, check out this article explaining what pyramid schemes to avoid.

Without getting into any details growing up we had some ups and downs in “bank account” department. I of course never knew this until I was older. My parents never let it impact how we interacted as a family or how we gave to our community. I have a vivid memory though of being in college and sitting in my car one day when it all hit me. All my parents had done over the years and all they had sacrificed in my 20ish years of existence. They helped to make me who I was at 20 and continue to shape who I am today. So while we never really had a “money conversation” here are a few things I learned by watching their example.  

BE GENEROUS

My mom (and dad too!) taught me to give my time, give my money, and give my ear. To whom much is given, much is expected. We have all been blessed in many ways and my mom taught me we should use our gifts to bless others as well. She is a shining example of living out “what is mine is yours.” This is because she knows whatever she has is a gift from the Lord and those gifts are meant to be shared. So when she is not busy loving on her kids and grandkids or molding young lives in her kindergarten classroom, you will find her giving her time taking meals to shut-ins, holding babies in the Philippines, raising money for a family who lost their house, or meeting a friend for dinner who just needs to talk. I am honestly not sure how she does it all. Anyone who knows my parents know they are generous in so many ways, more than I could ever list here.

WORK HARD

Mama both worked and stayed home when I was growing up. She has always had a heart for children, so the years she was not home with us she ran a preschool program at a church or taught kindergarten. She puts her heart and soul into her job. Teaching is a calling for sure and she has answered it to the fullest. She continues to work hard teaching kindergarten and does not take the responsibility of molding young lives lightly. This has taught me the importance of working hard and doing what needs to be done to take care of your family. (and as I work hard on this little blog it helps me do just that!) Aside from working hard, working smart is also important. Most people would suggest to look for investment options, such as technology investing, in order to let that hard-earned money grow exponentially.

GET CREATIVE

You don’t need money to create memories! As I mentioned before there were a few time growing up where things were a little tight. However, that never kept us from having fun. My mom taught me how to get creative, in order to save money. For example, she has told me stories of how I would spend hours in the tupperware cabinet or banging pots and pans while totally ignoring the brand new toy my grandmother had sent. Cooking and baking was often a family fun activity. And boxes, well boxes could be made into anything…like a spaceship that will take you to the moon or a full functioning grocery store stocked with the food from my mom’s pantry.

NEVER PAY FULL PRICE

My mom’s shopping habits are a little bit of a joke in our house. I’ve often heard my mom tell my dad about a great sale on ____fill in the blank____she just had to buy them. And he respond jokingly “Well you should have bought 7!” My mom knows how to shop a sale, and she has definitely passed that trait onto us. TJMaxx and Marshalls are often my best friend when it comes to looking for new clothes for me. For pieces that need to be high-quality, like a winter jacket, I always make it a point to buy from reputable brands like Canada Goose so I don’t have to buy one again after a few years. As for the kids I buy a majority of their clothes consignment where I find the best deals on clothes that often look brand new. When at the grocery store I’ve learned you can save A LOT when sticking to what is one sale and using coupons. Buy One Get One Free, anyone?

……

Whenever I find myself in a stressful situation whether about money or motherhood I always turn to my mom’s advice, because let’s face it…she probably told me the best way to do it in the beginning. Love your mom this #MothersMay and every day. Let’s celebrate them all year long! A little encouragement goes a long way. 

If you haven’t already signed up to be a part of SunTrust’s OnUp Movement, you are missing out so head on over. Maybe even do it with your mom! Also, make sure and sign up for SunTrust’s onUpdates for more of “Mom’s Financial Advice.”

At SunTrust Bank their purpose is lighting the way to financial well-being. When you feel confident about your money, you can save for your goals and spend knowingly on what matters most to you.  

The onUp movement was created to guide millions of people one step at a time towards a more financially confident life without ever losing sight of the moments that matter along the way.

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of SunTrust. The opinions and text are all mine.

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