What did your mother teach you about money?

My mother, the oldest of five kids who lived in a two bedroom house all of her life, often told me of stories where my Paw Paw would make a game of being late with bill payments: when the water was cut off, he would run around the back of the house and cut it on again and shared a special bond with my mother over the fact that she was able to yell at creditors over the phone just like he did. Both he and my grandmother held steady jobs and worked hard all of their adult lives. Paw Paw, a WWII vet, was able to retire and live off his pension, but my Grandma continued to work after her retirement, partly because she wanted to and partly because she had to. She has been working up until this year, when she was forced to quit her part time job due to health problems. This is not uncommon, as most of the women who live on Grandma's block are over the age of 75 and still work 9 to 5 to make ends meet

Mother, on the other hand, has lived her life a bit differently. She has held a job since the age of 15 and supported herself through college working at the library and through scholarships (she was the valedictorian of her class!) At the age of 23, she got a job with The Penney Company as a manager and held her title and position with them until she retired this year, after nearly 37 years. She has an IRA, a 401 (k), life insurance policies, health insurance, and a house that is almost paid for, along with a monthly pension she will receive from The Penney Company. She has the luxury to road trip to her hometown of Memphis whenever she needs to, and at this point in time can just take it easy instead of having to look for another job.

With all this being said, I think the better question now is: what did Mother teach me about money stemming from what Grandma and Paw Paw taught her about money?

Know better, do better: My mother went to great lengths to make sure she had enough money to retire on and to have something to pass on to her heir. She knew she didn't want to work the rest of her life, and made it her goal to do so.

Take advantage of sales and discounts: My mother had an employee discount from Penney's, and because of that and the great sales they had, she was able to afford me amazing Christmases and birthdays, as well as be a "gift fairy" for my cousins and other family and friends

Use it til you lose it: My mother has only owned two cars since I've been alive: an Oldsmobile, which she drove for 12 years, and a Chevrolet, which she has been driving for the past eight years. I used to think she was just being cheap by not getting new cars, but now I understand it it wasn't broke, no need to fix it.

Own - don't buy - everything: My mother has always owned outright her own home and car, as well as other assets. She never had to worry about someone else taking it back, because she made her payments on time and in full.

Make the most of your investment: In the two homes my mother has owned, she has made vast improvements: hardwood floors, a storage house, and other indoor improvements have increased the value of her home.

If I think about it, my financial education has been with me all along - all I have to do is apply it accordingly.

Love you!

So, what has your mother taught you about money?