Money Lessons from the Woman Who Raised You

A Mother’s Day Tribute to Financial Wisdom Passed Down

Every May, we take a moment to celebrate the women who shaped us. These are the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and guardians who taught us, challenged us, and supported us through life’s ups and downs. Mother’s Day is a chance to thank those who stayed up late to help with science projects, offered us comfort when we needed it most, and quietly modeled resilience.

Beyond love and support, however, there’s another gift many of us received from these women that doesn’t get enough recognition: financial wisdom.

For many of us, our first money lessons didn’t come from teachers or books. They came from the women in our lives who led by example. They taught us how to think about money, often in simple, everyday ways that left a lasting impact.

This Mother’s Day, we honor these financial lessons passed down through generations. And as Sharon Lechter and Kim Scouller illustrate in How Money Works for Women: Take Control or Lose It, these lessons gain even more power when supported by education and strategy. Here’s how the financial wisdom of the women in our lives continues to shape our choices today.

1. "That’s Not What We Came Here For" – Staying Focused

Remember being at the store, eyeing a candy bar or toy? You’d ask for it, and she’d say, “That’s not what we came here for.” It may have stung, but it was your first lesson in impulse control.

Today, in a world of swipes and one-click purchases, that lesson has never been more relevant. Impulse buys add up quickly, but learning how to stick to your goals pays off in the long run.

Sharon and Kim emphasize this in their book by urging women to eliminate unnecessary expenses. It’s not about deprivation; it’s about staying focused on what truly matters and aligning spending with long-term goals.

2. "Put It in Your Piggy Bank" – The Value of Saving

Birthday money, chore allowances, lemonade stand earnings—we’ve all been told, “Save some of it.” Maybe it seemed overly cautious back then, but that small lesson planted the seeds of saving and, eventually, investing.

HowMoneyWorks for Women: Take Control or Lose It shines a light on just how crucial those early saving habits are. Women often cite not investing earlier as a top financial regret. The book emphasizes that even small amounts saved consistently can grow into significant wealth over time.

The message was simple but powerful, and it aligns perfectly with the book’s core idea: save now so you can secure your future.

3. "Let’s Sit Down and Figure This Out" – The Power of a Plan

Can you recall moments when you saw her at the kitchen table with bills, a checkbook, and a calculator? She wasn’t just paying bills; she was managing the household like a CFO.

She knew how much was coming in, how much was going out, and what was needed to keep everything afloat. That’s budgeting in its truest form.

Sharon and Kim echo this lesson in their book, encouraging women to know their financial situation inside and out. By tracking income, expenses, debts, benefits, and savings, you take control of your financial future. Watching her piece together a budget wasn’t just about getting by in the moment; it was about building stability.

4. "We Can’t Afford That Right Now" – Delayed Gratification

Hearing “no” as a child wasn’t fun, but there was wisdom behind it. When she said, “We can’t afford that right now,” she was teaching you delayed gratification.

This skill is key to good financial habits. Sure, “not yet” might have been frustrating, but it taught you patience and how to prioritize.

Sharon Lechter’s “Two Minute Rule,” shared in How Money Works for Women, builds on this lesson. When tempted to make an impulse purchase, pause for two minutes. Often, the urge will pass, and you’ll avoid unnecessary spending. It’s a modern twist on an age-old lesson about putting off small, fleeting rewards for bigger, lasting ones.

5. "Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees" – Respecting Hard Work

Ah, the classic line! Back then, it might have elicited an eye roll, but now it’s clear what she meant. Earning, respecting, and managing money takes effort.

She showed you how to stretch a dollar, avoid debt traps, and make thoughtful spending choices. You didn’t need a lecture on interest rates or compound growth to understand the basics of financial respect.

How Money Works for Women expands on this idea by breaking down how to distinguish between good and bad debt and by explaining the power of compound interest. While she may not have explicitly taught you the Rule of 72, those lessons about working with what you have and not living beyond your means paved the way for understanding these advanced principles.

6. She Made It Work, No Matter What

The women who raised us didn’t just budget; they led by example. They sacrificed, planned, and kept going even when times were tough. They made do with less so we could have more. That’s financial leadership in action.

How Money Works for Women encourages all of us to become this kind of leader in our own lives—to plan, protect, save, and build a financial legacy to pass down. The resilience and ingenuity of the women who raised us serve as a model to follow and build upon.

This Mother’s Day, Carry It Forward

Mother’s Day isn’t just about honoring the women who taught us how to love. It’s about celebrating the ones who gave us the tools to build a secure, independent future.

Take this opportunity to pass on the financial wisdom you’ve learned. Sharon Lechter and Kim Scouller emphasize in How Money Works for Women that you don’t need to know everything to make a difference. What matters is starting, learning, and sharing.

Here are a few ways to begin carrying the lessons forward:

- Check your finances and revisit your goals.
- Talk about money with someone younger.
- Start saving or investing, even if it’s baby steps.
- Share your knowledge with others in your community.

The financial lessons we gain from these women don’t just shape our choices; they shape our futures and ripple through generations.

To the moms, grandmothers, aunts, mentors, and strong women who continue to teach us the value of money and hard work—we thank you. And to everyone learning and passing it forward, here’s to building a legacy of financial wisdom.

Happy Mother’s Day!