I wish I followed my mother

There are moments when I have a smirk on my face when I remember the endless days in the past when mom kept telling me to save, save, save.

She started with her nagging (that's how my siblings and I called it) about saving money when we were already started working professionally. I remember also that I was a saver when I was studying, but consumerism hit me when an income started streaming in. Suddenly I had "needs". My "basic necessities" had more in the list - mobile phones, Starbucks coffee, etc. When I got salary increases, it found more ways to add to my "needs" list.

Life had its way of trying to teach me the value of money. I once lost $1000+ one night that I was having fun with friends. It wasn't my practice to bring big amounts of cash, so it was like "Of all nights!!!" reaction for me. I realized then how precious the buying power a person has with money. The idea of not having to worry about the financial future is something money can really buy. Losing $1000 had me nail-biting and staring into space for days. I cringe thinking about that time and I don't want it to ever happen to me again.

Anyway, I really struggled with saving money because I didn't have a purpose. Mom didn't tell me why I should, except for, well ensuring the future, which at that time was a complicated concept for me. I thought that I needed a purpose to save. I was single, starting my career in the right path, having fun dating, trying new stuff because I had income already...But you know I learned that if you can't think of a purpose, that is fine. Start with saving just for the heck of it. I don't know why didn't just start with that, but if I did I probably would have been a pro blogger about saving money for early 20s by now. :)

Mom just kept at it - save, save, save - but she didn't feel compelled to tell us why. It's like one of those life essentials to her. It's just like death and taxes. I regret having thoughts about being young and enjoying life without financially restricting myself. I guess I needed to satisfy myself in order to learn from it.

I wish I followed my mother. I really do. Though I don't tell her about this regret, I try to tell her in other ways like shopping smartly, budgeting, engaging her on financial talk, but not blogging though. :) Imagine the many opportunities early 20s offers, ugh, I wish I became financially smart then. Who knows where I would be now if I were. I'm not saying that "now" I am. It's still work in progress and you're there reading all about it!