feWhat Did Your Mom Teach You About Money?

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(yoshiffles)

When I was in first grade, the lunch lady at my school informed me that my parents had overpaid for my meals for the month, and sent the extra money home with me, as I remember it. I took it to my mom, who said that everyone should have a bank account, and that we could use that $18 or so to start one for me. And to add to that — she said that moolah could grow to a larger amount all by itself through a magical thing called “interest.”

That was the first real thing I can remember learning about money — along with how much to pay the ice cream truck guy, what to charge for my fledgling babysitting service and that student loans were not to be taken lightly, as well as many other lessons I gleaned from both of my parents.

From saving for a rainy day, to getting a job to fund your education; saving spare change in piggybanks or investing in a 401k, we want to know: What personal finance lessons did your mother/grandmother/maternal figure teach you growing up that have stuck with you to this day?

Send us your best tips from mom to tips@consumerist.com with the subject line MONEY MOM and we’ll celebrate her wisdom by sharing it with everyone else.

by Mary Beth Quirk via Consumerist