Mothers teach us a lot. From teaching us how to walk to instilling respect for food by scaring us with the sudden arrival of the boogeyman. How these things add to our character is a topic for another blog. In this blog, we want to be focusing on the finance prowess our mothers teach.

As we grow older, we come to learn a lot from how our mothers manage their households and families. Sometimes these lessons are imparted deliberately, but mostly they come in bursts of shoutings, beatings, and the silent treatment. 

From all that we learn from our mothers, handling money would definitely be something everyone can take notes on, be it a teenager or the financial advisor of a fortune 500 company. 

Our mothers seem to have a sixth sense when it comes to budgeting and saving money - all while ensuring our needs are met. 

We’ve condensed what we’ve learned from our mothers in various situations so the next time you display a positive tendency with money, you know who to thank. 

The Travelling Mother

Most of us have travelled with family to visit new countries or new places. Out of the barrage of embarrassing things that families did on vacation, perhaps the most embarrassing used to be the amount of home-made snacks your mother packed and thrusted into your hand at every opportunity she got. Back then we used to feel victimised, avoiding eye-contact with the world while we bit into our ‘theplas’.

However, in the middle of this embarrassment, we failed to notice how mothers knew exactly the kind of drama their kids would do, the specific snack times through the day, who ate what and in what quantity, and therefore what and how much to carry.

Keeping mild childhood trauma aside, this process is something large companies today fail to implement efficiently. Even on the personal finance front, if we could pull this level of planning, we’d make our mother proud.

The Shopping Conundrum

Ever been shopping with your mother? It’s quite the sight. What seems to be a routine trip is actually one of the most impressive shows of self-control, budgeting, and smart shopping.  

When you enter the supermarket, there’s a list of needs that your mother holds and looks at from time to time. 

However, every family member on that shopping trip has a different, secret list of wants. Some of us kids wanted every snack in the snack aisle while the others looked at this trip as a free for all and eyed that latest toy every other kid has. 

Even mom has a secret list of ‘mom wants’. How our mothers find ways to stick to the list of needs and yet make some space for some of these wants is quite an amazing phenomenon. 

Like tools that others like us might not give importance to, mothers use their keen eye to look out for savings, offers, coupons, and every other avenue of staying within the budget. 

Buy one get one? Yes please. 20% off on collecting 100 coupons? What luck I have them right in my handbag!

If we’ve paid attention to what our mothers were doing on these trips, we’d be better equipped in our own modern day shopping trips to spend less than we can and save more than we ever thought of. 

Savings Galore

Now, let's delve into the world of savings, where mothers are the undisputed champion. Remember those moments when mom would turn seemingly useless items into treasures? Like when she'd repurpose old jars as storage containers or transform worn-out clothes into trendy new outfits. It was like watching a magician at work, turning nothing into something valuable.

And let's not forget her knack for finding the best deals. Mothers can sniff out a discount from a mile away, whether it was a buy-one-get-one-free offer or a loyalty card that saved a few bucks. Her ability to stretch a dollar was nothing short of impressive, and it's a skill that's worth its weight in gold.

In today's world of endless consumerism, we could all learn a thing or two from mom's thriftiness. By adopting her "waste not, want not" attitude, we can not only save money but also reduce waste and live more sustainably. It's a win-win, just like mom always knew it would be.

The Investment Maestro

Last but not least, let's talk about mom's approach to long-term financial security. Mothers, despite all their quirks and unique ways of disciplining us, have always looked out for us. Even in the long-term, they don't fail to make sure the family is happy and taken care of. 

While some may raise an eyebrow at her penchant for investing in gold, mothers know what they're doing. They see gold not just as a shiny metal but as a symbol of stability and security for their family's future. It's no surprise that 11% of the world's gold is safe with Indian mothers around the world.

 In many ways, mom is the original investor, always thinking ahead and planning for the long term. Her investment in gold is a testament to her foresight and her commitment to ensuring her family's financial well-being. And who knows, maybe one day we'll look back and thank mom for her golden touch in more ways than one.

In conclusion, "Mom math" is not just about budgeting; it's a way of life. It's about being practical, creative, and always thinking ahead. So, the next time you see mom pulling off another budgeting miracle, give her a high-five and thank her for the masterclass in "Mom math."