In May, we honour mothers on a special day but know in our hearts that we need to honour their shaping of our lives all year long. Quite often it was mom that planned the budgets for clothes and food while dad took care of other expenses. Mom helped us decided whether the birthday money should be spent or saved for a specific item. It was mom who wanted us to be good to ourselves – especially when we left home to find our way in the world. She wanted us to make sure we met our basic expenses like rent, hydro, phone and groceries before the concerts, eating out and the latest of everything. Mom placed ‘needs’ above ‘wants’ and we should do the same. How often do you puzzle over a spending decision and think back to advice from Mom? Or better yet, do you call her?

Doris Minervini, Abakhan & Associates Inc., Abakhan.com