Recently, I found myself facing a feeling I didn’t expect: questioning one of my mom’s choices. She had just turned 70 and treated herself to something she’d never done before—a designer dress that cost $1,800. She said it was for her book club and the occasional lunch with friends. At first, I was surprised. Not because she doesn’t deserve something nice, but because the timing felt unexpected.
My son, Tyler, is about to start college. Every bit of financial help matters right now. I couldn’t help but think how that money could have eased the stress we’re feeling. It was hard to understand how my mom, someone who has always been careful with money, decided to make such a big personal purchase.
She’s always been practical. She reused wrapping paper, clipped coupons, and once returned a new toaster because it was “too fancy.” So when she mentioned the dress over dinner, I thought she was joking. But she smiled and said, “It’s beautiful, and it made me feel good.”
Trying to keep things light, I asked, “Mom, that’s a lot of money. Are you sure it couldn’t have gone toward something else? Maybe helping with Tyler’s college fund?” She looked at me calmly and said, “I’ve helped where I can. This was something I did for myself.”
I didn’t say more that evening, but her response stayed with me. We’re not in a place where we can ignore expenses, and Tyler’s doing everything right—working, applying for scholarships—and still, we’re coming up short.
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