Our Debt Free Family

Commit. Plan. Take action.

My Second Mother’s Day

| Leave a Comment

<p>For those who have been following the blog for a while, you know that this is my second Mother’s Day as a mom of one. We celebrated when I was just a “dog mom” but there is something really special about being a mother to this amazing little girl. Being her mom has made me want to be a better person, improve my finances, take better care of myself, and be more kind. It sounds cliché, but everything I do is for her and our family’s success.</p>::Pexels

For those who have been following the blog for a while, you know that this is my second Mother’s Day as a mom of one. We celebrated when I was just a “dog mom” but there is something really special about being a mother to this amazing little girl. Being her mom has made me want to be a better person, improve my finances, take better care of myself, and be more kind. It sounds cliché, but everything I do is for her and our family’s success.

The Amazing Moms in My Life

I’ve been really lucky to have some amazing moms in my life. Of course, my mother was an inspiration to me in many ways growing up. She always chased her dreams (playing violin in several orchestras my entire life). On top of that, she was always a businesswoman. She’s been an administrative professional for 25+ years and even went back to school in 2021/2022 to get additional certifications to work in the medical space. Over time, our relationship graduated from mother-daughter to friend-confidant. I really cherish her!

My mom wasn’t the only mother who had an impact on my life though. I had a number of amazing moms in my life that truly made a difference. I was lucky to grow up with three grandmothers. Each of them taught me things that I still carry with me to this day. My Nana is the only one that is still with us and I think about all the crafts and life lessons she taught me growing up. Not to mention, she instilled a love for reading in me at a young age, something I’m still very thankful for today.

Outside of the family, I think about all the moms of friends and band moms throughout my years in school. There is something really special about mothers that make them want to nourish all the children in their space. That’s beautiful to me!

How We Are Celebrating Mother’s Day

This year, I get to celebrate my second Mother’s Day (yay!). I truly love being a mom and I am so thankful I got the opportunity to be one. I know many people who suffer from infertility and other issues who aren’t able to experience being a mother, so I don’t take it for granted.

We are celebrating with my mom and Nana this year, as we normally do. I got my mom a really special gift that I hope she loves and we picked up something nice for my Nana too. We will all be meeting at my mom’s house for brunch. It’s always a great time when we all get together. I’m looking forward to it.

To all the moms out there, I hope you know how special you are and how much of a difference you make in the lives of your children, your spouses, and beyond. You’re amazing! Happy Mother’s Day!!

Read More: 

Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate Mother’s Day

| Leave a Comment

<p>This Sunday is Mother’s Day and it is my first as an expecting mother. It is also the first in a couple of years that I will actually be able to see my mother and grandmother during the weekend. Most of us are on a budget these days, so we’ve been digging around for some low-cost ways to celebrate as well as frugal gift ideas. Here’s how we are spending the holiday.</p>::Pexels

This Sunday is Mother’s Day and it is my first as an expecting mother. It is also the first in a couple of years that I will actually be able to see my mother and grandmother during the weekend. Most of us are on a budget these days, so we’ve been digging around for some low-cost ways to celebrate as well as frugal gift ideas. Here’s how we are spending the holiday.

Low-Cost Ways to Celebrate

The best way to save money on your Mother’s Day celebration and other get-togethers throughout the year is by hosting a potluck-style event. This year, we will all be bringing something over to my mom’s for our meal together. I was in charge of bringing a dessert, which is always a relatively low-cost part of the meal. I’ll be bringing cookies and a pie. Here are a few more ideas for low-cost ways to celebrate.

  • Have the party later. Typically, having your celebration the week after the actual holiday can help save you some money. All of the Mother’s Day gifts and cards will be on sale next week, saving you some cash. You will also miss the rush of people at restaurants and other events, which could potentially save you money as well.
  • Scope out deals and freebies. This is another great way to save money on your celebration. Every year there are retailers and restaurants that offer deals and freebies for Mother’s Day. In some cases, you may even be able to score mom a free meal.
  • Create memories instead of buying things. If you are truly focused on finding low-cost ways to celebrate, finding ways to create memories instead of spending money is a good route to go. Do free activities with her like visiting a park or find cheap, fun things to do with her instead of dropping money on a big gift. Chances are, these activities will mean more to her anyway.
  • Start new free (or cheap) traditions. For instance, we used to go on a walk after big meals together (just me and mom). These walks are a memory I’ll always have with her. Look for some traditions you can start with your mom this year that don’t cost much if anything at all.
  • Do lunch instead of dinner. If you are going out to eat, lunch is always cheaper than dinner. You can save a good bit of money by heading to a Mother’s Day breakfast or lunch instead of a dinner out.

Small Gifts

Another way we’ve managed to keep costs down this Mother’s Day is by limiting the amount we are spending on gifts to under $20 per person. It may not seem like a lot, but the gifts we’ve picked out are meaningful. They each also signify each of our mother’s “graduation” into grand motherhood with the coming of our new child (something each of them is excited about). Consider getting her a low cost gift like this 100 premium date ideas book. You may not be the one taking her on those dates but the creative ideas will surely bring some excitement to her romantic relationship.

All in all, the best thing you can do to keep your Mother’s Day celebration low-cost is by setting a budget and sticking to it. This goes for all of the holidays throughout the year. If you are strict with the budget you have set for your celebration, you’ll be golden.

Readers, how much do you budget for Mother’s Day each year?

Read More