Seeing my mother’s Instagram posts from Santorini while I stressed over rent money felt like a betrayal. “How can she afford this but not help me?” I complained to friends.
Our confrontation was emotional. “I sacrificed for 40 years,” she reminded me. “Now it’s your time to build your own security.” Her words hurt, but made me examine my choices—the daily coffees, impulse purchases, and lack of savings plan.
With her guidance (but not her money), I turned things around. A year later, I’m debt-free with an emergency fund. That photo of her smiling in Greece? Now it inspires me to plan my own future wisely.
