When I was growing up, my parents couldn’t have been more different when it came to money.
My dad believed that money was meant to be enjoyed. If he wanted something, he bought it. My mom, on the other hand, approached money with caution. She carefully weighed every purchase and believed in saving for the future.
As a child, I didn’t think much about their different approaches. As an adult, I’ve realized I’ve been trying to reconcile those two philosophies ever since.
Should I enjoy what I earn today or save as much as I can for tomorrow?
For years, I thought those were my only two choices.
Lately, though, I’ve come to believe that maybe the answer isn’t choosing one over the other. Maybe it’s finding a balance that lets us enjoy life today while making sure tomorrow doesn’t keep us up at night.
That thought came back to me recently while learning about Sun Life’s Start Small, Live Bright Now campaign with Donny Pangilinan.
What struck me wasn’t that it was another campaign about saving or investing. It was its reminder that financial planning isn’t about postponing life. It’s about giving yourself the confidence to live it.
We All Wish We Started Earlier
One thing Donny says in the campaign caught my attention.
“I wish I had started earlier.”
And I really could relate.
For me, it’s retirement planning.
If I could have a conversation with my younger self, that’s probably one of the first things I’d tell her: start preparing for retirement sooner.
Of course, I’d also tell her something she probably wouldn’t believe at twenty-five.
Money can always be earned.
Time can’t.
The years pass whether we’re financially prepared or not.
Thankfully, Donny doesn’t stop at wishing he’d started earlier. He also reminds us that “There isn’t one ‘right track.’ Everyone has different tracks and timelines.”
I think that’s something many of us need to hear.
It’s so easy to compare ourselves with classmates who seem to have built successful businesses, bought homes, or retired early. Social media certainly doesn’t help. Before long, we begin to feel as though we’re running a race we’re already losing.
But financial journeys aren’t one-size-fits-all.
Some people start investing in their twenties. Others begin much later because life happened—careers, children, family responsibilities, unexpected expenses.
The important thing isn’t where you start.
It’s that you do.
What Does Living Bright Now Mean?
If you asked me this question ten years ago, I probably would have described a luxurious lifestyle.
Today, my answer is much simpler.
Living bright now means my family is comfortable.
It means our bills are paid without anxiety. We have savings for emergencies. We can make purchases that improve our quality of life or productivity without throwing our finances into chaos. We can enjoy good food, travel when we can, and create experiences together.
Ironically, I’m writing this while I’m in between regular jobs.
Years ago, that would’ve terrified me.
Today, our bills are still getting paid, and I haven’t had to place the entire financial responsibility on my husband.
That didn’t happen because of one brilliant financial decision.
It happened because of many small ones.
Small Really Does Matter
The campaign encourages people to start with an amount they’re comfortable setting aside, then build confidence through consistency.
That idea resonated because, looking back, that’s exactly how many of our family’s financial habits began.
Nothing dramatic.
Part of my payroll automatically goes into savings and capital accounts. My insurance premiums are charged automatically every month. Even our family menu planning has become part of our financial system because it helps us spend intentionally and waste less food.
Individually, those habits don’t seem particularly impressive.
Together, they’ve given us something that’s difficult to put a price on.
Peace of mind.
I’ve also learned that the wise use of resources—including money—creates opportunities to generate more.
Some of my best investments haven’t been financial products.
They’ve been investments in myself.
Learning new skills. Pursuing executive leadership opportunities. Traveling. Saying yes to experiences that expanded the way I think.
If someone asked me today what my brightest investment has been, I wouldn’t say stocks.
I’d say my children’s education and my own continuing learning.
Those are investments that continue paying dividends long after the money has been spent.
Not Every Expense Is Just an Expense
One of the most valuable things I’ve ever bought isn’t particularly glamorous.
It’s my smartphone.
It’s my office, my notebook, my camera, my entertainment, my communication tool, and my content creation studio.
I use it to work, to learn, to stay connected with people I love, and to create content that sometimes becomes another source of income.
It reminds me that value isn’t always measured by price.
The same is true of family experiences.
When we travel or discover a new restaurant together, I don’t think only about what we spent.
I think about the stories we’ll tell later.
The conversations we’ll remember.
The moments that help us know each other a little better.
To me, that’s when spending becomes an investment.
When it strengthens relationships instead of simply filling shopping bags.
The Legacy That Matters Most
Since becoming a parent, every financial decision has become bigger than me.
Of course I want to leave behind resources for my children.
But more than money or property, I hope I leave them something they’ll use for the rest of their lives.
Good judgment.
The ability to earn.
The discipline to manage money wisely.
And one simple principle:
Make it count.
Before you save.
Before you spend.
Before you invest.
Ask yourself how today’s decision might benefit you—or someone you love—not just today, but years from now.
Living Bright Starts With Today
Toward the end of the campaign, Donny shares a thought that beautifully captures what I’ve been learning myself:
“We shouldn’t make money the center of everything. That’s not the end goal. Instead, we should use it as a tool to build the life we want to live.”
That, to me, is what living bright now really means.
It’s not about choosing between enjoying today or preparing for tomorrow.
It’s about making intentional decisions so you can do both.
You don’t need to have everything figured out before you begin. You don’t need a perfect income, perfect timing, or a perfect financial plan.
You simply need to start.
Small, thoughtful decisions have a way of becoming meaningful habits. Those habits become confidence. And over time, that confidence becomes the foundation for a life that’s not necessarily more luxurious—but certainly brighter.
Ready to live bright now? Visit www.sunlife.co/LiveBrightNow or talk to a Sun Life advisor today by visiting www.sunlife.co/TalkToAdvisor.
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