Mother's Day is upon us and with everyone watching their spending, it's a safe bet most folks are looking to get the biggest bang for their buck when it comes to gift buying. And this includes Mother's Day.
How about considering some no- or low-cost ideas? You can show Mom how much you lover her without stretching your budget to the limit, even if you wait until the last minute.
The most obvious solution to the problem is to take your mom out for lunch or dinner. Many restaurants offer a free meal for Mom on Mother's Day, so you can treat her to a really nice meal, without a huge tab.
Another option is a family portrait. You may think this isn't a last minute kind of gift, but in this digital age, it certainly can be. Find a photo of the whole family, the kids or grandkids, and have it enlarged and framed for Mom. And remember to think outside the box – consider a picture that isn't the normal "posed" variety.
Think about the things that Mom loves but won't buy herself – like chocolate or some spa services. Then put together a basket containing her favorites. Perhaps your mom is a gardener, and there are some plants she's been eyeballing but hasn't had time to purchase yet. Buy the plants, and go a step further – go ahead and plant them for her. Or give her some new garden tools and seed packets. For a no-cost surprise, weed or mulch the flower beds or vegetable garden she's already planted.
How about a homemade gift? Decorated jars, mugs or plates are easy and inexpensive. You can also fill a jar with your mother's favorite candy and decorate it.
Books aren't that expensive, and if you know your mom's favorite author, or at least genre, you can find a book you can afford that she will love.
Consider taking photos from the past year, and making your mom a scrapbook or photo album, with special notes from yourself and other family members about the depicted events. You'll be giving Mom more than just a gift – you'll be giving her memories.
And last of all, if your mom is just as thrifty as you – after all, you had to get it from somewhere – you can give your mom coupons. If you've spent time in her home, you know the types of things she buys, and you can clip coupons, as well as printing online coupons, and package them nicely for her.
You can also give her coupons you create, offering up your services for laundry, yard work, home repairs, car repairs, etc.
Whatever you do, remember that no matter what you spend, your mom will know you love her because, as Mother always says, it's the thought that counts.