Mother’s Day is right around the corner. Has the gift-buying panic set it yet? We're here to help you calm your nerves with some great Mother’s Day gift ideas that won’t break the bank. The mother in your life might be expecting something that looks expensive. We hope that these cheap or free gift ideas look just as expensive, if not more expensive, than the nicest jewelry or the most beautiful bouquets.
Because she's worth it...
Write something
Nothing can mean more than a really nice card, letter, or poem—straight from the heart. Sometimes we just don’t take the time to tell people how much they mean to us. Tell her everything you love and appreciate her for. Tell her all the things she has taught you and how she has made you a better person.
Give the gift of time
Whatever she wants to do, give her the time to do it. Maybe she wants to be at home alone. Maybe she wants to spend the evening with friends. Maybe she wants to do something else. No matter what it is, take away all stressors and give her the time to do it.
Have a spa day
Taking mom to a spa can be pretty expensive. But what if you bring the spa to her? There are lots of DIY and at-home treatments you can do (or a skilled friend can do) to make her feel like she is at a spa: light some candles, put on some nice music, run a warm bath, give pedicures or manicures...just create a whole list of her favorites. You might be surprised by what household ingredients can make a face mask!
Spend time together
Give her your undivided attention. Turn off the TV, the phone, all devices and work-related things. Go outside and do an activity. Play board games. Go for a hike. Play a sport. Just go on some kind of adventure that she will love.
Wash her car
How wonderful is it to get in a nice, clean car? It can make your morning so much better. To show the mother in your life how much you appreciate her, wash her car and clean out the interior.
Make her a meal
This does not mean ordering in and then putting it on plates. Actually look for recipes, go the store, and make her favorite meal in the kitchen. This can be the classic breakfast in bed or you could try for a special lunch, dinner, or dessert.
Do some chores
Very simple, but effective. Try doing the laundry, mopping, sweeping, anything you can to show her that you appreciate everything she does around the house. To make it extra special, make sure to do the chores she hates the most.
Look at photos together
There’s nothing like walking down memory lane to show someone you care. Some mothers may feel unappreciated but showing her how much you remember about all the great times you had with her, will bring a huge smile to her face. Make it extra special by scanning all the old family photos and putting them on a disc or a drive so that they will never fade. After all this, there won't be a dry eye in the house.
Volunteer
What’s better than making your community a better place and spending quality time with your mom too? Pick a project that she cares about and plan a day of volunteering with her. This will show her that you really listen to her and care about her interests.
Make a change
Moms are usually good at “suggesting” how we should improve our lives. The gift that keeps on giving is actually listening for once. Enough is enough. Make a commitment to quit a bad habit or to start doing something differently.
Have a movie night
Pick her favorite movies, get some popcorn or her other favorite movie snacks and let her be in charge of what everyone watches for once.
Make some homemade items
There are many cool DIY projects for scrubs, fashion, and home decor online. Many of these projects require things you already have around the house or about to throw away, so are great if your bank account is feeling lean.
Create IOU Coupons
This one can be a bit of a cliche, but if you are going to go this route make sure the coupons are for things she will actually like.
Just say “Thank You”
Saying a heartfelt “Thank You” for everything she has done can be an amazing gift. Simple, yet effective.
Mother’s Day doesn’t have to be about the most expensive gifts. Sometimes the little things can be worth so much more. Wishing all the moms out there a Happy Mother’s Day!