Mother’s Day is right around the corner and you may be wondering if there’s a way to celebrate the day without blowing your budget.
There’s a lot of pressure in the retail world to spend big and buy extravagant bouquets of flowers, chocolates, jewelry, or wine. According to the US National Retail Federation (NRF), shoppers planned to spend an average of $220.48 on Mother’s Day in 2021.
But it doesn’t have to be an expensive day if you’re on a strict budget. The good news is that there are plenty of free or cheap ways to show your mom you love and appreciate her.
Here are 8 cheap ideas to celebrate Mother’s Day on a budget.
8 ways to save money while celebrating Mother’s Day
1. Plan a family outing
The great thing about Mother’s Day is that it falls in the spring which means the weather is starting to pick up. This makes it the perfect time of year to go out on a quiet family outing.
Consider a peaceful walk on a nature trail or a picnic in your mom’s favorite park. It’s a great way to spend some quality time with your family.
2. Create a menu of meals
If you really want to treat your mom this Mother’s Day, plan out a menu for the entire day and put your chef skills to the test.
Cooking up a selection of meals is a thoughtful way to pamper your mom. Perhaps design a physical menu and ask her to select what she wants. You could even go one step further and bake her favorite type of cake or dessert.
3. Create a beauty hamper
Mother’s Day is all about pampering, so why not put together a set of beauty products and suggest an in-home spa day?
If you have a spare basket or box, fill it with affordable beauty products such as face masks, scrubs, and bath bombs. Decorate it with a ribbon and present it as a thoughtful homemade gift.
4. Use family photos
Another thoughtful yet budget-friendly gift for Mother’s Day is to make use of family photos. You could either create a framed photo, customizing your frame yourself if you’re feeling creative. Or you could create a whole scrapbook with photos of the family. Present it with a special ribbon and you’ll create a gift that will bring happiness for years to come.
5. Present a bouquet of flowers
Why not keep it simple and stick with the classic Mother’s Day gift of flowers? Flowers can be surprisingly costly, but there are ways to find cheap flowers for Mother's Day.
You could either venture into a nature spot and gather wildflowers for your own bouquet or you could shop at your local market to find a budget-friendly bouquet.
6. Turn your hand to crafts
If you like making things, a homemade gift is a great way to show your love and appreciation. There are lots of different homemade gift ideas you could try out such as homemade candles, soap, a jewelry box, a potted plant, embroidery, or another trinket.
If you have young kids who want to show their love for mom, some fingerprint art or painted gifts can be a great way to get the whole family involved.
7. Bake some treats
If your mom has a sweet tooth then a perfect gift is to present her with some homemade treats. Bake some cookies, brownies, or cakes and present them in a nice gift box as a great homemade gift on a budget.
If cooking is not your thing, you could keep it simple and create a batch of chocolate-dipped strawberries instead which are always a classic on Mother’s Day.
8. Help out in the garden
For moms who are green-fingered, a day helping out in the garden will definitely be appreciated. Perhaps buy a new type of flower or plant a tree so she will get to enjoy your gift (and hard work) for years in the future.
Mother’s Day isn’t just about gifts
Remember, Mother’s Day isn’t just about buying gifts. While you might want to show your appreciation with extravagant gifts or a surprise cruise vacation, it’s not always possible.
Instead, remember that Mother’s Day is about family and togetherness and showing appreciation for your mom. Spending time creating or designing a thoughtful gift that she’ll remember for years to come is often far better than a shop-bought item anyway.
