Saving Money on Mother’s Day
admin • May 14, 2020
Whether you're looking for the perfect treat for you and your mum to enjoy together, or you're a partner hoping to help the kids make their mum feel special, we've got you covered with our guide to spending as little as possible this Mother's Day.
Firstly, don't panic
If there's one thing that will drain your money faster than a night at the casino, it's the Panic Buy.
You know the one: that 'novelty' item by the till, the first thing you see next to the Mother's Day banner, or the 'reassuringly' pricey item that looks suspiciously like tat but must be good for that price.
This year, you're going to save money by resisting the panic buy. But it's going to take some planning. So stay calm and let us do all the work!
Find Some Inspiration
We recommend doing your research on Pinterest: it really is the unimaginative – sorry, busy -person's saviour!
If you decide to get crafty and make her something, sites like Etsy and Not on the High Street are perfect for getting inspired. Unless you're a master crafter, you'll probably want to opt for a simpler creation than those actually for sale, but the quirky gifts are sure to fill you with ideas.
Gifting on a budget
If you've got a little to spend, we've got a few ideas:
• From sons or daughters: this jar of treats looks great and wouldn't need to cost much to fill. Some bubble bath, a pair of cosy socks, and a few handfuls of heart-shaped chocolates is all it takes to give you the perfect 'pamper pack' - and the gifts will look ten times more luxurious thanks to the presentation jar.
• From husbands or partners: When you have kids you get a free pass to give 'thoughtful' gifts that mean a lot but cost a little. Our favourite idea is to help your little one make this salt dough footprint heart, which is sure to melt their mum's heart, too.
If you have a budget of zero, we can still help. Try these fail-safe options:
• Gift cheques. Write out a few IOUs for things like 'a special afternoon tea - made by me' or even just 'a cup of tea in bed.'
• Use your talent, or help the kids show off theirs. Whether this means singing her a song or writing her a poem, mums never tire of seeing their kids do something they're good at, and it won't cost you a thing to put on a special Mother's Day performance
Make it happen
Activities are a great idea for Mother's Day. We're all so busy these days, we reckon mum will appreciate you saying "I've set aside a whole day to spend some quality time with you" much more than any gift. If you don't want to spend much on your day out, follow our tips:
From sons or daughters:
• A spa day is the ultimate pampering activity, but it can be really expensive. The solution? Search those voucher sites! Websites like Groupon and Wowcher will be brimming with offers targeted at all you Mother's Day present-buyers, so find out what's happening in your town or city and make the most of the discounts. Top tip: You'll probably have more luck making a booking during the week, so why not save yourself some money and change Mother's Day to a weekday. That's right; if you're serious about saving, you'll need to be ready to bend some rules.
• Get active and feel great. We know working out may not sound like a treat, but hear us out. Working out will give your fitness levels a boost, give you a burst of those lovely feel-good chemicals, and give you a shared experience. Plus, if it's been a while since you worked those muscles, you're sure to have a giggle at the same time. What's more, you can do it for free: just grab yourselves a couple of free gym day passes.
From partners:
• Find an event or exhibition that she'll love, and take her. This is perfect because it'll show you know her tastes (not just the things she does to keep the kids entertained!) and want to share them with her. This might involve visiting an art exhibition, a museum, a fashion show, a talk, a book signing… Have a good think and do your research.
Top tip: Presenting her with tickets to an event will be as good - perhaps better - than taking her on Mother's Day itself. So look ahead to get a good event at a reasonable price.
Forget it (kind of…)
You could also feel that, just like Christmas and Halloween, Mother's Day has gotten silly. Shops are full of expensive gifts touted as 'the perfect way to show her you care', and we're bombarded with advertisements telling us to book some experience or other to 'give her the treat she deserves.' But really, who decided we need a dedicated day to show mum we care?
There's always the option not to get caught up in the advertising, and forget Mother's Day to save money. We would still recommend a little note telling her how special she is. A "thanks for being great, Mum" from the son or daughter who always forgets to ring is worth more than the nicest gift, after all. And we all know it's the thought that counts, right?*
*Some mums would disagree. In these cases, it is probably best to get that gift she's been dropping hints about for the last month, as we can't save you from the look of disappointment when you turn up without a present when she's expecting one.