How to Appreciate Mom on a Budget
You're not alone if you find yourself overspending on Mother’s Day. The average American will spend close to $200 this month to make Mom feel special. It’s wonderful to show your love and appreciation, but you don’t need to blow your budget to make that happen. Here's how to appreciate Mom on a budget.
1. Give mom a staycation
Give your mother a day off – at home! Make arrangements for her to be completely free of all housework on her special day. There’s no laundry, cooking, or cleaning for her today! Offer to assume the responsibilities of all her daily chores, tidy up as per Mom’s standards, and prepare all her meals. You can create a homemade gift card entitling the bearer to one full day of all household chores and present it to Mom in the morning.
Give your mother a small vacation – she deserves it!
2. Go out – for free
Search your neighborhood forums for local attractions with no or low admission fees. You might get lucky with an interesting museum or a beautiful overlook point just a short drive away. Otherwise, you can prepare a picnic lunch, bring some balls and Frisbees, and spend the day at a scenic park with the whole family. Pack a portable grill and hot dogs to make it a full-day event!
3. Make some memories
Celebrate Mother’s Day with the most enjoyable trip down memory lane. Spend time gathering and editing the best home video footage you can find. Include major family milestones and memorable events and/or vacations. Put it together and present your gift to Mom on her special day. Then, sit back with the rest of the family and reminisce about the good old times.
Similarly, you can gift Mom priceless memories by creating a family scrapbook. Use patterned cardstock, your best family photos, ticket stubs, and other fun mementos to help Mom remember old times. If Mom’s a grandmother several times over, you can even have each family member – or each grandchild – design their page for Grandma.
4. Look for bargains online
If you can’t get around spending money on Mom’s gift, search for seasonal discounts online before spending a penny. You’ll find excellent Mother’s Day deals on Amazon, Coach, Kohl’s, and other major retailers, sometimes as steep as 84% off retail price.
5. Have a family movie night
Spend a relaxing day at home binge-watching Mom’s favorite movies together. Prepare lots of fresh popcorn and snacks, pour her a glass of her favorite drink, and get comfy on the couch. Remember: Mom is in charge of the remote! It’s her day, after all.
6. Look for restaurant deals
Eating your home-cooked food is always the cheapest, but if you know your mom is looking forward to a dinner out, look for local restaurant deals before deciding on a place to eat. Many eateries offer special Mother’s Day deals or even free menu items for moms.
Order your dinner to keep costs down while enjoying takeout food. You’ll save on beverages and service fees without the hassle of preparing your meal. Be sure to set the table with Mom’s best china – and do the dishes when you’ve finished eating.
7. Go easy on the flowers
Flowers are always appreciated, but they can cost a bundle! Save on Mom’s bouquet by shopping around for the best Mother’s Day deals. Save even more by purchasing your flowers in the supermarket and arranging them in a vase or pitcher you already have in the house. Or, think outside the box and get her a potted plant!
8. Game night
For a fun family activity focusing on Mom, turn your favorite games into Mother’s Day material. Love trivia? Put together a list of random questions about Mom’s life, hobbies, and daily schedule, and play a super fun game of Trivial Pursuit. Pass around the most hilarious pictures you can find of Mom and let everyone take a stab at guessing when and where they happened. Get creative and host the family game night that Mom will always remember.
Showing Mom how much she means to you doesn’t have to strain your budget. With research and proper planning, you can give Mom some priceless memories she’ll cherish forever.
However you celebrate, we all at Elevate hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day. We hope you enjoyed these helpful tips to appreciate mom on a budget. Check out more articles like this on our MoneySmart Tips blog!
Your Turn: How do you celebrate Mother’s Day without draining your wallet? Share your best tips with us in the comments!