Your sweet mama deserves all the love in the world this Mother’s Day. Even if you’ve put off picking out a card or getting a gift, you still have plenty of time to make your affections known and show her how much you care. Plus, your mom will want to know she raised you right and that you didn’t overspend this year. Here are a few simple ideas to keep your spending in check while still giving a gift that counts.
Make or Print a Card
The remaining selection at your greeting card store or big box retailer may be a little slim. So why not make a card just for mom like you used to? Either write a heart felt letter or print something out from the internet. Save a few dollars and put that money toward a more meaningful gift! Here are a few places where you an find a card:
- Cute Mother’s Day Coloring Sheet from Skip to My Lou
- 15 FREE Printable Mother’s Day Cards
- FREE Printable Mother’s Day Coupons from Zulily or more great ones form Skip to My Lou
- These simple cards from Chasing Gold are awesome!
Check the Gift Card Deals
Now through Father’s Day, you’ll see some of the best gift card deals of the year. You may actually want to head to the actual restaurant or retailer to make sure you’re getting the best deal. Many are offering an additional gift cards with purchase. By the way, even if you’re planning on taking mom out for brunch, lunch, or dinner, picking up the gift card and then using it will help you maximize your purchase. Among my favorite gift card deals are:
- Applebees: Purchase $50 in gift cards, get a bonus $10 gift card for free.
- Bonefish Grill: Purchase $50 in gift cards, get a bonus $10 gift card for free.
- Chipotle: Purchase $25 in gift cards, get a free burrito, bowl, order of tacos, or salad.
- Noodles & Company: $5 bonus gift card for every $25 purchased.
- Olive Garden: Purchase $50 in gift cards, get a bonus $10 gift card valid for a visit in June.
- Outback Steakhouse: $10 bonus gift card for every $50 purchased.
- Panera Bread: $10 bonus gift card for every $50 purchased.
- P.F. Chang’s: Purchase $50 in gift cards, get a bonus $10 gift card for free.
Mother’s Day Freebies
Plenty of businesses will be ready to help you honor your mom today. Be sure you check the stipulations, but you’ll find a few great ways to treat your mother to free food. Here are just a few of my favorites:
- Bob Evans: For her next four visits, mom can snag a FREE cup of coffee with a special voucher she’ll receive if you take her to Bob Evans on Sunday, May 8th.
- Fogo de Chao: Brazillian Steakhouse loving moms who want to go to Fogo de Chao’s will get a special treat. They’ll receive a special voucher good for a future lunch or dinner experience.
- Nestle Toll House Cafe: You can treat mom and snag an extra sweet for yourself or maybe Grandma. When you buy a 15 inch cookie cake at Nestle Toll House Cafe, you get 13 complimentary mini cookies, too.
- McCormick and Schmick’s: Your mom is sweet. McCormick and Schmick’s want to give her FREE Chocolate Dipped Strawberries to show her how much you care.
- RAM Restaurant and Brewery: Moms can have their choice of a free appetizer or dessert at RAM Restaurant and Brewery when they show this post to their waiter.
- Ruth’s Chris: If your mom LOVES steak, be sure to take her to Ruth’s Chris today. She’ll receive a free $25 gift card good for her next visit.
Pick Up a Perennial
Skip the dozen roses or the fancy floral arrangements. If your mom loves flowers, opt for a beautiful flower, plant, or tree that will come back year after year instead of ones that will wither in a week’s time.
Turn a Recipe Into an Heirloom
This still ranks as my favorite Mother’s Day gift I’ve ever given. A few years ago, I took the recipes of my grandmothers’ and of Brian’s grandmother and turned them into framed art for our moms’ kitchens. I went ahead and made a couple myself. It didn’t take much time at all and even non-crafty me was able to pull it off.
No matter how you choose to show your mom that you care, you’ll make her day if you simple remember to say thank you!
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out The Debt Free Devotional
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
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