Mother’s Day is only a week away. As you prepare to celebrate Mom this year, let’s talk about ways to spoil her without causing you to hit her up for cash a week later. After all, showing her you care doesn’t mean cheaping out, but it also doesn’t mean being financially irresponsible either. So here are some Mother’s Day FREE and affordable gift ideas for 2022.
Think About Your Mom & Ask Her
Before you begin shopping or even researching. Sit down and think about the things that your mom really loves. Flowers are lovely, but if she’s allergic, that will be a miss. Not all moms are cut from the same cloth. So stopping to consider what your mom loves and who she is will be beneficial in determining how to celebrate her. All she may want is a nap this year. But you won’t know unless you ask.
Free & Affordable Flowers
Many moms love flowers. If yours does, this might be a sweet and special way to bless her. I’m always going to recommend that you purchase flowers that can be planted over cut flowers so that moms can enjoy them all summer (and maybe even fall) long rather than for a week or two. Right now, participating Lowe’s Home Improvement stores are giving away FREE annuals for mom. I was able to register for one near me today. Local schools will also be hosting fundraisers with flowers, too. That’s a great way to be generous and give a gift at the same time. If you’d still rather do cut flowers, I would be sure to peek a the grocery store or warehouse retailer like Sam’s Club or Costco this week for special deals.
Gift Card Deals
A gift card is always a good choice in my book! Just be sure to include a thoughtful handwritten note or card along with it. If you’re looking to stretch your dollars further, you can find a few offerings for gift cards for under face value.
- Costco often carries local gift cards for less than what they’re worth. When I last shopped there, I found Cake Bake gift cards $100 for $79.99. Our location also had Sullivan’s Steakhouse, Crew Carwash, and other national chains.
- Sam’s Club carries a wide variety of gift cards from Disney to DSW and a number of restaurants, too. The majority come in at least a dollar or two under purchase price.
Many restaurants are offering gift card bonuses, too. If you purchase gift cards at the location or online you may also get an additional $5 or $10 in addition to a specified amount – usually $25 or $50. A few of the restaurants offering these types of deals between now and Father’s Day include:
- Bonefish Grill
- Carraba’s
- The Cheesecake Factory
- Cracker Barrel
- Chili’s
- Grubhub
- Red Lobster
- Metro Diner
Restaurant Deals
Many restaurants will be coaxing you in for business this week with their free offers for moms. But again, don’t let the deal determine where you go. Instead, ask mom where she’d like to go and then see what deals and offers those places have. Don’t forget the above mentioned restaurant gift card deals AND look for carryout or family meal options that you can eat at home. It’s likely to be very busy. Make reservations if you can. Keep the stress LOW when it comes to feeding mom.
Clear Out the To Do List
Maybe you should give your mom the gift of service this year. Tackle her to do list as a gftt. Whether it’s the dishes and the laundry or hanging pictures on the wall, pulling weeds or cleaning out a closet – help mom. She will be so grateful. Let her prioritize what needs to be done and then maybe send her out for an afternoon at Target or the above mentioned nap.
Give Your Words
In the end, as humans, we want to know that what we do matters. This is incredibly important for moms. Your mom will love being spoiled, but saying thank you and writing a letter of gratitude might mean even more. And believe it or not, both of those don’t cost a cent. Spend a few minutes on the phone or FaceTime. Write an email or a letter. And deliver those words intentionally.
Moms, Please Tell Us
Last, but not least, a word to all the moms out there. Please tell us what you really want when we ask. Or if you are a mom, don’t use the “you don’t have to get me anything!” line when we ask. We’d rather spend our money on things we know you’d love and enjoy than those items that will go unused. And if you are a mom, to avoid being disappointed, share exactly what you’d like. Don’t assume anyone can read your mind. I’m just learning this myself and trying to do better at not brushing off my own needs.
One last note, unless she wants it, please don’t buy your mom an appliance like a vacuum or a dishwasher. Those are household needs, not a Mother’s day gift. Let’s celebrate moms well this week!
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This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal, learn about a way to save, or maybe even something for free, I may end up making a small commission. All prices are subject to change.
