Smart Tips for Buying Mother’s Day Gifts on a Budget

Editorial Note:

Updated: May 4, 2022

Another Mother’s Day is almost upon us. And all mothers deserve to be acknowledged in a special way. So, if you haven’t already done so, you should figure out what special gifts you can buy to honor the mothers you know. Whether it’s your own mother, the mother of your kids, or other mothers you know, you will want to ensure they know they’re special. If you’re thinking about getting Mother’s Day gifts on a budget, read on to find out more.

Mother’s Day Festivities Under the Cloud of Covid-19

While no one wants to allow COVID-19 to ruin their Mother’s Day plans, the reality is that the coronavirus is still a serious threat. It is true that Americans are getting vaccinated. Even so, CDC suggests that the best ways to celebrate the occasion include the following ones:

  1. Online
  2. Inside your home with members of your own household
  3. Outside your home with members of your household

Many consumers have accepted that Mother’s Day will have to be done differently this year due to the pandemic. According to NRF’s annual Mother’s Day survey, fewer Americans (83% compared to 86% a year ago) plan to celebrate Mother’s Day this year. Even so, spending is expected to increase. The survey shows that consumers expect to fork out a total of $28.09 billion on Mother’s Day. The average per-person spending tally is expected to come in at $220.48. Do you want to honor your mother but don’t want to lay waste to your budget in the process? You can definitely get Mother’s Day gifts on a budget.

Mother’s Day Budget Planning

As you gear up for your Mother’s Day shopping, it’s important that you work out a realistic budget. The key word here is “realistic.” If it’s too low, you won’t stick to it. If it’s too high, you will overspend and later regret it. One word of advice: The earlier you start, the easier you will find it to get Mother’s Day gifts on a budget.

Look for Great Sales

In theory, it’s not all that hard to do Mother’s Day shopping. All you really have to do is take a look at what’s out there in the weeks leading up to the big day. You can also head to the internet to proactively seek out suitable Mother’s Day gifts. You’ll want to find the best deals, and this includes seeing who offers free shipping, gift wrapping, and product returns.

Understand Sales Cycles

If you can figure out the best time to make purchases for certain items, you can save quite a bit of money. For instance, stores will usually put products on sale at a certain time of year to make room for the new inventory. So if you can find out when the types of Mother’s Day gifts you’re interested in buying will go on sale, you’ll definitely score some great deals.

Don’t Forget Coupons

In order to get the best deals, seek out special sales codes and coupons that some e-retailers offer for Mother’s Day gift buying. Are you part of any retailer’s loyalty program? If so, check for any correspondence via email or mail to see if any of them have sent you promotions that you can use towards Mother’s Day gifts.

Look for Free Shipping Deals

Look for retailers that offer incentives like free shipping if you spend over a certain amount. You might be able to take advantage of free shipping courtesy of using your credit card shopping portal.

Save on Gift Wrapping

Did you know you can save money on gift wrapping? Some retailers will include it for free. Otherwise, you can go with other options. For instance, you can re-use gift wrapping paper from previous occasions. You can also try options such as, among other things, using gift bags you may still have on hand from previous holidays like Christmas.

Take Your Time When Buying Online

When you visit an online retailer, browse through their deals, add things to your virtual shopping cart, and then allow items in the cart to sit there for a while before finalizing the transaction. The reason for this is that retailers will more likely than not offer further discounts via email in order to entice you to complete your purchase.

Redeem Points to Buy Gift Cards

You should also consider redeeming points with any loyalty programs you’re enrolled in to buy gift cards. A lot of credit cards offer the option of buying gift cards using points accumulated in your account. Typically we don’t recommend doing this because it has a low redemption rate or effective cash back. However, if you have accumulated a lot of points and have no plans, why not use those points to get gift cards that you can then use to buy Mother’s Day gifts.

Maximize Your Purchase

  • There are credit card portals that link to shopping websites. It’s easy to earn rewards courtesy of these links.
  • You can also use cash back apps and sites to earn cash back for your purchases.
  • You’ll be able to get debit card cash back for making purchases at some stores.
  • If you happen to be an Apple Pay user, ensure you sign up with Apple Pay so that you get cash back when transacting while using the service.

Consider Homemade Gifts

You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a great Mother’s Day gift. Some of the best gifts can be made by you from the comfort of your own home. For instance, you can make scented candles and other things. A quick online search will give you ideas for DIY gifts.

Ideas for Free Mother’s Day Gifts

The most cost-effective Mother’s Day gift is a gift that costs you no money at all. Here are some ideas that will be easy on your budget:

  • Plan Online Party for You and Mom

You can use Zoom or another online conferencing app to hold a virtual online party with your mom on Mother’s Day. You can include all your siblings in the virtual party – and don’t leave your dad out either. Have everyone share what they love most about mom.

  • Organize a Day Trip

COVID-19 protocols mean that you have to be careful about going around and about. But there’s nothing wrong with taking your mom to an open space like a park. If the weather’s nice, go for a walk… just make sure that everyone is appropriately distanced from others.

  • Create a Card

If you have a computer and a printer, there’s no reason why you can create a great Mother’s Day card that will delight your mom. Use your creativity and show her how you feel.

  • Breakfast in bed 

Another option is to prepare your mom a special breakfast and to serve it to her in bed. You likely know what she loves to eat in the morning. So you’ll know exactly what to do.

Conclusion 

Sometimes the best gifts cost nothing. But if you will be spending on a Mother’s Day gift, remember that it’s possible to get Mother’s Day gifts on a budget. By keeping in mind the aforementioned tips, you’ll be able to find an appropriate gift that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.

Ekaterina Redko

I have always wanted to live a full life without stressing out about money. After finishing university, I started work and soon realized that my salary didn’t match the kind of life I wanted. I took a side hustle, hoping it would make me wealthier – it didn’t. I still had to live paycheck to paycheck. Why? I wanted to figure this out and did it.

The truth is that it is not the amount of money that makes you wealthy, but the way you manage it.  My problem was the lack of proper spending habits and discipline with money. I created a  budget and started saving. Budgeting took me a lot of time and effort, but that was worth it.

Now I understand that how much you save is way more important than how much you earn. Saving is one of the core principles of building wealth and achieving financial independence.

With Financial Freedom Guru, I’d like to share my knowledge and experience of managing money and building wealth. I hope that together we’ll manage to pave the way towards Financial Freedom.

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