Five frugal mother’s day gifts that don’t involve flowers

I learned everything I know about shopping from my Mum. She has a great eye and can find something fabulous in places you’d never think to look. But while my Mum loves beautiful things, they’re not really what she wants for Mother’s Day. I know this because every year she asks for the same thing: time. Whether it’s a walk, a movie or lunch, my Mum loves it when she gets me all to herself — in fact, I am pretty sure she’s the only person in the world who thinks this way! Time is such a precious commodity because, between work and my kids, I don’t have very much of it to give. And of course, it doesn’t cost money.

My point here is that your mother probably doesn’t want an expensive gift for Mother’s Day — so you don’t have to spend a fortune to make her happy. With some thought and a bit of imagination, you can give your Mom something she really wants this year without spending a ton of dough. Here are just a few ideas:

A letter: It can be really hard for a lot of daughters to tell their mothers how much they value them. A letter or card that talks about important and memorable moments with your Mom, or ways she has influenced you (positively of course!), would be a great gift to her.

Make dinner: It doesn’t have to be fancy, but taking the time to make a meal for your Mom and spend time with her is another good (and frugal) way to show her she’s special to you.

Make a photo album: I love getting photos from people, especially because all my pictures are digital and I have far too few print photos around. Make a picture album for your mother with your favourite shots of you two together and, if this applies to you, lots of pictures of her grandkids too.

Invite her over for a special movie night: Like a lot of people I know, I learned to love movies by watching them with my Mum. Rent your favourite films, make some homemade pizza and kick back with your mother this year.

Take her for a manicure: They don’t cost all that much money, and it’s a really nice treat you can enjoy together.