Frugal Mothers Day Gifts

[Thebluedog]

Rather than ordering the normal, extortionate bouquet of flowers in after some inspiration for any frugal gifts?

I did think of buying some weight watchers treats, such as their biscuits, cakes etc (she's on a diet and doing really well so don't want to ruin it for her) and packaging them up in some nice paper.

Any other ideas?

Tesco clubcard points can be converted into flowers for delivery, magazine subscriptions and meals out.

I wouldn't have thought ww treats would be very frugal. I would bake something like vegan brownies that cost pennies to make, taste amazing and can be frozen so will last her ages.

Thorntons had reduced chocolate the other day and all the supermarkets have wine offers.

Most online photo companies do introductory offers on photo books. Or pop to poundland etc and buy a frame. Decorate it and add a photo (get one developed in Boots and pay with points).

If you're crafty then knit a scarf or make a soft toy.

What type of thing does she like?

I often go for photo gifts if they are on a good offer.

As soon as I'd re-read that I thought it sounded like I was a right tight cow so thanks to you both for responding without calling me a tight cow

I like the idea of a photo as we don't currently have one of all 4 of us so I might take the camera out and see if I can set something up. If we do get a good one then I'll send a copy to my Mum in a nice frame.

Pound shop sells quite a lot of Weight Watcher treats.

TBH, I don't often do Mother's Day gifts and would hate it if my DCs wasted their money on one for me.

I have mum over for Sunday lunch and make a fuss of her but I don't buy a present as such. She and I both find the way that commercial interests say we "should" spend money on something tacky a bit off TBH.

If I had an idea for something she would love then the sky's the limit on what I'd be prepared to spend on it but I won't buy a gift just so I have "something" to give her.

Save your money and do something lovely for her instead

A plant rather than flowers. It lasts longer. Go to the garden centre or a local market.

Make her a nice meal.

Buy a gift box or bag and fill with goodies. A hand cream (s&g hand food is great), a nail varnish (clear if she's not girly - you can use amazon add-on to get a small Mac Factor one), a lottery ticket or scratch card, a small candle...

A book.

A photo gift. Get a nice frame and a picture she's love. Effort is usually more appreciated.

Make her a scrapbook.

Get children to make a card.

If you have siblings then see about putting money together for a bigger gift from you all.

Won't help you now OP, but I bought Soap & Glory handwash and hand cream sets for £5 each specifically as Mother's Day gifts in the Boots Christmas sale.

I am thinking of finding a good magazine subscription offer. Jamie Oliver mag looks nice but £10 for 5 issues or £26 for 10. I want 10 issues but would rather pay £20 than £26!!

I love to get a bunch of daffs or tulips

Watching with interest. Dh out of work so no spare money. Both DM and mil not nearby, so will need to post something. Last time I posted a photo in a frame it arrived broken and mil hasn't let us forget about it since! So not an option. May just send a card actually, as she doesn't appreciate anything, hence why we normally send flowers.

We're in the same boat Kazza, haven't got any spare cash to speak of and they live 6 hours way so cooking a meal isn't an option.

A scarf?
There are loads of inexpensive ones and won't any more than the card to send.

I was surprised to see this on amazon so cheap but has good reviews!

www.amazon.co.uk/Crystal-Pendant-Necklace-Swarovski-Valentines/dp/B004JAT6B6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394538194&sr=8-3&keywords=mothers+day+gifts

It's difficult. Mil doesn't like anything, not clothes, jewellery, chocs, books, nothing. And I bought DM a scarf for Christmas. She would only wear proper jewellery

For next year it might be worth doing a planter of nice spring bulbs. They look lovely & last longer than flowers.

Poundshop do bulbs.

I'll be going to card factory to shop for half price Mother's Day cards on the Monday after Mothering Sunday.

I've seen that Aldi do pocket photo books from £3.99, so might look at that for DM. Anyone tried them? Or even know of cheaper photo books?

I'm hoping for the new Elbow CD...but would be chuffed with a tray of bedding plants too.

Could you press some flowers and make them into a collage and stick them in a photo frame? I have one from years ago with autumnal leaves, nuts and dried berries and treasure it. Do it Blue Peter style and all it costs is the frame, and a bit of glue

I ordered mini photo books from photobox (I think). They were about £8 including postage and have 30 photos in them.

Both my Mum and MIL have already received them as they came very quickly and both really like them. They've both said they like that they are small so that they can take them in their handbags and bore show their friends.