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This Sunday marks Mother’s Day, the day to celebrate those maternal figures in our lives, be it mothers, grandmothers, adoptive mothers, or someone else special who fills that role. Something that many will be struggling with, though, is just exactly how to show that special someone how important they are without breaking the bank.
That’s when getting creative comes in handy but with your thinking and your presents. Here are some great gifts that many maternal figures will enjoy that cost you little to nothing.
Breakfast in Bed
This is one that I tried to do many times for my mom growing up, though with an early bird for a mother (who would often get up around 5 a.m.), it could be a little tricky to pull off at times. Even if it’s just toast with jam, it’s a sweet gesture that is almost always appreciated. Better yet, if you have young kiddos, breakfast is a meal they can easily help put together. Check out this article on some frugal breakfast finds.
A Clean House
Mothers are notorious for being housekeepers and doing the lion’s share of housework. Even if they don’t do a majority, having a clean house that you didn’t have to clean yourself always makes for a great feeling. Check this article out for The Frugalite’s Guide to Spring Cleaning. For mom, try doing a little (or a lot) of extra cleaning, make everything sparkle and gleam, and light her favorite candle when you’re done.
Homemade Art
This is a great one for all skill levels. Pinterest is full of easy and adorable crafts you can do for Mother’s Day for any age group. Even if you don’t want to get fancy with a full-blown craft, let the kids go wild with sparkles and markers to make a beautiful homemade card. It’ll make for a very special keepsake down the road.
Spend Time Outdoors
With the weather finally warming up and spring having truly made an entrance now, go spend some time outdoors. Try going for a hike or a picnic, or try checking out a local wildlife reserve to see lots of animals and create fun memories.
Family Game Night (or Day)
If your family is the kind that loves playing games, break out the board games and munchies and spend a few hours just enjoying the family time and playing games of all sorts. P.S. Since you’re celebrating Mom, she gets to go first!
Movie Marathon
Having a movie marathon with some of Mom’s favorite movies may just be the perfect way to spend a lazy Sunday. Whether you take turns picking movies or make your way through a whole series of movies, it’ll be fun regardless.
Go Yard Sale-ing together
Since the weather is nice, and Mother’s Day falls on a Sunday, there is a good chance a few yard sales may be around. The nice thing about yard sales, is the prices are so much cheaper. Plus, it’s also just fun to explore and learn about your area, even if you don’t find something to buy, it’s about the experience. Instead of picking a gift yourself, let mom find one she loves, and treat her.
Get Some Gardening in
If you have yet to set up your garden, this would be a perfect weekend to do it and a great way to spend time together. If you have, maybe it’s a good day to go through and do a little weeding and just spend time in the yard together. Check out this article on gardening on a budget, or this one on a $10 garden!
You can always ask Mom
If you’re unsure what you want to plan, or none of these ideas seem right to make the day special for your maternal figure, just ask. There is nothing wrong with asking if there is something special that the mother figure in your life would like to do. You can always bring a few suggestions to the table and let her choose from there, but after all, it is her day. Ask and see what she would like to do for the day.
Whatever you decide to do, have fun!
There are always so many things you can do to celebrate a person, be it spending time doing one of their favorite hobbies or just spending time together in the first place. In my opinion, the most important thing is that you’re having fun, that there are smiles, and good memories made.
We have a ton of ideas on presents for Mom from our holiday gifting guides, frugal wrapping ideas, or these heartfelt ideas from Colette.
What are your plans to celebrate this Mother’s Day? What are your best cheap hacks to make the most of your day? Do you have any traditions? Share in the comments!
About Chloe Morgan
Chloe Morgan grew up living with a tight budget. In her late teens and early 20’s all the lessons she’d learned started to slip, like it does for many college age students on their own for the first time, and with their first credit card. As she’s gotten older, she’s started to deal with the repercussions and has taken on a frugal way of living, keeping her costs low, as she pays off debt and saves for her future. Chloe lives in Northern Ontario, Canada, with her cute dog, Rhea. Check out her other work on Medium, where she writes about lifestyle, mental health, and writing.
3 thoughts on “9 Frugal Ways to Make the Most Out of Mother’s Day”
and while it likely isn’t an option for a young child, your significant other can ask. And I concur with an article written by another Mom – time by herself. Even if just a few hours.
Brunch is *not* mandatory and don’t be like the significant other in the aforementioned Mom – he neglected to make reservations!
I love these ideas. Reminds me of all the times I’d go for walks to gather wildflowers for my own Mom. She was always delighted. I made quite a few cards too. Still do, actually, only now they are a lot better! Honestly, a heartfelt phone call can mean worlds. For my last birthday my father wrote a poem for me and read it to me over the phone, it brought me to tears and it could be an idea for Mother’s Day too. The main thing is the emotion and intent behind this, at least I think so anyway.
This year I’m going to take Sculpey and make little fairy garden accessories for her, then when I visit I figure we can put them in a growing bed together. I’ve also sent flower seeds. Cheap to mail and if she’s a gardener at all she’ll think of you every time she looks at those flowers.
Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there!
I love the flower seed idea!