Mother’s Day on a Budget

Remember when you used to give Mom bouquets made out of tissue paper and gave her a breakfast of cinnamon toast? Looks like those times are here again, thanks to the recession and budget watching. The days of extravagant gift giving are over with, thanks to the recession. Yet, you can still plan something special for Mom. It just takes creativity and know how to give Mom a lot of inexpensive love.

1. Brunch On A Budget. Even if you can do just kitchen basics you can prepare mom a nice breakfast. Scrambled eggs with cheese on an English muffin with a non alcoholic mimosa are a great way to wake Mom up. If you’re having a family brunch you may want to think about having an omelet bar where everyone can customize their breakfasts. Just have three ingredients and an extra of ham or bacon if you’re watching the cost. You can also serve cut fruit and rolls or biscuits to round this out.
2. Chore time. Yes, you balked at them when you were little but doing them made your mom very happy. Do them again for her. If the gutters need cleaning or the AC needs to be reinstalled them do it. You may also want to include the kids and your other siblings to help. This way you can tackle the larger jobs such as repainting or yard work.
3. Girl’s day out. Treat your Mom to a hair cut or a mani/pedi. A lot of salons and spas are having great deals right now so take advantage of them. Her salon may give senior discounts. If you’re good at it then treat her to your “service.“ If she wants to try a new hair color or have an old fashioned homemade oatmeal facial, then do it yourself. You can also create a special Mother’s Day salt scrub for her using kosher salt , essential oils and fragrance.
4. Mommy and me day. Treat Mom to a movie or even a day at the beach. Take her on an elegant picnic. Fill an old fashioned picnic hamper with china and real utensils (not the plastic kind) along with fancy finger sandwiches and a sparkling soft cider. Bring her to a museum exhibit she wants to see. These and art galleries usually offer various discounts for students and seniors. Also children are admitted free so the grandkids can tag along too.
5. That warm fuzzy feeling. Adopt a dog or cat for mom from your local shelter. There are fees here but they’re not that expensive. This could provide a newly widowed or divorced mother with company and someone to cuddle. Plus you’ll be doing the animal a favor too since so many were abandoned due to the recession.
6. Remember second grade? Or even first, third, fourth or fifth? These were the grades that you made Mom something special. You still can. If you’re good at knitting , then make her a beach hat or a summer shawl. If you’re good at candy making and baking then whip up a batch of chocolate truffles or homemade cookies. Create a fancy ring or earrings at your local bead store (there are some beads that are priced as low as a nickel). Whatever your talent is , just use it to make Mom a memorable gift.
7. Lend an ear. Talk is cheap but listening is priceless. Sometimes mothers just want to have someone to listen to them, Your mom may be having a problem she needs to solve or an idea she wants heard. Spend the afternoon with her over some homebrewed ice tea or lattes. Throw in a cake or your shared favorite cookies and listen. You many even learn.

Don’t worry if you can’t afford an extravagant Mother’s Day gift. There are many other ways to show your love like attending to a much neglected chore or treating Mom to the latest movie. It’s not the gift that counts but the thought and care behind it.