So, Mother’s Day weekend is just a day away and you haven’t even started shopping for Mom? No problem! Andrea Woroch, nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert, has come to the rescue with a few last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make Mom’s day without letting her know you’ve been procrastinating.
So, Mother’s Day weekend is just a day away and you haven’t even started shopping for Mom? No problem! Andrea Woroch, nationally-recognized consumer and money-saving expert, has come to the rescue with a few last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas that will make Mom’s day without letting her know you’ve been procrastinating.
Last-minute Mother’s Day gift ideas
1. Magazine subscription
Whether Mom is into river rafting or raising chickens, there are magazines for every interest. Woroch says, “Check out the tens of thousands of discount magazine subscriptions offered by Amazon.com and find something that will make Mom smile every month.”
2. Online gift cards
Don’t have time to run to the store, or perhaps Mom’s favorite place to shop is online? “Just about every major merchant offers online gift cards that you can have emailed to her within 24 hours, and sometimes instantly,” says Woroch. “Save by purchasing a discounted online gift card from GiftCardGranny.com, where you can find deals like 20-percent off a Dress Barn gift card.”
3. Give her a call
Woroch says if Mom lives at a distance, a long phone call is one of the best gifts you can give her. Set aside a chunk of time, think about the stuff going on in your life and questions you’d like to ask her, then dial away. “If it’s an option, make the call even more special by using Skype video chat or iPhone FaceTime,” adds the consumer expert.
4. Club memberships
Give Mom a gift that keeps on giving, such as monthly club subscriptions that range from fruit and wine to chocolate and coffee to movies and massages. Check out SpaFinder.com to get her pampered or set her up with monthly DVDs from Netflix. Birchbox.com is great resource for discovering new beauty products with tips on how to use them. (We like iGourmet.com!)
5. Flowers
It’s never too late to send flowers for Mother’s Day. Search online for last-minute deals from merchants like FTD or 1-800-Flowers. Otherwise, call a few local florists to see what they can offer for under $30. If Mom is local, hit up your supermarket’s floral department for a nice bouquet or find a garden plant for the mom with a green thumb.
6. Financial advice
This one definitely falls within the “unique” category, but the gift of financial advice is invaluable for most people,” says Woroch. “This is especially true for anyone nearing retirement age, and the savvy ladies at LearnVest understand this.” Through May 30, you can purchase a Core Financial plan for yourself and gift another plan to your mom for free. If you already have a plan, LearnVest will offer the Core Financial package for half off as a gift to Mom. Visit LearnVest.com for details.
7. Brunch
Mother’s Day brunch deals abound in cities across the country. Call Mom’s favorite restaurants to find the best specials. If reservations are booked up, consider preparing an at-home brunch. Present your mother with a menu of her preferred breakfast dishes like banana pancakes, veggie omelette or french toast. Don’t forget to buy a bottle of inexpensive champagne and orange juice for a special toast.
8. Her own domain
We’re not talking about a “woman cave” in her home — we’re talking about her very own Internet domain name. “This may not work if your mother’s name is Mary Smith or Susan Jones, but otherwise you might just have a chance of securing an Internet domain in her own name,” explains Woroch. “If you’re handy with the computer, you might whip up a silly website focusing on something she loves. You can often purchase your desired url from GoDaddy.com for as little as $12.”
9. Slideshow
It’s true: Every mother loves to relive family moments and photos are sure to bring a smile to her face. Woroch recommends putting together a slideshow of Mom’s favorite pictures with captions that spark each memory and sit around the computer while you watch it together. She adds, “If Mom is miles away, share the slideshow via email so she can access it on the computer or from her smartphone.”
Bottom line: Be creative and make your last minute gifts as personal as possible so Mom knows you put some thought into it, even if it is last-minute. Then next year, plan ahead so you aren’t a Mother’s Day gift-buying slacker.
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