How to do Mother's Day on a budget

Ah, Mother’s Day! It’s arguably one of the best days on our calendar. We have an entire day dedicated to our mums, the people who raised us, helped us when we needed it most, and provided us with comedy gold. But for many of us, it can be a tough time. It can feel like our mums deserve everything the world has to offer, but our bank balance just isn’t up to the task.

But don’t despair. Mother’s Day isn’t about who can splash the most cash. It’s about showing your mum you’re grateful for her, which can definitely be done, and done incredibly well, on a budget. It just takes a bit of thought. And that’s what we’re here to help you with. So here’s what to do for Mother’s Day without breaking the bank… 

Cook her a mouthwatering meal

We all know the saying, “the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach”, but the reality is, we all love a good meal, including our mums. Food can be particularly special because it requires thought, effort, knowledge of the food that she likes and, even better, it can flood us with memories. 

Most people have a dish that throws them back to their childhood or a specific event. If you know what dish that is for your mum, making it from scratch will make a cracking present. Most of our mums have cooked for us at some point, so it's kind and thoughtful to return the gesture. And if you really can't handle the heat of the kitchen, there are plenty of affordable dining experiences you can check out here.

Take her on a picnic

It seems a lot of the UK will have perfect picnic weather on Mother’s Day (touch wood), so why not get her out into the sun, bust open a nice bottle of wine, prosecco or a beer and have a chat and a little alfresco snack? It’s these kinds of moments we cherish most. 

Even if you’re the kind to set the kitchen on fire, a picnic is doable. All you need to do is hop over to Aldi, grab some grapes, cheese, and meat, and you have a nice little charcuterie board. You could even make her a playlist of her favourite songs and play it on a small portable speaker. It’s the perfect way to do Mother’s Day on a budget. 

Make something she’ll love

We all have our talents. Maybe yours is knitting or embroidery. You could create something with a meaningful message, a funny quote, or just something she can look at, or even wear, that makes her smile. If that’s too tricky, personalised scented candles or a toiletry hamper can also make a heartwarming Mother’s Day gift. Don’t be scared to get creative!

Reflect on core memories

Opting for something meaningful over something soulless but glam can save you a small fortune and make a significantly better present. We all have cherished memories, whether it was an unreal holiday, your first day of school, or even just a cracking day out you shared that one time back in 2016. If you have a picture, all you have to do is put it in a nice frame. 

Or you could print the photo on something she’ll love like a mug, a personalised card, a tote bag, a keyring, or even print it on a cake and take it with you on your picnic! 

If you really want to push the boat out, you could gather a bunch of photos and stick them in a scrapbook, including some handwritten text next to each picture. Maybe you write about why you love that photo, why you love your mum, why that day, in particular, will stay with you forever or just something daft that'll make her giggle. 

Think outside the box

Not all mums care for material possessions. Instead, simply making her week easier by washing her car or helping out with any jobs she might need doing could be a great shout. And most people have a hobby of some sort. Maybe your mum likes playing games, getting a makeover, going to the theatre, gardening, reading, playing music, going to gigs, or trying new foods. Whatever it is, find a way to enjoy it with her.

Or do something entirely different. You could plant a tree together or adopt a cute animal like an elephant, penguin, tiger cub or turtle. It may sound dear but, if you can’t do it yourself,  planting a tree sapling can cost as little as £5 and adopting an animal can cost as little as £3 a month. You know your mum, do something that’ll warm her heart.

While the 27th may sound like a daunting prospect for your bank account, there are dozens of cheap Mother’s Day gift ideas that your mum will adore. 

When we’re celebrating our love for one another, a huge diamond or fancy day out can be grand. But the moments we remember the best are the thoughtful gestures. The times we spent together just having a smashing time. 

So even though you know your mum deserves the world over, don’t panic. Opting for personal gifts like the ones mentioned here can be more than enough. No matter what you choose, we’re sure she’ll love it.

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