Inventive and Cheap Ideas for Mothers Day?

TurnaroundSue

Hi All

Not sure if this is the right place to post (or if there is another post of this kind), but please feel free to let me know/move it!!

I was just wondering with Mother's Day around the corner what to get my mum/MIL. My SIL always spends a fortune on my MIL and I always feel as if I can never equal what she has spent - has anybody out there got any ideas for Mother's Day gifts which are cheap, yet maybe a bit different.

I find it is so commercialised these days, that the true sentiment has been lost somewhere along the line - my mum knows what I feel about her and a card is just fine, but with the MIL I feel as I need to keep up with SIL (who can afford a nice expensive pressie) and it looks mean when I don't - or rather can't! :sad:

Any ideas would be gratefully received.

zincoxide

Did your Mum have a favourite toy when she was a child - could see if it's cheap on ebay?

Or - has she kept any old mothers day cards you made when you were at school? How about making an updated version as well?

southernscouser

Well if the MIL is that materialistic she ain't worth bothering about!

Like you say, you don't need to spend a fortune on your mum for her to know you lover her!

As for ideas I'm afraid I'm struggling myself! :rotfl:

When is it anyway?

LookingAhead

SouthernScouser - it is the last Sunday in March which I think is 26th.

As for ideas...how about making a fun voucher to treat her to the cinema...wash & blow dry at a local (cheaper!) salon...a glass of wine on a Saturdya lunchtime or something like that? Or perhaps a local beautician is doing some less expensive manicures or massages or something like that?

Or perhaps you could make her a cd/tape of favourite tunes...?

TurnaroundSue

Thanks for the ideas so far - please keep them coming. Southernscouser; she ISN'T materialistic at all, and she would probably say that a card would do, but my SIL always spends a small fortune and it makes me feel that we are being tight and NOT spending that much!! Lookingahead - I think your ideas are great and maybe I could think of something along those lines - cheers :beer:

pavlovs_dog

cook her a nice meal?

a nice photo of you, oh and any kids in a frame (or an album/colage of photos - you get the idea)?

get some cheap bulbs/seed/plants and a pretty pot and do a plant arrangement (lasts much longer than flowers)?

in-need_of_money

Hi TurnaroundSue
Woolworths are doing some plants/bulbs for BOGOF. You can get some really nice ones cheap, she can then plant them out and watch them grow, both mum and mil will remember the occasion that you bought them.

Sarahx

Hi there,

As a mother of three I can honestly say it's the things that have taken their time, thought, consideration and skills that melt my heart away as I feel I've played a part in giving them these skills and nurturing them. Anyone on a high wage can walk into a store and blow a fortune and your mum may love the gift from you sister, but the one she'll be thinking about as she goes to sleep that night is the one that's taken the time, effort etc not the one with the price tag still on!!

I'm making my mum a cake (I have a bit of a talent there), it won't be elaborate, it won't be expensive, but I won't be judged badly on that. She'll be glad I'm here, fit and able to do it and taken the time for her.

Does anyone need a vomit bucket yet??

Possible ideas:
A poem about you and her, with some dried, pressed flowers (cheap in art shops) and get it laminated.
A cake
A chocolate slab from Thorntons, but ice it yourself.
Not sure of your budget, but you could take a photo of you and her (then...as a baby and now) to Asda and they ice it onto a cake (about £10 I think)
Go round and cook her a meal
Home made chore vouchers - ironing, shopping etc
Massage oil and offer to massage her feet (then she'll know you really love her!!)
A day in together to do girlie things, hair, make-up, manicure etc

Hope this gives yo some food for thought. They're the kind of things I would love as a Mum, no matter the ages of the children.

Good Luck
Sarah x

MrsTinks

I think if you MIL isn't materialistic then you should be just fine taking the time to do something for her that she will enjoy Is there anything that you could help her with in the house or the garden? Maybe make a voucher for a days work in the garden to help her tidy it ready for summer? It'll be time together for the two of you (or three if you drag you OH along) and it will be far more special than an expensive present no matter how posh it is...

amosworks

I go to the side of the road, pull out some Daffodils and arrange them all pretty in various decorative wrapping sheets saved from Christmas. Cheap, recycles and gets added value for money for my ctax

Batgirl

closer magazine this week are offering a free mothers day card worth 2.99.
if you go to https://www.remind4u.com/closer register, then just choose a card personalise it and they will send it to whoever you want. (The cards look really nice as well so doesn't look naff.)
Hope this helps
batgirl