Mothers' Day: gift etiquette

Former_MSE_Andrea

Person_one wrote: »

Are the wages really that bad for MSE staff? :eek:

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Zorica, Megan and I say "no comment" :D

PenguinOfDeath

lisa110rry wrote: »

my bit of Mother's Day etiquette is not to sign my name as I am not her daughter.

Hmm yes, OH signed a card to him mum yesterday With Love from 'OH' and 'POD'. No idea why, but it was too late by the time I had realised.

heuchera

MSE_Andrea wrote: »

We've been discussing in the office whether it's acceptable to buy mothers' day gifts from, eg Poundland, charity shops etc.

How much would/have you spent or is acceptable?

Is it ok to be frugal or should you go all-out as it's your mum?

When I was absolutely brassic (I had about £50 a month left to myself after bills and rent) I did have to scrimp on presents for people. I didn't use poundland but there were one or two occasions when all I could afford to buy mum was a card and a small box of Guylian chocolates.

Out,_Vile_Jelly

My mum's away around Mothering Sunday, so I've told her she'll get some flowers when she's back, when hopefully they'll be cheaper, and there'll be a better range (because mums only like pink?).

She gets a card from me AND one from the cat !!!!!!.

Lunar_Eclipse

As with all gifts, money really doesn't come in to it. It's always the thought that counts.

Is it acceptable to buy someone a gift from a charity shop or Poundland? I would say that depends. Most items in Poundland are everyday basic household items or utter crap. If the recipient would appreciate those things, then it's acceptable, but generally speaking I'm not sure what the point of that gift would be. Does it communicate appreciation (Mother's Day), love and thoughtfulness? I think that's doubtful so not really the place to buy Mother's Day gifts. A £1 bag of favourite chocolate is thoughtful, but on the basis it 'only' costs a pound, it's not really appropriate for most adults to buy as a gift. A child using their pocket money says something else entirely.

But it's Mother's Day. Time together is the best gift in my opinion, for those of us lucky enough to have living parents. We're having an afternoon together.

Pollycat

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Depends how much you value your Mum doesn't it?

My kids will be getting (ok, I will be) their Mum flowers, cards and some Molton Brown smellies. Poundshop? Err, no

The value I put on my Mum can't be measured by money (or expensive gifts).

If I found something in £1 shop that I know she'd love, the price would be irrelevant to both of us.

I've bought her a box of Tesco Finest dark chocolate biscuits with 'fiery stem ginger' as that is the combination that does it for her. I'm always looking for different suppliers/products.

And a sudoku book that has the right level of difficulty for her.

She knows I've taken time & effort to find both those gifts for her - and for both of us, that's what matters - not what it costs.

Dizzy_Ditzy

My mum would be happy with anything I did for her. In previous years, I've bought her several bunches of flowers and annoyed her because she didn't have enough vases :rotfl:

This year is a bit different because I have no job and zero income so I'll make her something nice, which she'll love regardless.

Whereas my brother and his wife will go all out to buy her the tackiest nastiest stuff ever that will sit in a cupboard until the enth of never *sigh*

mark5

I bought my wife a nomination bracelet years ago, I usually get her a link for special occasions off the children.

My mum I usually spend about £20 on, flowers and chocolates usually!

Dill

For general present-buying I think it depends on the recipient. I have bought second hand (rare/hard to find) items for somebody as a birthday present before.


But for Mothers Day it is hard to think of anything she'd like in Poundland which would be suitable as a present. I try to avoid those places anyway, not least because of the way their workers are treated.


My mum's not really a charity shop kind of person (unlike me!) so I wouldn't get her anything from there. I quite happily use them for myself and have found some bargain clothes in the past. My latest charity shop find was a White Stuff skirt, in very good condition, for £4 :money:

theoretica

Surely you should know your mum well enough to do what she would like. I would buy my mum a present that looked 2nd hand, but wouldn't have done that for my grandmother. Different people, different things make them happy.