At this point, most of us are racking our brains trying to figure out what to buy our favorite person - Mom! With Mother’s Day just a few days away, here are a few budget friendly gift ideas.
Jar of memories
Sometimes Mom just wants to reminisce on all the good memories she shared with her kids. So why not give her a reason to smile whenever she needs a pick-me-up?
What you need: Mason jar, colored paper, pens, jar decorations (stickers, ribbons, labels, etc.)
What do to: Decorate your mason jar however you please. Have fun with it! Next, take your colorful paper and jot down some cute memories you share with Mom. Lastly, stuff them in the jar and close it up.
Whether you live with Mom or not, this is a great way to keep the good memories alive and it allows you to put a smile on her face without needing to be there!
Smilebox slideshow
If you are looking for a faster way to share some picture memories, Smilebox may be for you. This company creates professional looking slideshows and all you have to to do is drop in your pictures.
What you need: Smilebox software on your computer and the pictures you want to include
What to do: Download their free software to your computer. Once that’s done you can select the “Mother’s Day” category and choose the look for your slideshow. Add your pictures and select “auto-fill.” You can then personalize it by reorganizing the pictures, adding music and changing the text.
The final product can either be shared via email or Facebook for free. If you want to download the video and save to your computer you’ll be prompted to start your free 7-day trial (just don’t forget to cancel your service before your free week is up if you don’t want to pay for the service after that).
Breakfast in bed
This is a classic – and always a sure way Mom will wake up with a smile on her face.
What you need: The essential breakfast foods: pancake or waffle mix, bacon, eggs, coffee, etc.
What to do: Cook!
Breakfast in bed doesn’t mean you have to pull out your latest Bobby Flay moves. Even if you aren’t a pro, do it this one time for Mom. Who doesn’t love a simple meal of eggs, bacon and toast? If Mom wakes up before you’re done cooking, don’t worry. The smell of sizzling bacon and eggs with freshly brewed coffee are never bad to wake up to.
‘Pamper yourself’ slippers
If your mom is anything like mine, she will almost never make time to get the things she needs to pamper herself. Now is your chance to give her some spa essentials.
What you need: slippers, washcloth, hand sanitizer, nail polish and file, lotion, chapstick, face moisturizer, etc.
What to do: Take your mini products and neatly stuff them into the slippers. That’s it!
In order to stick to your budget and be able to fit everything in the slippers, try looking in the travel section of your nearest drug store. All of the products we bought were $1.99 or less. Even though they’re small, they’ll last a while and will give your mom the option to carry everything with her wherever she goes!
Groovebook
We understand that for some there is nothing better than printed pictures – and Groovebook is a cheap and easy way to get them. For $2.99 a month, this app will take 40 to 100 pictures straight from your phone and put them into a 4-by-6-inch book for you.
What you need: Groovebook app that you can download from the Apple store or Google Play.
What to do: Open the app and select what pictures you want to use from your phone. You’ll need to create an account and enter your credit card information to get a book mailed to you – or Mom – every month. Just make sure to select your photos before the company’s printing date.
It will take a few days to get your book but once Mom sees it, she will know it’s worth the wait.
Have any creative budget friendly gift ideas for mom? Shoot us an email at yfmoneymailbag@yahoo.com