The cynics may say that Mother’s Day is just another one of those made up celebrations, invented to get us spending money on gifts and cards.
We say it’s really important to celebrate mums – but there are many ways you can make them feel loved without breaking the bank. In fact, you’ll probably find that your mum will appreciate a thoughtful gesture much more than a novelty chocolate box or a massive teddy.
Here’s a list of free and cheap Mother’s Day gifts and activities that will give your mum the day she deserves – and keep you on budget.
Go for a walk
As long as it’s not raining, March is a beautiful time of year to go for a walk. The days are longer and brighter, the temperature’s hopefully up a bit and the first blossoms of spring are just beginning to appear.
But that’s not the only reason you should take your mum for a walk. Walking is great for reconnecting and strengthening relationships for a number of reasons. For one, there are few distractions, meaning you’ll have a great chance to catch up. Your time alone is worth a lot more to your mum than you might think.
Also, walking is great for talking because of the way it changes our chemistry. When we walk, blood pumps more oxygen to our brains, which increases our attention and ability to engage in conversation. It’s an excellent option for a free Mother’s Day gift.
Be Mum for the day
Even if you moved out years ago, mum’s still got plenty of chores and jobs around the house that need seeing to. So why not go some small way to repay her for the years and years she spent keeping you alive by treating her to a day of pampering?
Run her a bath, cook her dinner, do the washing and ironing, keep her entertained with her favourite movies… maybe even do her taxes for her, if you can. Just give her one day when all her worries can melt away.
Alternatively, you could make her a tongue-in-cheek booklet of coupons, redeemable for things like “one load of washing up” or “one three course meal”. This way she can cash in whenever she wants.
Write her a heartfelt letter
Instead of buying her a card that expresses your love in someone else’s words, take the time to write your mum a heartfelt, handwritten letter, telling her exactly how much she means to you. Not only will she love this at the time, she’ll be able to come back to it for a little dose of love whenever she wants. It’s a free Mother’s Day gift that will keep on giving.
Alternatively, you could write 52 separate notes on why you love and appreciate her, presented in a jar for her to open every week of the year until next Mother’s Day.
Digitise the family album
Every household has a collection of old family photos, usually hidden away in some box or cupboard, gathering dust. What Mum won’t tell you is when she’s really missing you she’ll dig those albums out and relive some of the fondest memories from your childhood.
Make an excuse to head round to your Mum’s place, and when she’s not looking, pinch all the albums and scan the photos you think she’ll enjoy most. You can then present her all the saved photos on a USB stick with a nice bow tied round it. She’ll now be able to easily print and frame the ones she likes, or move them all over to a digital picture frame.
