9 Creative, Budget-Friendly Ideas for Mother’s Day

We promise Mom doesn’t care how much (or how little) you spend on her, as long as you spend the day together.

Updated on April 14, 2023

Have a Picnic

You don't have to hit the fanciest restaurant in town to treat Mom to a lovely Mother's Day lunch! Plus, those fancy specials usually involve rushing across town to get to a reservation at a busy spot, and added stress is not on our list of Mother's Day gifts. So instead, plan a casual picnic in the park! You can still serve all her favorite foods, but you'll save a ton by making it all yourself, and you won't be held to a set schedule or menu.

02 of 09

Make a Printed Coupon Book

These gift ideas for Mother's Day are inexpensive and easy for kids to make by themselves. Win, win! Use our free printables to print out blank coupons, then have the kids decorate them for things like doing the dishes after dinner, preparing a meal for mom, or an hour of free time she can cash in whenever she wants. When the kids are done personalizing the coupons, use a ribbon and a hole punch to combine them all into a booklet.

03 of 09

Set up a Scavenger Hunt

This is one of the sweetest budget-conscious ideas for Mother's Day. Have the kids plan a scavenger hunt for Mom and send her around the house hunting for clues. You can hide an inexpensive gift at each spot or make this activity free with heartfelt notes and thoughtful drawings from the kids instead. If you go this route, you can use our free fill-in-the-blank printables to help them get started.

04 of 09

Host a Virtual Brunch Date

If you can't be together in person this year, a virtual cooking date is one of our favorite ways to make the day special. Grab the necessary items ahead of time (be mindful of the cost of ingredients when planning the menu) and tune in for a FaceTime cooking date on Mother's Day. Then, when you've both finished cooking, sit down and enjoy a virtual Mother's Day brunch together.

05 of 09

Make a Bouquet

Flower deliveries can be expensive, but you can gift mom a low-cost bouquet by picking up grocery store flowers instead. Rather than buying a premade bouquet, pick up individual bundles of the same kind of flower (usually less expensive) and create a bouquet. For an extra special arrangement, pick flowers that have special meanings for Mother's Day.

06 of 09

Give an Affordable Gift

bare candle co gift idea — Courtesy of Bare Candle Co.

Surprise Mom with a sweet gift to open on her special day. We've rounded up our favorite under-$25 ideas for Mother's Day gifts to help you spoil her without spoiling your budget. The best part? She'll never guess how inexpensive they are.

07 of 09

Garden Together

woman planting pink flowers — Marty Baldwin

Combine your Mother's Day gift with a fun activity this year: Planting with Mom in the garden! Plants can be expensive, but you can also find plenty of affordable options. Head to your local nursery and have them help you select one or two inexpensive, easy-to-care-for plants or flowers. Then, spend the afternoon planting them together.

08 of 09

Give a Thoughtful Card

Skip the expensive store-bought cards and use one of our free printable Mother's Day cards to write Mom a heartfelt message. Our cards are all blank inside, so you have plenty of room to tell her how much her love and support have meant to you over the years. If words aren't your strong suit, write a bulleted list of everything you love and appreciate about her. Or, use one of these Mother's Day quotes to convey your sentiments.

09 of 09

Have a Movie Marathon

grease movie dancing in the gym — Fotos International/Getty Images

Mom deserves to relax on her special day; this laid-back idea for Mother's Day is free. Pop a bowl of popcorn (or two!) and settle in on the couch for a movie marathon of all her favorites.

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