Mother's Day Gift Guide - Treating Mum on a Budget

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Published on May 24, 2021
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Even though Mother's Day should really be every day, it officially only happens once a year. And it is important that we make this special day count: without our mothers, we would not even be here, and we have them to thank for many things!

Regardless of whether you live five minutes down the road from your mom or on the other side of the planet, we have gift ideas that will make her feel loved and appreciated. Gifts are the perfect way of letting the maternal figure in your life know just how much she means to you, and they do not have to break the bank if you follow our guide.

If you are after Mother's Day gift ideas but don't know where to start, keep reading for everything you need to know about great gifts and for our list of the top things to get for your mom!


The types of gifts that moms love


Beauty gifts


Beauty gifts

Mums rarely get any time in the day to pamper themselves or make themselves feel pretty. So why not treat her to some new makeup gifts, a spa hamper filled with body creams and bath bombs, or something more luxurious like a foot spa or electronic back massager? You can stock up on makeup, spa items, haircare and much more at Look Fantastic. 

Taking just 20 minutes out of your day to de-stress and put effort into your appearance can do wonders for your self-esteem and happiness, making these a gift that your mom is sure to love. If you want to make the gifts extra special, take a look through her makeup bag (be discreet!) and pay attention to which products she uses the most that you could restock for her.

If it is a case of not being sure which type of beauty products to go for, here are a couple of pointers. You cannot go wrong with pampering goodies that smell great, so shop for products that match her signature scent. Alternatively, shop for items by her favourite beauty brand at stores like Sephora, or shop for beauty essentials that come in a shade of her favourite colour.

Personalized GiftsPersonalised gifts

Buying an ordinary gift that your mom may actually need in her life and then turning it up a notch by personalising is a sure-fire method to get in her good books! You can customize virtually anything either online or in many local print stores. Some of the most popular personalised gifts include glasses and mugs, kitchenware like aprons and chopping boards, stationery, and clothing which you can pick up at stores like Not On The Highstreet.

When it comes to what you personalise your gift with, the sky is the limit! Seeing as it is for Mother's Day, a simple heartfelt message to your mom will do the trick. You could also write a little joke or inscription that only you and your family would understand to make it as personal as possible.

Personalisation is great for when you are shopping for lower-price gifts, as you can pick up an inexpensive item such as a wine glass or a notebook and turn it into a totally unique and bespoke present!

Food & drink giftsFood and drink gifts

Food and drink-related products are one of the best Mother's Day gifts that you can give because they allow your mom to indulge in things that she may not normally treat herself to. The chances are that she is more than used to cooking up delicious dinners for her family but rarely gets to relax and enjoy some delicious food and drink.

Some amazing food gifts include boxes of chocolates, cupcakes, sweets, or whatever your mum's preferred confectionary is! If she doesn't have much of a sweet tooth, you can get her a food gift in the form of some new state-of-the-art kitchen gadgets.

And for a gift she can drink, there is nothing better than a beautiful bottle of wine or her favourite Gine from Craft Gin Club that she can sip on from her brand new personalized wine glass that you also treated her to!

Sentimental GiftsSentimental gifts

Not every woman favours having lots of brand new gifts on Mother's Day, some would much rather just have one or two special items that symbolize family and love. If this sounds like your mum, then don't worry!

Coming up with sentimental Mother's Day gift ideas is easy. Simply figure out what you want to be the focus of the gift, be this a family photo, a handwritten note, or an old memento that you have held onto, and present it in whichever fashion you see fit.

Common sentimental gifts include using photo frames, personalised photo albums from Photobook Uk, fridge magnets, calendars, and more to give your mum an item that she will keep forever.

The best Mother's Day gift ideas


1. Moonpig.com

The first place you should always start is a card, it's the easiest way to connect with the people you care about the most. Whether your looking to make Mum laugh or take a trip down memory lane, Moonpig's thousands of designs and personalised options mean they've definitely got a card every Mum will love.

2. Etsy.com

Looking for something special with a human touch. Etsy is a global online marketplace that helps you connect with independent creators. It is without a doubt the best place to search for unique personalised gifts. 

3. ElizabethArden.com

Elizabeth Arden created skincare products that benefitted, not masked the skin. Her belief formed intelligent cooperation between science and nature to highlight a Women's natural assets. With a great collection of skincare products, fragrances & Makeup Elizabeth Arden is the perfect place for mum.

4. Stubhub.com

From concert tickets, comedy nights or theatre tickets Stubhub have got your back. With a huge range of events to choose from what better way to treat mum than a trip with her nearest and dearest to see her favorite artist or show.

Final thoughts

No matter what her hobbies and interests are, there really is the perfect Mothers' Day gift out there for every single mom. We have compiled a list of general gift ideas which we know every mum will love, as well as some more specific gifts that cater to specific types of people.

Remember, just because the gift is sorted, this does not mean your work is over. Part of the fun of a present is the wrapping and the card that goes alongside it, and trust us when we say that your mum will notice this. A card from stores like Clintons is a gift in itself, and something that your mom will keep forever, and the wrapping shows that you have put real thought into the product that you chose.

Overall, our collection of Mother's Day gift ideas offers choices that are budget-friendly, splurge-worthy, sentimental, customized, practical - you name it, we've provided it! All you have to do now is figure out, with the help of our guide, which gift best suits your mother, and get it to her in time for the special day!

FAQs

What are the best-selling Mother's Day gifts?

The best-selling Mother's Day gifts typically include timeless classics such as a flower bouquet, a family photo, a good bottle of wine, a fancy candle, or an assortment of beauty, hair, or skin products. These gifts are best-selling for a reason: we are yet to find someone who does not appreciate their favourite glass of red, a brand new body lotion or a bunch of flowers from Clare Florist!

However, gift ideas have expanded so much that we encourage you to look beyond just the best-sellers. Think about what passions your mother has in life and come up with something inventive to get her from there.

Alternatively, check out our selection of personalized gift ideas, such as alcohol or coffee glasses, letter boards, photo albums, and more. These are an excellent way to put your own unique twist on Mother's Day gift best-sellers.

What is a good cheap Mother's Day gift?

If you are looking for low-price gifts, don't worry. We made sure most of the ideas on our list are suitable for people shopping with any budget, just in case.

You would be surprised at how affordable customizable gifts are! Because most things that can be customized are simple, household items, even with the cost of them being engraved or painted factored in, your total costs can be less than £35. Head over to Getting Personal to see if you can find a frame or picture that you can personalise that she would love. 

Alternatively, it is more than possible to shop for budget-friendly versions of the more expensive products from our round-up. A scented candle, for example, can be found for anything from £10-£50, so doing your research is definitely worth it.

For an even-lower cost idea, you can make your own gift. This means all you need to pay for is any material you may use to create your product, and everything else just comes from your own time and energy.

Your mother will appreciate this just as much and treasure the thought that has gone into anything you create. Some great DIY gift ideas include photo albums, framed photos, handwritten letters, and homemade art such as drawings or clay models.

We advise factoring in shipping costs, as this can drive up prices considerably, especially if you are sending gifts internationally.

What is the best thing to buy for my mom on Mother's Day?

The best thing to buy your mother for Mother's Day completely depends on who your mom is and what kind of thing she enjoys. Of course, there are failsafe gifts such as flowers, wine, chocolates, and a nice card. But if you want to buy her a unique present that she will remember for life, then we have plenty of the best Mother's Day gift ideas for this too.

For example, you cannot go wrong with a framed photo, electronic photo display, or album full of family photos. Moms love anything that involves precious memories of their children, and these kinds of gifts become an item that you can then share with your children one day. A photo-related gift which you can make yourself at Funky Pigeon, also shows that you have put time and thought into how to make the day special for your mom.

The best Mother's Day gifts are items that have been bought with the women in your life in mind. This means not absent-mindedly picking up a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates last minute. It means thinking about gifts your mom would love, according to her hobbies, her passions, her favourite colours, smells, flavours, etc.

How can I figure out what my mom would want for mother's day?

We have plenty of handy tips to help you figure out what to get your mother to ensure that she has the best Mother's Day ever.

If you are stuck for Mother's Day gift ideas, one of the easiest ways to come up with something is to listen to your mother. Next time you're on the phone with her or having a chat with her, see if she mentions having run out of anything or wanting a new product for the home.

If so, surprising her with that new mod-con she has been eyeing up will not only make her happy but will let her know you pay attention and listen to what she says.

Another method to come up with Mother's Day gift ideas is to pick a product based on your mom's interests. For example, if she loves her pamper sessions, then a candle or two in her favourite colours from Candles Direct is the ideal gift to go with. Or, if she loves to shop but never finds the time, buy her a gift card and promise to take care of everything while she has a much-needed day to herself.

The ways that you can find out what your mom wants for Mother's Day are endless - but remember, she will love anything you get her as long as it is thoughtful and purchased with her in mind.

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Charlotte Marshall

Lead Editor

Being a full-time content writer and part-time shopaholic, globe-trotter and avid lover of all things food (and wine)...I love researching the best money-saving hacks so that I can help fuel my own passions, and yours!

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