Short on cash, not on love? Win mom over with these ideas -- all inexpensive or free

It’s not about the fancy gifts or the expensive meal

Baking with mom would be fun! (Elina Fairytale/Pexels stock image)

Whether you’re trying to save money or you simply don’t have much of it right now, there are still so many ways you can honor your mom on Mother’s Day.

After all, it’s not about the fancy gifts or the expensive meal. So, if you just can’t part with much money, but still want to do something really special for your mom, here are some ideas that we are certain will be at the top of the list of best Mother’s Days ever.

Recommended Videos




☕️ Coffee and doughnuts 🍩

You don’t have to go gourmet -- plenty of supermarkets have inexpensive and delicious doughnuts.

Share the treat together and she’ll love it.

🍎 Picnic 🍞

Make some sandwiches and find a pretty place to have a picnic. Sit by a river, lake, in a park (if you’re able) or even in the front yard if it’s all you have, but we have no doubt, mom will be more than happy to get the carefree time in with you. Plus, you’ll both get to take in some pretty scenery.

📽 Movie night 🍿

Whether it’s something you can find on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu or even RedBox, find a movie you’re sure she’ll love and grab some popcorn (or another favorite treat of hers). For that matter, you could even hang out with her and binge-watch one of her favorite shows.

🎲 Game night 🃏

Look up some card games, or pull down an old Scrabble or Monopoly game. Maybe cornhole or horseshoes is more up her alley. You're getting the gist, right? Pick something mom loves and engage in the game-playing with her (and your siblings, if they're around).

💪🏻 Offer to pitch in on something she could use help on 🐶

Moms are notorious for having too much on their plate. Do something that will really make a difference in maybe not just her day, but her entire week. Maybe she could use some help cleaning the house, or perhaps she needs to get the dog to the groomer or have the garage cleared out.

Maybe you could run some errands for her, like doing some grocery shopping or picking up something from the pharmacy.

Regardless of what it is, offer a helping hand -- and don’t take no for an answer.

🍳Cook her a meal 🍝

There are so many easy recipes on the internet. Take some time to find something that will be cheap and easy to make. And if she really loves cooking, let her join in. It could be fun to do it together!

If you can’t spend time in the same kitchen and you live within a reasonable distance, consider cooking something for her and dropping it off with a cupcake or her favorite pie.


Bottom line: Just spend some quality time with her doing something she’ll enjoy. We promise, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to please moms. And please, if you are able to be with her in person, make it a point to put your phone away and really pay some attention to the time you’re spending with mom. It will undoubtedly be so appreciated.

This story was first published in 2019. It has since been updated.


About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.