Moms are weighing in on what they really want for Mother’s Day -- and it turns out, a lavish gift might not be on the top of the list.
“(The) top three gift suggestions for Mother’s Day are: an orchid subscription, a book club membership or a nice dinner you can pick up curbside,” said Sara Skirboll, a shopping expert from RetailMeNot.com.
According to RetailMeNot insights, 40 percent of moms are hoping to get a nice dinner this Mother’s Day. The most popular gifts continue to be flowers, gift cards and a spa day.
RetailMeNot.com said people plan to spend about $120 on their moms this year compared to $97 last year.
“I think coming up with a really creative way to spend the day with your mother will go much further than any gift you could buy, and there are so many things that you can do together,” said mom and money savings expert Andrea Woroch.
Woroch recommends checking out websites like Groupon and Living Social to find deals on experience-based gifts. She also said to check out warehouse stores like Costco that offer restaurant gift cards.
“You can buy restaurant gift cards at a discount. Usually they sell $100 worth of gift cards in a bulk pack for 20% off so you spend $80, get $100 worth,” Woroch said.
She recommends buying greeting cards at a dollar store because they will be cheaper.
Woroch also said to consider grocery store flower bouquets because they can be cheaper than other shops. She likes the potted orchids at Trader Joe’s or some of their other bouquets.
Another suggestion is to make your own gift basket. Woroch says you can buy beauty supplies at CVS and save with their extra-care program. You can head to TJ Maxx or Home Goods for a basket, candles and maybe add some gourmet chocolates.
Help Me Hank also wanted to know what moms themselves say they want for Mother’s Day. Here are some of the answers received through ClickOnDetroit and social media:
- “Just to be able to spend time with my three adult children and their families throughout the day would be wonderful😊.” -- Brenda
- “Time with family and a relaxing day (no housework and no big decisions). I don’t need fancy gifts or an expensive brunch at a restaurant but small gestures are nice, like flowers or breakfast being made.” -- Lauren
- “A ticket to the tigers game. Nothing soothes my soul more!” -- Shirley
- “Honestly -- I would just love for them to say thank you more often. I love taking care of everyone’s needs, but it’s also nice to feel appreciated.” -- Christine
- “Besides a destination vacation, I would be happy with a day trip with the family somewhere outdoors. Save the brunches and the dinners and all that for someone else, I just want a day with the family doing something that I love (and maybe the fam doesn’t love but it’s Mother’s Day so I can pick!!).” -- Cindy
- “Someone to pull my weeds and plant all my flowers!” -- Katie
“I like the idea of doing something for your mother, tackling a task that maybe she needs to do but that she’s been putting off because it’s tedious and daunting,” Woroch said.
A task like that could include gardening, taking your mother’s car for an oil change or another project around the house.
For those in search of a last-minute gift, Woroch says many online retailers will be catering to last-minute shoppers by offering free rushed shipping.
“What I would recommend doing is going to a site like CouponCabin.com,” Woroch said. “They’ve aggregated hundreds or maybe even thousands of Mother’s Day coupons and deals all on one page so you can quickly scroll through.”
Another idea is to consider shopping local and supporting small businesses for a Mother’s Day gift, such as buying a gift card to her favorite store or restaurant. A gift card lets her buy what she wants, while supporting businesses still struggling amid the pandemic.
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