TORONTO — Mother’s Day is this Sunday, in case you’ve forgotten. If you haven’t bought anything yet for the woman who gave birth to you, it’s not too late. But be aware that procrastination can lead to overspending, according to experts.
Surveys show Canadians spend around $100 on Mother’s Day. And not that your mom doesn’t deserve to be splurged on — but if you’re not in the greatest of financial situations, you might be better off putting three-quarters of that money toward paying down your credit card debt or building your savings, said Jeff Schwartz, executive director of Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada.
“For Mother’s Day, it certainly is the thought that counts.”
“Think carefully about what your mom would truly appreciate, and it will be easy to find a happy medium between skimping and splurging,” Schwartz advised.
After all, the last thing your mom would want is for you to blow away money on a thoughtless gift, which only puts you deeper in the hole.
While the idea of a $25 budget might sound a bit tight to some, the team at Consolidated Credit has put together the following list of five options that make it doable:
- Trudeau says ‘good luck’ to Saskatchewan premier in carbon price spat
- Canadians more likely to eat food past best-before date. What are the risks?
- Hundreds mourn 16-year-old Halifax homicide victim: ‘The youth are feeling it’
- Vacation death: Cuba apologizes after Canadian family receives wrong remains
- Personalized canvas wall art – Choose a great photo of you and your mom and convert it into a work of art by getting it printed on canvas to make a one-of-a-kind present. It’s a gift that will last a lifetime and will give your mom a smile every time she sees it.
- Manicure – You don’t have to spend big bucks to pamper your mom. Full spa packages can cost a lot, but manicures offer a nice bit of luxury at a low price. Go into your local nail salon and you are likely to see a nail treatment gift certificate in the $20-25 dollar range. Or buy the supplies at your local drugstore and pamper your mom yourself.
- Bath and body kit – If you’d rather go for more of a full-body spa treatment, you can give mom the tools to do it at home. Bath and body kits often come with bath/shower gel and body butter that mom and pull out anytime she wants to indulge and relax – and no spa appointment is required.
- Tea time – Immerse your mom in the world of gourmet loose tea leaves. Instead of taking her out for afternoon tea, buy her a gift set with multiple teas that she can enjoy day after day. Sample starter kits will help her get to know the wide variety of teas that are out there.
- Mind and body – Give your mom the gift of health and serenity by picking up a good quality yoga mat or DVD set. Yoga is a great exercise for all ages and fitness levels, and offers a healthy dose of mindfulness along with strength, flexibility, and cardio.
Hand-made cards are always a nice touch. And sometimes, nothing beats a home-cooked meal. You can find some recipe ideas for what to whip up this Mother’s Day below:
- Mother’s Day recipe for scrambled eggs with wild mushrooms
- Mother’s Day recipe for pepper-scampi Alfredo
- Mother’s Day recipe for chocolate-raspberry beet cake
- Mother’s Day recipe for tea sandwiches
- Mother’s Day recipe for pepper-scampi Alfredo
WATCH BELOW: Winnipeg blogger and mom Natalie Bell offers some tips on good gifts for the moms in your life this Mother’s Day
Comments