Why focus on mostly free Mother’s Day gifts?
For starters, none of us needs more stuff, no one needs to spend more money, and goodness knows, the planet doesn’t need more trash (which is what wrapping paper and a lot of trinkets turn into after the holiday is over).
Don’t Miss: Mother’s Day: Shopping Spree or Shopping Shift?
That said, as a mom, I just love receiving something that’s meaningful, personal, and shows me both THAT my kids care, and WHY.
That’s why I’ve pulled together this list of the 13 Mostly Free Mother’s Day Gifts I’ve received over the years that I’ve particularly loved. Most of them are not only free to give, but free of a trashy environmental impact, too.
13 Mostly Free Mother’s Day Gifts
(that Mom Will Love – and Mother Earth, too!)
1. Your Time – Does your mom love flowers but hate to garden? Spend two hours in the yard with her pulling weeds or sowing seeds. Is there a particular household chore she hates? Do it for her while she eats her breakfast in bed (see #2) or luxuriously reads the Sunday paper. What else can you do to free up time your mother can spend just on her?
2. A Delicious Meal – This is always a winner. Serve breakfast in bed. Pack a picnic and head out to the park. Arrange for dinner that everyone pitches in to cook (and don’t forget to do the dishes afterwards). Need recipes? Here’s my zucchini frittata for breakfast or brunch, and my favorite kale cranberry salad for lunch or dinner.
3. Exercise – Join your mom on a walk or a bike ride. If she loves to play tennis, can you either play with her or line up a match for her with a friend? Is there a hike she’s wanted to do but could never find the time for? Maybe she plays pickle ball. Whatever it is, help her do it.
4. A DIY Massage – I used to do this for my mother no matter what day it was. I’d just gently take her hand, rub a little lotion on it, and gently massage the fingers, palm and wrist, usually while we were sitting around talking. Convincing her to let me massage her feet was a little more challenging, but I usually won out. Here’s an introduction to gentle massage techniques if you need it.
5. Family Stories – I’ve never met a mother who doesn’t love to relive her kids’ exploits (good and bad). While you’re at it, share a story or two about a time she did something particularly extraordinary or helpful or kind for you. And if she wants to pull out the family albums for the millionth time, don’t roll your eyes!
6. A Special Drink – Brew up your mom’s favorite tea, make homemade lemonade or iced tea, blend together a yummy smoothie or shake, or pour her a glass of organic red or white wine.
7. E-Mail InBox Clean-up – I’m talking about emptying the inbox and getting rid of thousands of old and unnecessary emails. Would someone please do this for me? Helloooo? Hellooooo???
8. Online Photo Filing – Oh, no, forget my emails. Please do THIS for me and my thousands of photos that are randomly stored somewhere on Google! I already love you to the moon and back, but do this, and I’ll love you to the sun and back.
9. Car Detailing – Give her car the works inside and out: clean the dashboard, vacuum the seat cushions, wipe off the grimy indoor windows and door handles, and drive through a car wash. May as well gas up the car while you’re at it. By the way, remember to use the same green cleansers on the inside of the car that you use inside your home. Here are some helpful recipes. 
10. Bicycle Servicing – Get her bike ready for the summer. Adjust the gears, clean off the frame, oil the chain. Track down maps to some local bike trails she might not know about, too.
11. Garden Tool Cleaning and Sharpening – If your mom is like me, she’s usually too tired or too busy to clean her spades and shovels, let alone get them sharpened. You can take them to your local hardware store for sharpening and cleaning, or do it yourself.
11. A Special Photo – I can never have enough photos of me with my children. I love the ones that show me with them when they were babies, next to another photo of me with them as their now-adult selves. Almost any photo works – funny, poignant, surprising. Print out a photo on your computer or at a place like CVS, then hit the local vintage store for the perfect frame. That’s a winner – guaranteed!
12. Books From a Little Free Library – Many neighborhoods, including mine, have sprouted “Little Free Libraries.” They’re weatherproof, enclosed cases where people leave books so others can take them and read them at no cost. They’ve become a smart way to recycle books you no longer need to keep around – and an equally smart way to find gifts for people without needing to lay out any cash.
13. Tickets to An Event or Certificates to Redeem – If you are going to spend some money, buy tickets to an event or performance of some sort. Baseball games, the movies, a concert, a theater performance, choose whatever you think your mom would most enjoy. Ideally, get tickets to something the two of you (or you and your siblings or extended family) can enjoy together. Alternatively, give her a gift certificate for a mani/pedi, facial, or another service designed to pamper her!
By the way, don’t miss our other Mother’s Day posts!
Want to Give Mom Flowers? Choose These.
If You Get Flowers for Mother’s Day, Here’s How to Make Them Last
A Mother’s Day Question: What Do You Have in Common With Your Daughter…and Your Own Mother?
