Mother's Day is just around the corner, but if you're like most college students your final papers, group projects, and exams haven't left you much time for gift shopping. Luckily, there's still some time to get Mom something special without breaking your bank. Here are a few ideas.
1. Coloring books and crayons/colored pencils
Walk into any superstore or craft store and you will find a variety of adult coloring books. They've been proven to help alleviate stress, so of course they make a great Mother's Day gift.
2. Plants and gardening tools
Plant a garden with your mom. Most stores sell several bulbs of flowers for under $4 per package, which leaves enough money to buy a couple pairs of gloves and some tools so you can start a garden together.
3. Go see a movie
Go on a date with your mom to watch the latest chick-flick, animated film, or fandom movie your dad doesn't want to partake in. You can make this option even cheaper by going to a Saturday afternoon matinee.
4. Get coffee together
More than anything, your mom wants to spend time with you on Mother's Day. Treat her to coffee in the afternoon, put your cell phone away, and ask her to tell you stories from her college years. Catch up with your mom in a way you haven't in a while.
5. Cleaning supplies
Sometimes the best gift to receive is simply one you didn't have to purchase yourself. Your mom is probably in need of more Windex, a new washcloth, or a handy dandy Magic Eraser. While by themselves none of these items are expensive, when tagged onto a list of grocery items already in the three-digit price range, they start to add up. Practical gifts are often better than another stereotypical Mother's Day mug.
6. New kitchen tools
Obviously a new Keurig doesn't fall in the $20 or less category, but that doesn't mean you can't help your mom spruce up her kitchen a little. Are her mixing bowls older than you? Is her cheese grater too dull to actually "grate" anything? Find whatever it is in her kitchen that needs replaced (and that you can afford) and surprise her with a newer version.
7. A good book
Your mom might say she doesn't have time to read, but even reading ten minutes a night before going to bed could allow her to finish a book in about a month. If your mom is an avid reader, find out what series or styles of books she likes and go from there. On the other hand, if you have no idea what she would read, peruse the summaries on the back covers of a few books until you find one you think she will enjoy.
8. Make a mug
Notice I didn't say buy a mug. If you're going this route, homemade is the way to do it. Maybe you aren't the best sculptor or don't have access to physically make a ceramic mug. That's where Sharpie comes in. Buy a few oil-based paint Sharpie markers and a plain white mug or two (which can be found at any craft store). Draw a design, write a quote, or trace an image onto the mug, bake it in the oven, and you have the perfect homemade gift for Mom. (For more detailed directions, follow this link).
9. Paint a canvas
Now you might be saying, "I am not nearly artsy enough to paint anything, especially to give as a gift!" However, you're probably wrong. After joining a sorority, painting canvases has become a natural part of my life. Canvases are relatively inexpensive, and decent paint only costs a little over a dollar a bottle. I prefer The Fine Touch Stretched Artist Canvas 2-Pack and Americana paint, but use whatever is easily available to you! Use one color for a base coat and a different one to write a quote. It's just like writing in pen or pencil, and if you mess up, you can scrape the paint away with your finger before it dries or paint another base coat over your mistake.
10. Get her nails done
Getting your nails done doesn't have to be expensive! There are nail salons and hair salons where a basic manicure can cost as little as $10. If you don't think that's quite enough, a pedicure at a similar location is typically only about $25. Your mom deserves to be pampered!
I hope you now have a few more ideas of what to get Mom before this Sunday without breaking your bank!
