10 FREE Gift Ideas for Mom

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, and whether you’re looking for a gift idea for your own mom, for your wife, your sister, or even just for a dear friend, I’ve got a few FREE ideas to you might want to consider — after all, it’s the thought that counts, right?

1. Homemade Cards:

I just saw a certain brand of cards “on sale” for $7.99 a piece!! Seriously, when did a sheet of card-stock get so ridiculously expensive? Make your own cards using kid’s artwork, a favorite poem, old calendar pages, etc. Or send a free e-card for those last-minute forgetful moments!

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2. Breakfast in Bed:

Breakfast in bed is always a great gift — as long as you thoroughly clean the kitchen when you’re finished and don’t leave mom with a mess of dirty dishes!

3. Flowers:

I know, I said all the gifts were going to be free… but I guarantee you have some flowers growing in your yard right now, or at least know of someone who has flowers and would let you pick a few for your special mom!

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4. Special Coupons:

These were always a favorite in our family. My mom still uses coupons religiously for her weekly grocery shopping, so we often made her a “special” coupon booklet with coupons like: a free back massage, an hour where we would play quietly in our rooms, or doing our chores without complaining. Pretty much anything would work for these coupons…so get creative!

5. Babysitting:

If you know any young moms who could use a night {or day} out, but might not be able to afford a babysitter, consider giving her a few hours of free babysitting so she can run errands, go out to dinner with her husband, or just take a bath!

6. House Cleaning:

If you have the gift of cleaning and know of a few moms who might not share your gift, then offer to clean their house for a day. I’ve done this several times for baby gifts…but it would work for Mother’s Day gifts too.

7. Pictures:

What mom wouldn’t love pictures of her children or her family? And speaking as a totally incompetent  photographer, I would absolutely love a few nice pictures of Dave and me. If you are a talented {or even semi-talented} photographer, consider giving your favorite mom a mini photo shoot.

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8. Dinner — or any meal that can be frozen for later

With the busyness of Spring already upon us, I’m sure any mom would love a few meals in the freezer that she could pull out at a moment’s notice.

9. Concierge Services:

I know there are days when I don’t feel like running all the mundane errands I have to run — and I don’t even have to drag a bunch of little kids around with me! I assume I’m not alone with this, so what better gift for a busy mom then to offer to run a few of her errands for the day.

10. Laundry Service:

I put laundry service under a separate category than house cleaning, because I know lots of women who have very clean homes but are drowning under piles and piles of laundry. I’ve even been “hired” by friends, family, and organizing clients to simply come for an entire day and wash, dry, fold, and put away laundry. If you are someone who enjoys laundry, ironing, etc. this might just be the perfect mother’s day gift for a friend, relative, or neighbor.

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All of these gifts can easily be carried out for free {or at a VERY minimal cost} and I’m certain they will be greatly appreciated by the mom on the receiving end. Plus, as with most free gifts, they don’t come with a lot of extra clutter!

What are your favorite FREE gift ideas?

Oh, and next week, I’ll share the free gifts we gave our moms!!