Treating your mum this Mother's Day doesn't have to cost the world - or anything at all for that matter. There are plenty of ways to show her you care without spending a single penny.
We checked the MoneySavingExpert website founded by finance expert Martin Lewis, who has since sold the business, for cheap and free gestures to make your mum feel extra special on Sunday, March 27. From cooking a nice meal to hosting a film night, you're sure to find something perfect to help you spend much needed time, rather than money with your mum this year.
Read more: Martin Lewis warns MPs that energy companies are doubling customer direct debits in cost of living crisis
Pledge to do something nice for your mum
You can't put a price on kindness. Why not download and print a free Mother's Day gift cheque from the MSE website and do something free to make your mum smile?
Sign the cheques off with your pledged act of kindness., then when she presents it to you, do whatever it says on demand. Some ideas suggested by MSE include washing her car, bringing her breakfast in bed, or doing some chores so she can have a well-deserved lie-in. You can download the cheques for printing here.
Invite her around for dinner
You could give something back to your mum for all her delicious home-cooked meals over the years. Find a recipe using ingredients you already have at home to cook her up a storm. If you’re struggling for meal ideas, MSE suggests looking at SuperCook – a recipe search engine which allows you to input the ingredients you have sat in your cupboard or fridge, then generates dishes you could make with them.
Try making it extra special by laying the table nicely and lighting a candle. Good company, a cosy ambience and no extra costs spent - perfect!
Volunteer for causes she cares about
Your mum is sure to appreciate you helping out with a cause close to her heart - and others will benefit from it too. It's something you could do together or on her behalf.
MSE suggests spending time at a care home that’s close to your family’s heart, or walking dogs together at the local animal shelter you know she donates to every year. Whatever the cause or reason, you don’t need to spend anything.
Go for a walk
Spring officially started on Sunday, March 20. So fingers crossed the beautiful weather lasts until Mother's Day on Sunday, March 27, it could be a great time to get outdoors and enjoy a walk together. Perhaps this could double up as a walk down memory lane by venturing to a place you spent your childhood together provided travel there isn’t too costly. MSE suggested.
Host a family game night
Scrabble, Cluedo, Battleship and Monopoly are games most of us have lying about at home, so why not blow away the cobwebs and give them a go on Mother's Day? The best part is that they're suitable for all the family to get involved.
But if you can’t all be together in-person, MSE suggests hosting a quiz on video calling platform Zoom. You could theme this around Mum and see who knows her best.
Watch a film together
The cinema can be a pricey day out these days, especially if you buy a snack and a drink when you're there. So, how about bringing the cinema to home to your mum? There’s always a great selection of films on Freeview which is available to all – check the TV guide to see what’s on. Dim the lights and grab some snacks, easy. If you want to go all-out, you could even make mum a cinema ticket, the MSE website said.
Take her to an art gallery, museum or castle?
Visiting one of our cultural sites doesn't have to cost a lot. Many museums, galleries and castles in Wales are free to attend while others ask for a small fee. There are some great free suggestions on the VisitWales website.
Spend time in the garden
For green-fingered Mums, there might be nothing better than spending the day in the garden. While you could spend a little on planting some new seeds, there are plenty of jobs that need to be done in the garden for spring that won’t cost you a thing, such as weeding, mowing the lawn and pruning existing plants, MSE suggested.
And, if mum doesn’t have a garden, you can still enjoy a day in nature together by visiting a public garden together. You can find plenty of outdoor spaces that do not charge a thing for entry with a quick search online.
Hold a DIY spa day
Mum deserves to put her feet up and relax after everything she's done for you and your family. Run her a bath, create homemade face masks.
MSE suggested the following recipe for a cheaper and greener alternative to ready-bought masks: Mash up a quarter of a ripe avocado, one tablespoon of rolled oats and one tablespoon of raw honey.
You could also give her a hand massage or paint her nails – the options are endless. You’ll be able to find a playlist of relaxing spa songs for free on YouTube, so you can create a relaxing ambience for no extra cost.
Look at old family photos
Get sentimental and dig out the photo albums at the back of your mum’s cupboard. Sitting down with a cuppa and looking back at fond memories is such a simple way to spend the afternoon together but it is truly priceless, it said on the MSE website.
You could even convert old family photos and videos into a digital format so your mum can keep them forever – a great gift that you can either do yourself, or pay a small amount to have this done professionally. To get the latest email updates from WalesOnline click here.
