It’s nice to show the moms in your life how much you care all year long, but it’s especially important on Mother’s Day. For some, finding the right gift is easy — especially if mom loves the latest tech or kitchen gadgets. For others, it can be an annual rite of consternation, with hours spent in search of the perfect present. If you’re in the latter camp — and knowing there isn’t much time left — here are some ideas for heartfelt gifts that you can have delivered in time for Sunday.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
Kris Scott also contributed to this story.
Related: 30 Amazing Mother’s Day Gifts That Last the Entire Year
Bake a Treat
Price: Free or low-costHas your mom got a sweet tooth? Instead of ordering and paying someone else to send her treats, why not put a little more thought into it and bake her something that she’ll love, like a dozen cookies or a loaf of sweet bread? You can two-day ship or even overnight them to preserve the freshness, and UPS and FedEx will even pick them up from your house if you can’t get out.
Magazine Subscription
Price: $5 and up from AmazonBuy ItNurture an interest in a topic or hobby with a magazine subscription. For a cheap Mother’s Day gift that keeps giving month after month, buy a subscription using discount sources and many titles will be less than $20. Some sites offer bundled deals for two or three magazines at once, so it’s not necessary to choose one pastime over another.
Send a Grandkid-Centric Video
Price: Free Lots of moms are also grandmoms who are overjoyed by just about any photo or video of their grandkids. Pull the kids together to produce a video — it could involve singing, showing off a new skill, or just telling her about their day. Or do all three and, if you’re handy with a video editing program, you can string everything together to make it seem truly impressive.
Create a Slideshow
Price: Free Just about everyone has thousands of photos on their phones and laptops these days, many that represent important occasions, fun memories, or just a slice of everyday life that would mean the world for mom to see. Use free or low-cost websites and apps like Smilebox or PicPlayPost to create a slideshow of photos for her, and set it to music that will warm her heart.
Slippers
Price: Under $25 from AmazonBuy ItThis practical gift shows mom you’re thinking about her comfort. With thousands of inexpensive options, you should be able to find a pair of slippers that suits her style, be they floral, furry, or funky —just be sure to check that the pair you select can be delivered by Sunday.
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Flowers
Price: $35 from AmazonBuy ItFlowers are a good gift for a small budget because they’re all about the gesture. Amazon has gotten in on the flower delivery game, a good option especially if you’ve waited until the last minute to find a gift.
Related: Best Flower Delivery Services
Plan a Video Chat
Price: Free Sure, moms love flowers and other lovely little gifts, but most moms cherish time with their kids over pretty much all else, especially if those kids are grown and out of the house. Using Google Hangouts, Zoom, or some other video-calling software, plan a video chat with her. Schedule it so that she knows you’re giving her 30 minutes or an hour of your time.
Luxury Soap
Price: $6 from WalmartBuy ItA simple gift of luxury soap can encourage mom to take a little time for herself. Go for something that will pamper the skin and leave her feeling beautiful, such as Walmart’s Dead Sea mud soap.
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Make a Podcast List
Price: Free You probably know your mom better than just about anyone, meaning you know what her interests are. Whether those are crafts or true crime or comedy, chances are there are podcasts dedicated to whatever subject she’s into. Come up with a podcast playlist that’ll keep her entertained for hours. Then, if she’s not already tech-savvy, teach her how to download a great podcast app like Castbox or Pocket Casts, and help her set up her tailored-by-you playlist.
Chocolate-Covered Strawberries
Price: $45 from Shari’s BerriesBuy ItWho doesn’t love a little sweet indulgence? A dozen — dipped in white and milk chocolates — can be delivered right to mom’s door.
Write Her a Letter
Price: Free Let’s be honest — moms get taken for granted a lot of the time. So, there’s probably no mom alive who wouldn’t love a letter from her kid with the retelling of a great memory or a reminder about that one time she helped you out when no one else could. If you can handwrite it and mail it, even better — but even an email, with enough heart put into it, would make her day, too.
Create a Heart(felt) Craft
Price: Free or low-cost OK, it doesn’t actually have to be felt, but there’s no denying that felt has been having a moment for quite some time. Plus, it’s an easy material to work with and super-economical (you can purchase 28 pieces of felt on Amazon for less than $11). And, if you follow a tutorial on a site like this one, the finished product will be pretty impressive.
Beach/Pool Gear
Price: Starting at $10 from TargetBuy ItMother’s Day means pool/beach season is near. Help mom get prepped with a new beach bag — then consider filling with gear: Slip in some sunscreen, a new beach towel (starting at about $10), and flip-flops (sometimes below $4 at Old Navy). She’ll be decked out and ready to hit the waves.
Make a Playlist of Her Favorite Songs
Price: Free Create a playlist of tunes you know she loves, whether it’s stuff she used to sing to you, songs from when she was growing up, or just some ditty she used to hum while cooking dinner. If she doesn’t already have a subscription to a music app like Spotify or Amazon Music, you can set her up with one and share the playlist with her — it’s not only thoughtful, but she’ll always think of you when she listens to it.
A Good Book
Price: $12 from AmazonBuy ItYou can’t go wrong with a good book — or with Oprah Winfrey. A 240-page collection of her columns culled from O, The Oprah Magazine gets rave reviews and is instantly deliverable via the Kindle edition.
Create a Homemade Coupon Book
Price: Free No matter if your mom is close by or in another town or state, you can guarantee she knows you’re there for her with a coupon book promising future hugs, trips, help around the house, and other encounters. Sure, it’s been done — but if it’s homemade and from you? She’ll love it no matter what.
Adult Coloring Book
Price: Starting at $5 from MichaelsBuy ItColoring for adults is still relaxing fun. Get mom set up to try this therapeutic hobby with adult coloring books and packs of colored pencils, also starting at just a few dollars. Many options at Michaels can be picked up the same day or delivered quickly for a fee.
Wine and Wineglasses
Price: Varies from Wine InsidersBuy ItIf mom enjoys the occasional glass of wine, a bottle or two makes a great gift, and we’ve rounded up 24 recommended wines under $10. Or order from Wine Insiders and get a 20% discount using the code WINE4MOM.
Related: How to Spot a Good, Cheap Bottle of Wine
Indoor Plant
Price: $75 and up from FTDBuy ItFor a mom who doesn’t have space for an outdoor garden, or simply doesn’t want to mess with gardening outside, opt for easy-to-care-for indoor plants like these options from FTD.
Promise Her Regular Correspondence
Price: Free Did we mention all mom really wants is to hear from you? Promise yours that you’ll email or call her every day for a month, and then do it. She’ll never forget the gift (or your commitment to follow-through), and it just might bring you closer than ever.
Letter Board
Price: $22 from AmazonBuy It Spell out an appreciative or funny message on this rustic-styled letter board and give it to mom. She’ll love it, and if she feels like a change this comes with two-colored numbers, letters, emojis, and even cursive options.
