Spoonful of Comfort

Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Moms Who Have Everything

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

There are plenty of opportunities to celebrate with the people you love—from the biggies like birthdays and Christmas to more obscure events like St. Patrick's Day or Valentine's Day. But Mother's Day holds a special place in many peoples' hearts — and for good reason.  

Mom made meals for you and nurtured you in other ways, too. She was the one who patched up your knees after a bike wreck and patched up your heart after your first breakup. She always gave you the best birthday gifts and Christmas gifts, even when times were rough. When fair-weather friends came and went, you knew you could always rely on her to be there for you. After everything mothers have done for their kids, it's little wonder Mother's Day is such a universally beloved holiday. But it can also be a day when people feel a lot of pressure to come up with a unique and thoughtful gift.  

What do you give the mother who already seems to have everything she needs? How can you find a great present that adequately expresses how much she means to you? If you're searching for that perfect gift idea, you've come to the right place. From fresh flowers to a thoughtful gift box, here are some great Mother's Day gift ideas for hard to buy moms who already seem to have it all.  

What Do Mothers Really Want for Mother's Day?

If you ask your mom what she wants for Mother's Day, she'll probably mention something modest and inexpensive, like new earrings or a pair of slippers. But what do mothers really want for Mother's Day? In some cases, they may not even know themselves. So it helps if you can come up with a unique Mother's Day gift idea that is sure to make her smile (and maybe even cry). 

 Most mothers think the best gifts are those that show a little forethought. Your mom may prefer to receive a simple gift with sentimental meaning over an expensive one that requires little to no planning on your part. Even if you slacked off and need last-minute Mother's Day gift ideas, finding a present that requires a lot of thought and effort is still possible.  

Some moms may be perfectly content with a gift of any kind — even if it's nothing more than a heartfelt card. Other mothers may expect you to buy something that shows a little investment of your money or time. Perhaps your mom has always enjoyed fancy wine and would love nothing more than a bottle of wine and a wine glass to go with it for her special day. The key is to come up with a unique gift for your unique mother that shows how much you adore her.  

How Can I Make Mother's Day Gifts?

Sometimes, the best type of gift you can give a loved one is something you've made yourself. If you're the creative type, here are some homemade mother gift ideas you can make for your mom or any other mother in your life: 

  • A sweet bouquet of fresh flowers picked from your own garden
  • A crocheted baby blanket for a new mom
  • A DIY personalized mug 
  • A sentimental painting
  • A homemade beaded bracelet or necklace
  • A custom photo book 

These are just a few ideas of homemade mother gifts you can put together yourself. All you need is the necessary materials, time, and DIY prowess to get started. 

What Is the Most Popular Gift for Mother's Day?

If you're not very crafty, don't worry about trying to impress your mom with a personalized gift you made from scratch. It's perfectly fine to buy gifts for your mother, too. Here is a list of popular, mom-approved Mother's Day gift ideas you can pick up online or at a local department store.  

  • An Atlas Coffee Club subscription
  • A smart photo frame
  • A Coffee Pick-Me-Up Package
  • An Instant Pot
  • A gift card for Best Buy, Apple Music, or other popular retail sites
  • A subscription to a wardrobe service (like Stitch Fix or Fabletics)
  • An Apple Watch
  • A gift certificate to a favorite spa 

Your mother would probably love to receive any gifts from the above list. Keep in mind that subscription services of any type require ongoing payments. It's a nice gesture if you can commit to paying for at least a few months of the service. That way, your mother will have time to decide if she wants to continue or cancel the service once you're no longer paying for it.   

What Do You Give for Mother's Day With No Money?

Your mom means everything to you, but what if you're strapped for cash and can't afford to buy her something nice? Many well-meaning people find themselves in this situation, so you're certainly not alone. Take a look at these sweet gift ideas for moms that don't cost much money.  

  • A hand or foot massage
  • A movie night at home 
  • A planned hike on a favorite trail
  • A home-cooked meal
  • A walk down memory lane while looking through photo books
  • A heartfelt card detailing your favorite moments together
  • A mini facial
  • A game of tennis
  • A phone call a day through the month of May

All of these gifts are either very affordable or completely free. But even though they won't break the bank, they're surprisingly meaningful and thoughtful. They prove that it's possible to show Mom you care without going into debt in the process.   

How Can You Make Your Gift Exchange More Fun?

There may be other people you want to buy Mother's Day gifts for besides your mom. For example, your sisters, friends, and mother-in-law may like to exchange gifts with each other on Mother's Day. If you like to do gift exchanges, here are some ideas to make a Mother's Day gift exchange fun and exciting.  

Give Funny White Elephant Gifts

Funny white elephant gifts for the mothers in your life relieves some of the pressure to purchase fancy or expensive gifts that may not fit into your budget. To plan a white elephant gift exchange with the other mothers in your life, establish a budget in advance. That way, you won't have someone spending an exorbitant amount of money while everyone else's gifts are more reasonably-priced. The only other rule is that all exchanged gifts must be funny, unusual, or strange. 

You can play various games to determine who gets which white elephant gift. One popular game is to pass a gift around the circle while someone rolls a pair of dice. When the person rolls doubles, the person currently holding the gift gets it. You can also place all the gifts in a pile on the table and allow each person to choose which one they want. 

Create Surprise Grab Bags

It can be a lot of fun to give gifts in secret. This arrangement also relieves some of the pressure involved with coming up with a "perfect gift" for someone specific. To do a secret gift exchange, establish a budget, then let people buy a variety of small gifts to go into a surprise grab bag. Simple grab bag gift ideas include lip balm, socks, and jewelry. 

Play Musical Gifts

In this gift exchange, people pass their wrapped gifts around in a circle while music plays. When the song stops, everyone gets to keep the gift that they're currently holding. If it happens to be their gift, they can trade or continue playing until they receive a gift from someone else.  

Swap Gift Baskets

There are so many unique types of gift baskets. Consider swapping gift baskets for a truly fun and exciting gift exchange. Here are some gift basket ideas to get your creativity flowing:

These are just a few fun ideas you can come up with for gourmet gift baskets that other mothers in your life will love to receive.  

What Is a Unique Mother's Day Gift?

If your mom already has everything she could want, you can still make her happy with unique or personalized Mother's Day gifts. These are the types of gifts that will make her smile and remember why you're her favorite kid. 

  • Airfare to New York, Europe, or any other dreamy vacation destination
  • A custom painting or drawing of the family
  • A personalized book about your mom's life
  • A birthstone necklace, bracelet, or earrings
  • A gift from Uncommon Goods
  • A Cold Brew Coffee Maker
  • A gourmet gift basket from Spoonful of Comfort
  • A Hearst Digital Media magazine subscription 

You can tell you've come up with a great gift idea if you'd like to receive it yourself. The gifts above are versatile and unique and make perfect Mother's Day, birthday, or Valentine's Day gifts for her.