Mother’s Day is nearly upon us and many folks are feeling a true financial crunch this year -  but should mom’s special day be scaled down in response to this economic chaos?

Given that I am a mom myself, I feel well qualified to respond to this most important dilemma. And since it is estimated that more than 95% of the country’s population will participate in the celebration of this holiday in some fashion, this better be good!

OK, here goes. If I think really hard about what means the most to me as a mother (of a young child in my case) I unequivocally come to two possible answers to this question. The first involves simply spending quality time with my child, and the second is seeing him beaming with pride or accomplishment. So the greatest gift that I can imagine getting on Mother’s Day – or any day, for that matter – may involve little or no money.

Here are some ideas for honoring mom in a budget-friendly fashion:

Want to give her roses, but can’t afford them? Send her a screen-saver of luscious blooms – she’ll get to enjoy them all year long!

Breakfast in bed. This idea is more designed for those of us who either live close by or with our parents (or for dad to help the kids to surprise mom) but what a better way to start the day than mom’s favorite spread of morning treats along with coffee and juice and a fresh flower to compliment!

Create a bouquet of flowers from your own garden, or pick wildflowers if you can. Re-use a vase you have or get one from a dollar store and add a bow!

Create a collage of family photos. Mother’s day is really about family, isn’t it? If you are really ambitious, do some scrap booking and put together a montage of photos of the two of you. Sit down with mom and go through each page – your time and the memories will be the most valuable gift you can give, and will likely bring a tear of joy to both of you.

Consider gift-pooling. An interesting concept, gift-pooling is where family and friends pool their money together to give mom a great gift without breaking the bank. Given that mom more than likely appreciates time with her family the most, consider providing tickets to a family-friendly activity or even a weekend getaway that you can participate in as a family is one great alternative.

Coupon book or handmade card. You can create free cards and coupon books online, or better yet hand-make them. Especially younger children will enjoy doing this, and the look of pride on their face when you tell them how much you love the gift? Priceless…

Create a gift basket. Pick a theme: whether it’s spa goods or favorite foods, fill a pretty gift basket with inexpensive and homemade items such as cookies or mix, needlework, scented lotions, etc.

By the way, I have a mom too, thus I have some experience on the “giving” end to. And I am pretty certain that she’d agree that any and all of these suggestions would far exceed anything that money could buy. All you readers out there who are moms, don’t you agree?

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