Short on money and ideas for Mother's Day? Here's how to stay within budget
WASHINGTON (7News) — With Mother's Day on the way this weekend, and inflation still rampant, many people are looking for a way to honor their moms without breaking the bank.
Smart shopping expert Trae Bodge says it all starts with a budget.
"You want to honor mom but don't want to bust the budget. And so it's really important to think about what you can realistically afford to spend," Bodge said.
Next, think about what your mother likes, and look for deals.
SEE ALSO | High mortgage rates helping drive shortage of homes for sale and hurting affordability
"Deal sites like Rakuten and joinhoney.com have coupons and cashback offers. Install their browser extension and as you shop online, deals will pop up," Bodge added.
If you're coming up short on ideas -- Bodge said "think gift sets and jewelry... beautiful teas or bath products. I'm seeing an interesting trend right now in self-care coming off the pandemic."
Bodge does not expect people to go overboard this year, but she says spending is up a bit, which she says is a good sign for the economy.
Sometimes the best gifts are free.
"We do see year after year that moms just want to spend time with us," she said. "If your mother is older, maybe she needs something practical like help around the house, with her garden or if there's a piece of furniture she needs moved or assembled. Those are things we can offer our moms that are free."
