Ideas for Mother’s Day that won’t break the bank

This Sunday is Mother’s Day, are you ready? Here are some ideas to make Mom’s day extra special.

Make something with your own hands. You don’t have to be a little kid for this to be special. Honest. Make a card by hand. Craft anything, crochet, knit, sew or glue something. Make a wreath, a potpourri sachet, paper flowers, a key ring or anything!

Go out to lunch instead of dinner. According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother’s Day is the busiest day of the year for restaurants, so be prepared to wait for a table during dinner service. Many restaurants offer nearly the same menu for lunch as dinner, but the prices are lower. Some restaurants offer “Moms Eat Free” on Mother’s Day, making it possible to go to a restaurant that’s usually out of your price range.

Make a scrapbook or photo album. This doesn’t have to be expensive. Most dollar stores have a craft section with small photo albums and you can print photos right on your home printer.

Bake a cake. It only costs about $3 to make a cake from a mix at home. You can decorate it as a one-of-a-kind work of art! Better yet, let the kiddies decorate it.

Frame childrens’ artwork. Just a simple inexpensive frame makes a child’s drawing extra special.

Ask for a Honey Do list (and do it). This is a sure fire winner of a gift. Ask Mom what she’d like to have done around the house and make arrangements to get it done. I’m not suggesting you spend Mother’s Day cleaning the garage! Put it on the calendar and do it.

Better than flowers. Flowers are gone in a week. Buy a perennial plant instead and be sure it gets planted in the garden by someone other than Mom. No garden? Get a flowering house plant in a pretty pot.

Wash Mom’s car. Really detail it. She’ll appreciate getting into a clean car and feel the love every day. While you’re at it, why not fill the tank?

Hand-print cards — This is especially good for families with small children. Each year have the kids put their hand print on a card for Mom. Save the cards to watch how those little hands grow.

Serve breakfast in bed. Few things are more luxurious than being treated to breakfast in bed. You’ll need a sturdy tray that won’t tip over and large enough to hold a plate and a cup and saucer and a few other goodies. Make Mom’s favorite breakfast with fresh-brewed coffee or tea. To be really decadent, serve a mimosa, that’s orange juice and Champagne served in a stemmed glass. But please remember even cold cereal is special when served thoughtfully. Don’t forget breakfast isn’t over until the dishes are done and the bed is crumb free.

Frugal Festivity contributed by Patti Diamond, author of “Divas on a Dime — Where Frugal, Meets Fabulous!,” www.divasonadime.com Join us on Facebook at DivasOnADimeDotCom.