Mother’s Day Gift Basket Ideas – That Will Fit Your Budget

This post is from several years ago but the ideas are still fabulous and affordable. Pricing will be a bit higher, the Dollar Tree is now mostly $1.25 per item versus just a buck, for example, but they won’t be that much more expensive.

 

Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8th and if you are still trying to decide what to gift your mom with, here are some easy but great ideas using “themed” baskets. I love these ideas because they can fit any budget and you can personalize them to what your mom likes, making it a perfect gift for your unique mom. 

All of my baskets were made using items from the Dollar Tree, Ross, Lowe’s, and most of the actual baskets came from Discover Goodwill. They range from under $10 to about $65 demonstrating how you can create a fabulous gift for your mom even if you’re on a serious budget. 

• You can wrap these baskets in cellophane or add shredded ribbon or more bows. I kept mine simple since Lauren McDonald, Morning Reporter for FOX21 Morning News, joined me at my home this morning as we filmed live and I wanted to be able to pull out the items easily. I do always have fun with Lauren!

IF YOUR MOM ENJOYS DOING HER NAILS…

If your mom enjoys doing her nails make her a manicure/pedicure basket. You can make it as simple as a basket of colored polishes you know she’d like and wear to a basket of lotions, potions, and all the nail equipment she needs for that perfect manicure. I use polish from the Dollar Tree but if you know she prefers another brand like essie or OPI, sub those instead. If your mom prefers to go to the salon and would never do her nails herself, give her a gift certificate to her favorite salon or make a date for the both of you to get your nails done together.

You can create a basket with a few of your mom’s favorite colors. The polishes were a buck each and my basket was 29 cents from Goodwill. Less than $7 and your mom will have lots of colorful options to choose from. 

Look how pretty these colors are! I personally use Dollar Tree polish and for me, it lasts just as long as an $8 bottle. Kitten thought the colors looked great too.

This basket cost $11.65 with all the products coming from the Dollar Tree and the basket from Goodwill. Perfect for a pedicure with soft socks, lotions, polish remover, nail tools, pedicure set, and some cute flip-flops. 

IF YOUR MOM IS A MOVIE BUFF…

If your mom enjoys watching movies why not make her a “movie package” basket? Fill it with a favorite (or more) movie and treats you know she enjoys. You could theme it even more if your mom likes watching certain types of movies like musicals, black & white oldies, or movies with her favorite actor. If she prefers going to the movie theater you could always buy her a movie pass or tickets to an upcoming show or make an afternoon of it and take your mom to a movie and lunch.

IF YOUR MOM IS A “FOODIE”…

I personally love cooking and eating so a basket filled with goodies would be something I’d use and enjoy. For this basket I added olive oil, balsamic vinegar, spices, seasonings, and snacks, all from Ross. My basket came from Goodwill and I added a towel, appetizer cookbook, and chopper/scraper from the Dollar Tree. This big basket of goodies cost $34.92. 

IF YOUR MOM LOVES GARDENING…

It’s a beautiful time of year and if your mom is someone who enjoys being outdoors and gardening, this basket would be a perfect idea. I filled this with tools and gadgets, seeds, a sun-protecting hat, and a cute scarf, all from the Dollar Tree, with my basket from Goodwill. If your mom loves flowers but isn’t physically able to garden, you could spend an afternoon visiting with her as you plant a few things you know she’d enjoy. 

This basket came to a total of $15.50.

OR MAKE YOUR MOM A BASKET OF HERBS OR FLOWERS…

If your mom enjoys flowers or herbs but doesn’t have a large area to plant or doesn’t like to garden, make her a basket filled with herbs or flowers. I enjoy herb pots which our deer don’t eat and allows me to cook with fresh herbs whenever I want. I just walk on the deck and picks a few sprigs or leaves of whatever I need. 

I spent $19.49 on the larger basket filled with parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. The basket came from Ross. And the smaller basket, filled with 2 plants of cilantro, because we love cilantro, was $7.50 with the basket coming from the Dollar Tree. The herbs were $3 each at Lowe’s.

IF YOUR MOM ENJOYS PAMPERING SPA TREATMENTS…

I love these baskets which show that regardless of your budget, you can create a fabulous basket filled with pampering products to help your mom feel calm and relaxed. 

This spa package cost $10.99. I filled it with items like scrubs, masks, lotion and cooling cucumber eye pads from the Dollar Tree. The basket came from Goodwill.

This basket is filled with slippers, a robe, shower fizzes, body scrub, loofah pads, bath bombs, bath salt, candle and more. You can fill one with as much or as little as your budget allows. I added some coconut cookies too, which sounded like something a spa might serve. If your mom enjoys a glass of wine with a long bath, add a bottle if you want. All of the items, except for the robe and basket, which came from Goodwill, came from Ross. The total for this basket is $60.88.

• I realize that everyone has different budgets, which makes themed baskets perfect gifts, regardless of your own finances. If you want to spend more, add a silk robe to the spa basket or use higher-end brands. I think most moms would be thrilled with any of these ideas, depending on what she likes. If your budget allows, buy an entire garden of flowers for her or choose a fine wine she wouldn’t normally buy for herself. But if you’re on a tighter budget, as you can see, there are many different options that will let her know you’re thinking of her.

Lauren and I snacked on a simple Quiche and enjoyed a raspberry sorbet mimosa while we were live on FOX21 Morning News, which would be perfect for a delicious but easy breakfast or brunch for your mom. The Quiche is crustless which makes it gluten free and lower in calories but it’s so yummy you won’t miss the crust.

 

BROCCOLI & CHEESE CRUSTLESS QUICHE

Makes one 10-inch Quiche

Ingredients:

Butter (for greasing pie dish)

Salt

3 cups small broccoli florets

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

1 cup whole milk

2/3 cup heavy cream

6 large eggs

Pinch of nutmeg

Pepper

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and set oven rack in the middle position. Butter a 10-inch glass pie dish and set aside till needed.

In a large pot, bring water to a boil over high heat and season with salt. Let water return to a boil and add broccoli. Boil gently, stirring a few times, for 1 to 2 minutes or until tender-crisp. Drain, rinse with cold water. 

Put broccoli in bottom of pie dish. Sprinkle cheese over broccoli evenly.

In a large bowl, whisk milk, cream, eggs, nutmeg, and salt and pepper to taste until mixture is smooth. Pour over the cheese.

Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until custard is set in the center. Let cool slightly before serving.

 

RASPBERRY SORBET MIMOSA

Scoop raspberry sorbet into flutes (or any glass you prefer.) Top with sparkling white wine.