25 Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas That Mom Will Love: $0 to $50

Last updated on December 3rd, 2018 at 10:41 am

A Christmas gift for mom can sometimes be the hardest gift to buy. You want to give her something as unique as she is and yet you have this thing called a Christmas budget. Don’t worry! This list of 25 inexpensive Christmas gifts for mom is going to help you fix that problem.

25 Inexpensive Christmas Gift Ideas That Mom Will Love

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1. A Written Reminder That You Love Her

One year I took the time to include a top ten reason why you are a great mom list in a card to my mom. If you need a little help in coming up with things to write, try using this journal by knock knock.

2. Take Her Out For Coffee

If your mom’s love language is quality time over receiving gifts, then put a gift card for her favorite coffee shop in a Christmas card and tell her you want to join her for coffee there. Make sure you get a date on the calendar the day she opens the card so that it happens (if she loves coffee from a national chain such as Starbucks, save yourself a bit of money by buying the gift card at a discount through Cardpool).

If your mom prefers to sip her coffee quietly at home, give her a pound of her favorite coffee along with a note that you are coming over one morning later in the week with fresh bagels, donuts, or whatever her favorite morning treat is and you intend to spend the morning with her catching up over a cup of coffee and snacks.

3. Fingerless Gloves Knitted By You

Got a mom who doesn’t like how mittens or gloves make it hard to do everyday things like using her smartphone? If you know how to knit you can knit up a pair of these fingerless gloves in an evening using just one skein of yarn.

4. A 5 Year Memory A Day Book

I got a 5-year memory a day book similar to this one as a gift for my 40th birthday and I LOVE it! Each night I write down a few things that happened that day. Now that I am on year four, each night I read my notes from previous years and am reminded of special moments shared with family and friends.

5. Make Her A Personalized Photo Gift

I love using Shutterfly free item codes for making personalized photo gifts. All you need to pay for is the shipping, and if you earn points through either InstaGC, PrizeRebel or Swagbucks, you can cash in those points for a gift card to pay for the shipping.

Here is an article I wrote on where to find Shutterfly free item codes and here is one I wrote that gives you examples of types of gifts you can make with them.

6. A Necklace Made By You Or A Meaningful One Made By Someone Else

My friend made me a necklace similar to this one several years ago and I still wear it regularly. However, if you don’t have the time or skill to make a necklace yourself, another type of necklace most moms love are mother necklaces, which come in a variety of styles with one to suit every mom. I got a sweet pea one I like from Jane.com years ago–they often have them on sale.

7. Her Favorite Dessert Baked By You

What homemade dessert does your mom love? Can you make it for her? Does she love trying new foods? Try making her something from my no-bake Christmas treats list.

8. A Coloring Book And Colored Pencils

Got a mom who loves to color? Get her a new coloring book for Christmas and a pack of high-quality coloring pencils.

9. A Few Of Her Favorite Craving Foods

Does your mom love salty foods? Or does she have more of a sweet tooth? Gather together a few of her favorite foods and place them inside a reusable shopping bag. Place tissue paper over the top of the goodies and place under the tree.

10. A Gift With A Saying That Suits Her Personality

No matter what your mom’s personality and style you can probably find a saying on an item that she will love.

Is she an introvert? Here is a t-shirt she might love.

Does she love to read? This throw pillow with the words “just another chapter” will make her favorite reading spot just a bit cozier.

Is she a coffee snob in that she likes only certain brands? This coffee sign sounds like it would be perfect for her.

11. All She Needs To Take A Long Hot Bath

Almost all moms are fans of a long hot bath. Make your mom’s more relaxing by buying her a set of bath bombs, a bath pillow, or perhaps some scented Epsom salts.

12. Blooms Suited To Her Level Of Green Thumb

Is your mom a fresh flower kind of gal? Trader Joe’s and Aldi sell beautiful, inexpensive bouquets.

Does she prefer potted plants? If you have your own selection, you could start her a new one as a gift from one of your plants.

Perhaps she loves sitting outdoors all summer long surrounded by flowers? If so, buy her some wildflower seeds to plant in the spring.

13. A Puzzle And A Promise

Moms love it when their children take time to sit and talk with them, and what better way to pass the time while you chat than doing a puzzle together? The Ravensburger brand of puzzles is my favorite as they are high quality with excellent illustrations.

14. Purse-Sized Items In A Purse-Sized Cosmetic Bag

Moms’ purses are usually catch-alls so why not add some truly needed items to your mom’s purse? Grab a pretty purse-sized cosmetic bag and fill it with things such as nail clippers, hair tweezers, nail files, lip balm, hand cream, bandaids, and other items that come in handy and frequently get lost during travel.

15. Something To Keep Her Feet Warm

It seems the older us moms get, the colder our feet get. Which means we love gifts of warm socks or slippers. Or combine the two and get us a pair of warm and fuzzy slipper socks.

16. A Pampering Kit For Her Hands Or Feet

We moms often neglect taking time out to pamper ourselves. Help make it easier for us by creating a pampering kit for our nails or feet as a gift. Include clippers, files, pumice stones, scrubs, creams, soaking agents, and of course a new pot of nail polish. Place it all inside a cosmetic tote so it stays together, making it easy to grab when mom has 15 minutes to herself.

17. A Game And A Promise

Got a mom who loves an evening spent playing cards or board games? Grab her a new game and promise to come over one night and play a few rounds with her. I am a mom who loves this and I have Bananagrams on my Christmas list this year.

18. New Winter Accessory Items

If your mom is absent-minded like me, she probably loses at least one winter weather accessory a year whether it be a hat, gloves or a scarf. If not, sometimes it is just nice to update these items to the latest styles such as a blanket scarf.

19. Her Favorite Magazine

If your mom is in her 40s or older, then she remembers the days before Pinterest when a lot of ideas came from print magazines. Chances are she still loves reading magazines. Now, this gift can cost no actual money, but instead a few moments of your time. How? By joining Recyclebank and doing environmentally educational tasks such as watching videos and filling out short (as in less than 2 minutes to complete) surveys. It doesn’t take long to earn enough Recycle points to earn a magazine subscription, and they offer a great selection including Oprah, Real Simple, Yoga Journal, House Beautiful and more. And yes, you are allowed to put someone else’s name and address on the redemption form for the magazines you earn. Go here to create your own Recyclebank account and get earning.

20. A New Devotional

This too can be a gift that will cost you a little time, but no money. My Reader Rewards Club offers points to bookworms who are willing to do such things as reviewing books, sharing the program with friends, and answering short surveys. Devotionals can be found in the Bible area and the nonfiction area. Use my referral link here to sign up and start your account with 25 points.

21. Movie Night In A Basket And A Promise

Pick up a gift card to Amazon or Redbox so mom can enjoy either a digitally streamed movie or a movie on DVD. Then go and grab a bowl and fill it with a package of her favorite microwave popcorn and a few theatre sized boxes of her favorite candies and chocolates (these are available for $1 at most dollar stores). Then grab a card and write a note inside it that says you want to share an at-home movie night with her.

Got a mom who prefers the big movie theatre screen? This idea still works, place a gift card to her favorite movie theatre that is worth enough for two tickets and snacks.

22. Do That Chore You Know She Dislikes

If you have a mom whose love language is acts of service, this is a gift she will love and it probably won’t cost you a single cent–just your time. What chore does mom grumble about the most or puts off until it is much larger than it should be? Do that chore and when you are finished say, “Merry Christmas, Mom,” then offer to do it one more time in the near future.

23. Something Scented

A lot of moms love great smells. If your mom is one of them, indulge her with some scented bath bombs or high quality scented candles.

24. Accessories For Her Smartphone Or Tablet

Does your mom love her smartphone? Does she have a PopSocket? Or perhaps she would like a Finger Ring Stand better? Does she often remember her phone, but not her wallet? If so, she might love a stick on wallet that she can put on the back of her smartphone.

25. A Gift Card Towards Something Big You Know She Has Been Eyeing

Perhaps your mom is more of a thrifty gal and you know she is saving up her pennies for something big. If so, she won’t expect you to buy that big item for her, but she probably would love a gift card towards it. Save a bit on the purchase of that gift card by checking to see if Cardpool sells gift cards to the store of her choice first.

Do you want to save money? Join my Thrifty People Of Snail Pace Transformations Facebook group.

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