Apparently battered wallets aren’t keeping residents from buying this Mother’s Day.
The National Retail Federation estimates that average spending on Mother’s Day gifts will decrease only 50 cents to $138.63 this year. Americans will shell out $15.8 billion for mom.
But if you don’t have that kind of cash, check out these deals and freebies:
• Start the day off right with a little shopping and a free breakfast at IKEA. The Swedish home goods store is offering mom a breakfast of eggs, bacon and home fries along with a cup of coffee.
• Have a Facebook account? Make your own photo book using your Facebook album photos by downloading the HotPrint application.
• TGI Friday’s is offering a free dessert for mom with the purchase of any entree. Paired with the restaurant’s $5 meal deal menu, that’s one sweet option. As an added bonus, Friday’s is offering a “buy one entree, get one free” coupon if you sign up for its Give Me More Stripes card.
• TCBY is offering mom a free ice cream cone or cup on Mother’s Day.
• 1-800-Flowers is offering several bouquets for $30 or less on its promotions page. For instance, order 12 multi-colored roses and get 12 additional roses for free along with a pink premium vase and gourmet chocolates.
• Teleflora will give you a 15 percent discount when you order online if you enter the promotional code PJ15 at checkout.
• Save money but add a personal touch by making your own gift. Instructables.com offers some simple and fun crafts, like how to make bath salt bars.
• Another great idea that costs only a couple of bucks is enlarging a photo of you and mom together and framing it. Kick up the presentation a notch by scanning photos into your computer and making a slideshow video with her favorite song using iMovie or Windows Moviemaker.
Find links and more information at the Here’s the Deal blog online,
journal-news.com/go/bargains.
