Save money, still spoil mom on Mother's Day

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By Jessica Heffner, Business Columnist 2:29 AM Saturday, May 9, 2009

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.

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