For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser.

Gift Ideas

10 Mother’s Day gift ideas for £10 or less

To support our site, we may use links which earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.

Struggling to find a thoughtful Mother's Day gift that fits your student budget? Try picking up one of these presents, all for a tenner or less...

Pink present and flowers

Credit: Anna_Pustynnikova, voyata – Shutterstock

Trying to find a Mother's Day present on a budget can be frustrating, we know. You want to give her the world but all you can afford is a scented candle.

But there are ways you can get a thoughtful present that will bring a smile to her face without going over your budget. With Mother's Day coming up on Sunday 10th March 2024, it's time to get that present sorted.

To make your life easier, we've hunted out our top 10 cheap but thoughtful Mother's Day gift ideas for this year from sites like Amazon, Etsy and more. And, if you've left it a tad late, we've also got a few last-minute gift ideas you can get if all else fails.

Got some birthdays coming up soon too? Check out our cheap, cheerful and extremely creative birthday gift guide for some inspiration.

10 cheap Mother's Day gift ideas

These are the best cheap Mother's Day gifts:

  1. Plant a tree

    • Cost – £5 (minimum suggested donation)
    • Post and packaging – N/A.

    Gift-giving doesn't just have to be about material possessions and presenting something all wrapped up in a bow. This year, why not get your mum an eco-friendly gift that will stand the test of time and can be enjoyed by everyone for years to come?

    Via the National Trust, you can now pay to have a tree planted as a gift to your nearest and dearest. You won't get to keep the tree, but you and your mum can rest easy knowing that you've helped to make a National Trust site (and the planet) that little bit greener.

    They ask that you donate at least £5 to the 'plant a tree fund'.

    Donate and plant a tree »

     

  2. Chocolate pizza

    chocolate pizza

    • Cost – Around £8
    • Post and packaging – Free delivery.

    Does your mum love chocolate? And pizza? She's going to love this.

    Chocolates for a Mother's Day present might feel a bit clichéd, but these chocolate pizzas are quirky and available for a pretty good price.

    The Gourmet Chocolate Pizza Co has a lot of options. If this one with Belgian chocolate, brownie biscuit and vanilla fudge isn't to your mum's taste (somehow), they're bound to have another choice that is.

    Get this chocolate pizza »

     

  3. Socks

    • Cost – Around £5 – £10
    • Post and packaging – Varies.

    Socks are always useful. And on Etsy, you can find some with fun and original designs.

    You should be able to find some that are cute, comfy, eco-friendly and affordable.

    Look for ones made from natural fabrics like bamboo and organic cotton. These socks are bound to put a smile on your mum's face.

    Get some socks »

     

  4. Face mask gift basket

    • Cost – Around £10
    • Post and packaging – £4.99 or free with Amazon Prime.

    If you're looking for value for money, then this face mask gift basket does the job – it makes a great present and looks like a lot more than £10's worth.

    It comes with nine different masks for your face, one hair mask, plus a felt cube and an exfoliating blush body puff. Bags of relaxation in one box.

    Get this face mask gift »

     

  5. Photo mug

    two mugs

    • Cost – £10
    • Post and packaging – £4.99

    There's nothing mums like better than a good cuppa, so why not slap your mug on a mug to make her daily tea fix even better?

    These ones from Moonpig are £10 and you can customise them with both a photo and a written message.

    Get a photo mug »

     

  6. Makeup bag

    • Cost – £6
    • Post and packaging – £1.50 to collect in-store; £3.95 for home delivery.

    Who says Mother's Day presents can't be cute and practical?

    If your mum's makeup table is overflowing, for a mere £6 you can get her a nice makeup bag to keep everything organised.

    And, if you fancy going the extra mile, you could even fill it with some cheap makeup or beauty products with the leftover money from a £10 budget.

    Get this makeup bag »

     

  7. Sanctuary Spa gift set

    • Cost – £10
    • Post and packaging – £1.50 to collect in-store; £3.95 for home delivery.

    When it comes to Mother's Day, you can't go wrong with something that smells nice. And this gift set from Sanctuary Spa does just that.

    The set includes a body scrub, body wash and body lotion. Your mum will be spoilt for choice.

    Get this gift set »

     

  8. Knitted hot water bottle covers

    Hot water bottles

    • Cost – £7
    • Post and packaging – £3.35.

    These handmade hot water bottle covers from Etsy are a delight.

    Not only are they great value for money, but they also come in 12 different colour options.

    As these are handmade, you'll need to allow a couple of weeks for them to be dispatched. If you haven't got that long to wait, check out the other options in this list, or the last-minute gift ideas below.

    Note: The £7 options on the site don't include the rubber bottle. You can pay £6 extra to get one bundled with your cover or get one separately on Amazon (if your mum doesn't already own one).

    Get a hot water bottle cover »

     

  9. Takeaway coffee cup

    • Cost – £8.20
    • Post and packaging – £4.99 or free with Amazon Prime.

    For an eco-friendly gift, a reusable coffee cup is sure to go down a treat. And if your mum loves her takeaway coffee, bringing a reusable cup can get her discounted or even free coffees at her favourite cafes.

    The Circular Now Cup by Circular&Co is made from recycled single-use paper cups. You can use them for up to five years and they're fully recyclable.

    Get a reusable coffee cup »

     

  10. Bake a Mother's Day cake

    • Cost – About £2.92*
    • Post and packaging – N/A.

    Last but not least, mums appreciate a good cake when they see one, and you get extra points for baking a Mother's Day cake yourself.

    There are several bonuses of going down the DIY cake route. You can make it to your mum's tastes (chocolate, vanilla, coffee flavoured...), you can decorate and personalise it to your (mother's) heart's content, and it's cheap!

    Ingredients

    • 175g margarine (£0.33)
    • 175g self-raising flour, sifted (£0.08)
    • 175g caster sugar (£0.43)
    • 3 medium-sized free-range eggs, beaten (£0.66)
    • 150g vanilla frosting (£1.05)
    • 150g jam (£0.13)
    • 100g icing sugar (£0.24)
    • 1–2 tablespoons of hot water.

    Method

    1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (gas mark 4).
    2. Grease and line two 20.5cm sandwich tins.
    3. Put the margarine and sugar into a mixing bowl and mix until it's fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, adding a tablespoon of flour with the second egg. Then add the rest of the flour and beat well.
    4. Divide the mixture equally into the two prepped sandwich tins. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes until the cake has risen and springs back to the touch. Leave to cool on a wire rack.
    5. Take one of your slices and add a layer of jam and a layer of vanilla frosting. Then place the other slice on top to form a sandwich.
    6. To decorate, either sprinkle icing sugar on top or beat the icing sugar with a small amount of water, a little at a time, until it's fairly thick. Spread this over the cake with a knife or spoon.

    * Prices were correct at the time of writing (using Tesco.com prices as guidelines).

It never hurts to be ahead of the game. See our top Father's Day gift ideas.

Last-minute Mother's Day presents

person holding bouquet of flowers

Credit: CandyBox Images – Shutterstock

There's nothing worse than getting to Saturday and realising you still need to get a gift. But don't worry, we've got your back with a whole host of things that can easily be bought on the very morning of Mother's Day (before your mum gets out of bed hopefully).

Here are the best last-minute gifts to get for your mum on Mother's Day:

  • Flowers. Head to the supermarket for beautiful bunches for just a few pounds.
  • Pamper Day and Spa Treatments (from £30+).
  • Charity donation on your mum's behalf.
  • Box with a selection of your mum's favourite sweets. You can get a few bags of sweets/bars of chocolates from the supermarket and fill a small box
  • Voucher on Groupon.
  • Home-cooked meal. Cooking her favourite meal for her is a super thoughtful treat.
Most wrapping paper contains plastic and has a big carbon footprint. Wrap beautiful presents using brown or recyclable paper, sealed with brown paper tape or twine. Or go for reusable gift bags!

We have a whole host of extra ideas in our guide to cheap but thoughtful gifts.

Jessica Murray

WRITTEN BY Jessica Murray

As an Editor of Save the Student, Jessica Murray has written extensively on student money news and money-saving tips. She was co-host of our podcast, No More Beans, and is now a journalist at the Guardian. Her tips and insights range from fun guides for freshers, to information for graduates entering the workplace.
Read more

ASK @SAVETHESTUDENT

Tweet / Instagram DM / Facebook DM / Email