Low on Cash, High on Love: Mother's Day Gift Ideas for Under $50

It's nice to show the moms in your life how much you care all year long, but it's especially important on Mother's Day. For some, finding the right gift is easy — especially if mom loves the latest tech or kitchen gadgets. For others, it can be a chore, with hours spent in search of the perfect present. If you're in the latter camp, here are some ideas for heartfelt gifts under $50 — from you or from the kids.

Prices and availability are subject to change. 

Related: The Best Subscription Gifts for Mother's Day

$12 and up

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This glass mug makes for a delicate addition to any mug collection. Choose from pink, iridescent, clear, and amber, each of which comes with a bamboo lid. (Psst: They're cheap enough that you can buy her a whole set!) 

Related: The Best Gifts for Moms Who Have Everything

$40 from Amazon

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This cult-favorite hot-air brush can help make salon-perfect hair attainable wherever she is, and it’s far easier to manage than a traditional hair dryer. 

Related: 10 Things Moms Really Want for Mother's Day

$45 from Amazon

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This cute little butter warmer isn't just for heating butter — it can be used for all kinds of sauces. Plus, it looks stylish just hanging around the kitchen. 

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$23 and up

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Looking for a gift for your design-savvy mom? This abstract ceramic vase, available in three different styles, is a statement piece for any room in the house. 

$10 from Amazon

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If your mom loves The Real Housewives of New York City (or at least loves to hate it), this coloring book is a solid bet for Mother's Day. Add some colored pencils or markers to your gift bag. 

$25 from Amazon
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Yoga pants with pockets? Say less. The Amazon bestsellers have a tummy control top, two side pockets, and around 30 looks to choose from.

$36 and up from Amazon
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This minimalist chic tote is perfect for moms running busy errands with kids. It has plenty of interior storage compartments, is made of durable nylon, and it's waterproof. Best of all, it comes in 15 color combinations that will complement just about any outfit.

$16 and up from Amazon

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If the mom in your life could use a little refresher in the morning, this ice roller should do the trick. It helps with de-puffing, migraines, and pain relief, and comes in almost 10 vibrant colors.

$29 from Amazon
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You really can't beat a blanket this popular at this price. Available in more than 20 colors, it's cozy and warm and perfect for an afternoon nap — or for a mom who's always cold.

$26 from Etsy

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This dainty Mama necklace is a beautiful way to show appreciation for the mother figure in your life. Choose from a sterling silver, rose gold, or 18k gold finish.

$50 from Amazon
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Know a mom who loves beer? This kit is the perfect gift to get into the art of brewing at home. It comes with everything you need, and reviewers say it's easy to use and a fun experience. Other options include hefeweizen, single-hop IPA, and brown ale.

$40 and up from Paper Culture
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Commemorate a special event, vacation, or other time in mom's life by creating photo book at this site. It has lots of themes, colors, and two sizes available and instructions will walk you through the process. 

$37 from Etsy
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In this digital era, handwriting has become something of a lost art, yet few things are as personal as the written word. Give mom a permanent piece of your penmanship with this bracelet, available in sterling silver, rose gold, or 18-karat gold finish.

$50 from The Adventure Challenge
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This book has 50 fun family challenges to make the most of quality together time. Scratch-off entries reveal activities that run the gamut from outside adventures to kooky and creative projects. Each spot also includes a place to include a photo, so this will become a cherished keepsake Mom will love even after the challenges are long-completed.

Price: $40/month and up from Cratejoy
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With this subscription box, she can spoil her pup and get a little something for herself, too. The Dog Mom Box includes dog treats, toys, and other goodies, along with surprises for doting owners like T-shirts, bath bombs, and accessories.

$31 from Amazon
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If Mom enjoys the occasional glass of wine, a bottle or two makes a great gift, and we've rounded up some recommended red wines under $20. To really make the gift special, throw in a set of stemless Riedel wine glasses.

$37 from Amazon
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Whether she's a mom or a grandma, she'll love this elegant pewter and blue pearl nest necklace. Hand-sculpted and cast in the USA, it includes a 21-inch chain, and the back is engraved with a quote ("In my garden nature grows, a place for birds to raise their young") as well as the maker's signature.

$47 and up from Shari's Berries
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Who doesn't love a little sweet indulgence? A dozen — dipped in white and milk chocolates — can be delivered right to mom's door. 

$28 from Amazon
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If your mom loves to hit the trails, she'll love the armchair-hiker nature of "100 Hikes of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Scenic Trails." To really make her happy, find one nearby if possible, and go hike the trailhead with her. 

$22 from Etsy
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Got one of those moms who just can't resist a succulent, but also can't keep one alive? She'll love a pair of  blue purple echeverias she can't kill. 

$20 and up from Art of Tea
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Tea is more than a coffee alternative; it's a ritual, providing time to sit back, relax, and enjoy a cup of comfort. As one of the world's most popular beverages, tea comes in countless varieties. Give mom 90 cups' worth of tasty Meyer lemon tea in a zip pouch.

$12 from Amazon
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Give mom a treat of relaxation, stress relief, and cleansing. An essential oils starter kit with lavender, tea tree, eucalyptus, lemongrass, sweet orange, and peppermint oils promises all those things, and will leave her house smelling fresh and clean.

$36 and up from Etsy
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Etsy seller KitAtlas takes your photos and creates artistic, stylized drawings that she then turns into magnets. The process runs around a month from submitting the photo and payment until delivery, so keep that in mind when timing your gift orders.

$29 from Amazon
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Hand cream can seem like an old-fashioned gift, but this La Chatelaine set — available in seven different fragrance combos — comes in a well-designed tin and packaging that makes it seem more hip than dated. 

$26 from The Grommet
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If she's got a soft spot for wildlife and nature, this stainless steel pendant necklace comes in many different options — from snowflakes to birds to elephants and more.

$31 and up from Minted
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A heart-shaped picture collage incorporates 30 pictures to create a keepsake mom will treasure. Prices start at $29 for an 8-inch square print. Spend a little more and get a frame; the cost still won't exceed $50.

$27 and up from Etsy

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For a truly unique piece of jewelry that's also beautiful, check out these necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, and more that are like mini-terrariums disguised as jewelry. The bracelets, in particular, are stunning.

$24 and up from Amazon
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Spell out an appreciative or funny message on this rustic-styled letter board and give it to mom. She'll love it, and if she feels like a change this comes with two-colored numbers, letters, emojis, and even cursive options. 

$15 from Amazon
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You can't go wrong with a good book — or with Oprah Winfrey. A 240-page collection of her columns culled from O, The Oprah Magazine gets rave reviews and is handsome in hardcover. 

$2 each from Etsy
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If your mom loves to curl up with a good book but feels vey strongly about not dog-earing her pages, give her a few of these adorable bookmarks. 

$13 an up from Snapfish
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What mom doesn't love (or need) coffee, especially one with young children? Put her kids' mugs on a mug and couple it with some fresh-ground gourmet coffee or a gift card to her favorite coffee shop.

$26 and up from The Grommet
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Many moms like useful gifts that fall into the functional category, and this is one of those. This soft felt organizer comes in three sizes and features four outer compartments, one pen compartment, and six internal compartments. 

$25 from Amazon
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After raising you (and any of your siblings), trust us when we say that keeping an herb kit alive will seem like a welcome breeze to mom. This one gets high marks from buyers. 

$9 and up from Michaels
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Coloring for adults is still relaxing fun. Get mom set up to try this therapeutic hobby with adult coloring books and packs of colored pencils, also starting at just a few dollars.

$16 from Amazon
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Warning: This photo book of beautifully styled house plants will make any plant lover want to run out and buy more plants. But it also offers great advice on topics like where to place those plants for optimal health, how to propagate, how to find the right pot, and more.

$48 from Uncommon Goods
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If you've got a mom that loves to entertain, she can shine with pride at her next get-together by telling all her friends that her wonderful son or daughter gave her this awesome bamboo lotus-shaped serving board for Mother's Day.  

$16 from Amazon
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These drops can be plopped into some hot water for a sweetened cup of herbal tea. The sample set contains eight drops — two each of caffeinated matcha green tea, rose earl grey, caffeine-free citrus ginger, and sweet peppermint.

$15 and up from Umbra
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Regardless how much jewelry mom has, help her organize it with a jewelry tree or tray. Check out storage options with a modern twist — many are less than $50.

$40 and up from Snapfish
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Head to a photo site to put together a personalized phone case with one of mom's favorite pictures.

$40 and up from Etsy

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Etch that special date — mom's birthday, wedding anniversary, whatever — in Roman numerals with this personalized engraved bracelet. It's available in sterling silver or 14-karat yellow or rose gold.

$18 from Uncommon Goods
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Is mom the type who’s always misplacing her glasses — even if she won’t admit it? This wooden eyeglasses holder measures just shy of 6 inches tall and provides the perfect perch for a pair of specs. They’re handcrafted in India, and a portion of the proceeds benefit the communities that produce them.

$40 from Uncommon Goods
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People are finicky about a lot of foods — for many, peanut butter isn't one of them. This small-batch peanut butter sampler set includes six delicious blends she can slather on toast or bananas or pair with chocolate, and it's made in America.

$14 from The Grommet
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Like a soap and a (really pretty) washcloth combined, these are functional, beautiful, and unusual all wrapped up in one gift. Available in five scents. 

$30 from Uncommon Goods
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If your mom is also a grandma, she'll probably love to share this gift with her grandkids when they come over for some quality time. She can regale the little ones with her life stories from around the country or globe, and the color disappears when washed in warm water, so it can be used again and again. 

$38 from Homesick
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Mom can enjoy some aromatherapy along her your next book club discussion. This soy wax candle has a scent profile that includes hints of oranges, cinnamon, vanilla, and balsam, and can burn for up to 80 hours. 

$39 from Amazon
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Scented candles are nice and all, but how about a candle that will make her cackle? These pretty geometric cat candles melt away to reveal a metallic skeleton underneath. 

$15 and up from Etsy
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What mom wouldn't appreciate the fact that you appreciate the fact that she's been freaking fabulous since birth? Not a one we can think of. 

$28 from Amazon
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If she has a green thumb, your mom will appreciate this timely gift that'll keep her hands clean and safe. These gloves have a snug fit that extends past her wrists and a no-slip grip. They come in three sizes and many colors.

$5 and up from Amazon
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Nurture an interest in a topic or hobby with a magazine subscription. For a cheap Mother's Day gift that keeps giving month after month, buy a subscription using discount sources and many titles will be less than $20. Some sites offer bundled deals for two or three magazines at once, so it's not necessary to choose one pastime over another.