We know the feeling: you want to give Mom something great for Mother’s Day, but between rent, the gas bill, and your Starbucks addiction, there’s very little of your pay check to dedicate to anything other than keeping yourself housed and in regular macchiatos. We see you frantically scanning your desk for something you can cobble together in an attempt at spontaneous crafting. Please, for the love of God, step away from the crafting scissors. Instead of decorating a piece of card with glitter and sequins, put the glue gun down and repeat after us: Mom deserves better than glitter. Mom deserves better than glitter. Mom deserves better than glitter.

Very good. Now that we’ve got that out the way, you can read on to see our Top 5 budget-friendly gifts for Mother’s Day. You needn’t break the bank to give Mom something special this year, and in our (somewhat biased) opinion, we believe experiences make the best gifts. Combining the immediate dopamine rush of receiving a gift on the day with that wonderful, nebulous feeling of ‘Something to look forward to’, experience gifts offer the best of both worlds. Even after Mom takes her experience day, she can keep the memory of it with her for the rest of her life – not just Mother’s Day! So, what are you waiting for? Look no further for your 2020 budget Mother’s Day gift list.

Stillhouse Whiskey Distillery Tour – $11

‘Wine mom’? Please. If she disproves the stereotype of a mom on her 5th glass of Pinot Grigio, your sophisticated, whiskey-loving mom is sure to appreciate this Stillhouse Whiskey Distillery Tour of Brooklyn. At just $11 a ticket, this tour will treat your mom to an unforgettable experience gift (and she doesn’t have to know the price tag.) She’ll meet her guide at the Van Brunt Stillhouse in New York. Sourcing rye, corn and wheat directly from Upstate farmers, Van Brunt takes a traditional approach to distilling their family of whiskeys. Once the tour is complete, she can then head to the tasting room to sample a cocktail or two. If she’s not much of a whiskey mom (and yes, I’m making this a thing), she can try one of the creative New York inspired concoctions on offer such as Knickerbocker or Battery Tunnel.

Photography Tour of Milwaukee – $22

Perfect for the creative mom! If you suspect her of some undiscovered talent, this photography tour of Milwaukee is a great budget Mother’s Day gift. Make 2020 the year your mom truly taps into her creative side, and possibly discovers the beginning of a lifelong hobby! She’ll meet her knowledgeable guide and photography tutor in the Historic Third Ward. They’ll take her around Milwaukee, showing her the most photogenic sights while explaining their significance and history. (After all, what is style without substance?) She’ll be taught how to snap the best shots of her favorite points of interest, including expert tips on composition and how to focus the lens. Highlights include Milwaukee’s Public Market, Scenic RiverWalk, and Wisconsin Avenue.

Lake Mead Sightseeing Cruise – $26

If Mom is the seafaring (or lake-faring?) type, she’ll love this 90-minute Lake Mead sightseeing cruise onboard the Desert Princess; a three-level paddle wheeler! With onboard narration, she’ll experience the joy of cruising through the unspoiled sparkling water of Lake Mead while she learns the fascinating history of the Hoover Dam, discovering its wonders up close from the deck of the ship. The onboard guide will explain why it has been designated as a National Historic Landmark, while Mom sits back and enjoys the refreshing breeze, or takes a stroll on the outer decks to enjoy stunning views of the Nevada Landscape, Fortification Hill and the Arizona Paint Pots.

Fairfax Escape Game – $27

Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? I hate to stereotype here, but if your mom’s anything like mine, she loves curling up on the sofa with an episode (or five) of Law and Order or Diagnosis: Murder. If you can pull her away from Dick Van Dyke’s kindly, moustachioed face for long enough, we think this Fairfax Escape Game will be a good supplement to her ‘whodunnit’ fixation. But can she beat the clock? There’s only one way to find out. Depending on her chosen game, she could be plotting to save the white house, escape the clutches of evil beasts or fight off ghosts to find the secret of the missing girl. Anything could be a clue, and she has 60 minutes to break the code that opens the room. No pressure. (…and Dick Van Dyke not included.)

Charleston Haunted Ghost Tours – $30

… Or, maybe she’s the supernatural type? If your mom’s a sucker for a ghost story, look no further than this Charleston Haunted Ghost Tour. During this bone-chilling 2-hour experience, she’ll discover the history behind the dead and haunted who roam Charleston’s streets. Meeting her friendly, paranormal guide at the haunted location of her choice, she and the rest of the tour group will be escorted through one of Charleston’s most haunted areas. As she listens to eerie tales of infamous criminals, Civil War prisoners and 19th century pirates, she’ll explore the darkest corners of Charleston’s hidden past – will she like what she uncovers? A truly spooky experience for brave moms! (And let’s be honest, which mom isn’t brave? Have you heard about this thing called childbirth? It looks very painful.)

Perhaps you’ve been holding back on the macchiatos lately? If your budget’s a little more flexible, browse our favorite gift categories for Mother’s Day below:

Treat Mom to something as spectacular as she is with one of our many airborne adventure days. 

She can let out her inner Tom Cruise with an air combat experience, learn to fly over the landscape of rural Pennsylvania, or simply sit back and enjoy the view with a scenic flight.
We have airborne experiences from $86, so look no further for gifts for adventurous moms.

It seems only appropriate to gift the woman who has fed you for at least 18 years with something good to eat, so browse our food and wine gifts this Mother’s Day. Whether she wants to explore her city on a food tour, tuck into a brunch whilst cruising Boston Harbor, or learn to take her wine appreciation to the next level, there’s a gift for every food-loving mom.

Browse our selection of unique art classes from $22.00. Your mom can learn to let out her inner artist, photographer, musician, or even glass-blower (yes, really.) Whatever Mom’s passion is, help her tap into her talent with a creative workshop.

… And that concludes our Budget-Friendly Guide to Mother’s Day 2020 Gifts! We hope you found the perfect gift for your mom here, but if you’re still looking, we have hundreds of unique experience gifts for Mother’s Day – no matter where she’s based or what she loves to do. If you have any questions about our experiences, please feel free to leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!