With everything going on in the world, it’s easy to forget the regular important events, like Mother’s Day. Yes, Mother’s Day is creeping up and fast — Sunday, 10 May 2020.
But don’t worry, we’ve got your back with the perfect Mother’s Day gifts for under $20. Each of these gifts has been carefully selected so there is something for almost every type of mum and her interests.
Photo by Tetiana Shadrina on Unsplash
5 Mother’s Day Gift for Under $20
1. A good book.
In times like these, there is no better gift than a book. They allow the reader to escape to a different world from the comfort of their own home. A book is a lovely gift for Mum this Mother’s Day!
Where possible, take a virtual trip to your local bookshops online store. Supporting small Australian businesses is very important during times like these.
If you’re stuck finding the perfect book for mum, opt for a gift card. Gift cards are a great way to support small businesses, plus they are super easy to post if you’re unable to see mum in person this Mother’s Day.
2. An indoor herb garden.
Before you run to your nearest nursery or hardware store, we’re here to show you how to make an indoor herb garden for less than $20! It’s easier than you think. Herb gardens make a great gift, especially if your Mum is an avid cooker or simply a green-thumb.
To make your indoor herb garden, you’ll need:
- An old casserole dish, round where possible. You can pick this up online for a few dollars, or better yet, use an old one from your home.
- A 1kg packet of small rocks; fish tank pebbles work well.
- Potting mix, the smallest bag.
- 3 to 4 ready-to-plant herbs.
- 1 spray bottle, for watering.
How to make your indoor herb garden:
- Ensure your old dish is washed out and clean.
- Lay the small rocks in the bottom of the dish. They will act as drainage for your garden.
- Fill three quarters of the dish with potting mix.
- Make a small well in the potting mix for each herb. Gently remove herbs one at a time from their pots, separating the roots slightly to stimulate growth and place in the wells.
- Fill the dish with potting mix, ensuring the herb roots are well covered.
- Take your spray bottle and fill with water to give your new garden a good spray. You can also give this to mum to water her herbs daily.
3. Bake her favourite cake.
Who doesn’t love home-baked goods?! If you have the time, teach yourself how to make mum’s favourite cake. Most cakes can be made for well under $20, including decoration. Experiment with buttercream icing and fondants to make a personalised Mother’s Day gift.
Unsure of what type of cake to make mum? This simple ginger and lemon cake is easy to bake and uses common household ingredients. We have been making this cake in my family for years, inspired by a Country Women’s Association of Australia recipe.
Lemon and ginger cake ingredients:
- 125g of softened butter.
- 1 cup of sugar.
- 1 egg.
- Zest of 3 lemons.
- 2 cups of plain flour.
- 3 teaspoons of ground ginger.
- 1 cup of warm milk.
- 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate soda.
- 2 tablespoons of golden syrup.
How to make a lemon and ginger cake:
- Preheat the oven to 140° celsius.
- Grease and line a standard 20cm x 11cm loaf tin.
- Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Add egg and lemon zest to the creamed butter and beat until well combined.
- In a separate bowl, sift flour, salt and ginger together.
- Combine warm milk, bicarbonate of soda and golden syrup in a jug.
- Add flour and warm milk mixture alternatively into the creamed mixture. Beat until well combined with a light and airy appearance.
- Pour the mixture into the cake tin and bake for 45 minutes.
- Stick a skewer into the center of the cake. If drawn out clean, the cake is done, or, if not, place back in the oven for a further 15 minutes.
4. Custom jigsaw puzzle
Self isolation has caused jigsaw puzzle sales to go through the roof throughout the world! They’re a great way to pass the time and are surprisingly addictive. Many printing businesses across Australia are now offering personalised puzzles. But, what exactly is that?
Personalised or custom puzzles are puzzles made from an image of your choosing. All you have to do is find your favourite photo. They’re easy to order online, with prices starting from $20, with larger and more intricate puzzles setting you back slightly more.
5. At-home spa kit.
Every Mum deserves to pamper themselves on Mother’s Day. So why not send a personalised at-home spa kit! They are super easy to make for under $20.
All you need to do is find a small basket or box and fill it with soaps, eye masks, scrubs and bath bombs. All these products can be found for low prices online, at your local chemist or your favourite Kmart store.
If you want to make your at-home spa kit even more special, why not try your hand at making your very own scrub for mum! There are heaps of DIY scrub tutorials online, mostly using common household ingredients, such as sugars and salt. This Lemon and Sugar scrub by Craft Berry Bush is super simple to make yourself.
To make your own sugar and lemon scrub, you’ll need:
- 1 cup of sugar, for dry or sensitive skin use baking soda.
- ½ cup of coconut oil.
- 1 teaspoon of lemon zest.
- 1 small mason jar.
- 1 metre of twine.
- 2 drops of lemon extract.
How to make your own lemon and sugar scrub:
- In a small bowl combine all the ingredients.
- Mix well until combined, ensuring lemon zest is evenly distributed.
- Pour into a small mason jar and tightly screw the lid on.
- Using the twine, decorate the jar by wrapping it around the middle of the jar multiple times, ending with a bow.
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