What's a good gift to get mum?
Let’s be honest — buying gifts for mums (especially the ones who insist they “don’t need anything”) can be tricky. Whether it’s for Mother’s Day, her birthday, or just because she’s brilliant, I’ve rounded up affordable, charming, and slightly cheeky gift ideas that’ll make her smile without emptying your bank account. Think less “scented candle (again?)” and more “well THAT’S adorable.”
Please note this post contains affiliate links, hand-picked because I genuinely like them. If you buy through one, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
1. Sassy Pin Badges
For the mum who’s always got something to say—how about a pin that declares, “Queen of Naps” or “Still Fabulous at 60+”? Tiny, wearable sass.
This is one I designed at Zazzle.
2. A Personalised Mug (With a Twist)
I know you can get mugs everywhere, but a personalised mug, or strange shaped mugs are still a great gift. Don’t just go to the supermarket and get the generic mug with the cute squirrel on, look at places like Etsy or Not on the High Street, where real people make the mugs – Sure, you will also have to sift through some generic ones there too, but real artists still exist, and their stuff is brilliant.
Here’ two I like.
I love the idea of this mug with a secret message at the bottom!
3. A "Mum's Emergency Chocolate Stash" Tin
Fill it with her favourite bars. Wrap it with love. Hide it from Dad.
Another idea is to get some posher sweeties – like this flapjack selection box. I can’t even look at the picture without salivating!
These can be delivered via the post, which has the great advantage (for me and the recipient), of not eating them before I gift them, they are sent directly!
4. Custom Tea Towels Featuring Her Favourite Recipe
Upload her famous shepherd’s pie or Victoria sponge recipe to a site that prints it on tea towels. Add a doodle of her (or you!) for extra points.
This one is from Zazzle – you could upload your own design here too.
5. Gardening Gloves with Attitude
If they are into gardening, gardening gloves are always a welcome gift. Well as it happens there are some really cool gardening gloves that are a bit more exciting than the ones at homebargains. I like these ones I found on Etsy – they are personalised and also they look long – this is great – I never understand why the other gloves are so short .
I also found some custom ones from Amazon too. These look really cute, worth checking out.
6. Handmade Soap That's a bit Different
These are soap infused sponges. I love them! I think I must be one of those people who can smell pictures because I can smell them from here!
You can also get soap shaped almost like anything! I am a mad cat lover, so these ones caught my eye. The seller also has great reviews with people also loving the smell. I must admit i’m a bit torn though, I’m not sure if I could actually use them and wash away their cute little faces. What do you think?
7. Cheeky Tote Bags
These bags are great, there are loads of inexpensive tote bags around, but they are very useful and will be used again and again. There is no end of cheeky bags to sentimental bags and everything inbetween.
I have got this bag myself and it was very inexpensive from Amazon. I actually used it as a gift bag, for more gifts. Then the bag itself is now used to carry books.
8. Personalised Puzzle of a Family Photo
I think alot of us got into piecing together jigsaw puzzles during covid, and haven’t stopped. If your mum is a jigsaw puzzle lover, or maybe it’s time to get her interested! (Honestry it’s so relaxing – I use it as a bit of chill time and listen to iplayer BBC stories at the same time).
Anyway enough of my waffle, what I’m trying to say is a custom jigsaw puzzle if a fun gift for Mum.
9. Indoor Plant in a Quirky Pot
My tip for finding some unusual and quirky plant pots for a reasonable price is to look on Ebay preowned.
10. Subscription to a Silly Monthly Treat Box
From cheese to snacks to “mystery tat,” there are loads of monthly boxes that make post fun again.
Personally I would love this.
This one is more spiritual a monthly ritual box.
11. "Not Today, Kids" Do Not Disturb Door Sign
How about a personalised ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign – what do they shout out when they don’t want to be disturbed?
Perfect for baths, naps, or just avoiding people.
12. Tea Sampler with Weird Flavours
There’s some really nice teas here – and I don’t know what it is about unusal teas, but they make me relax more. I like the peppermint and licorice flavour.
This gift make a nice change from the box of builders brew.
13. A Book with a Strong Female Lead
I must admit I’m a bookworm, so a book is one of the best presents to get – as long as it’s good!! or vaguely good!! I can’t see who wouldn’t like this book, but then I biased.
14. Funny Apron for Kitchen Queens
Aprons are great, and a forgotten present I think. If you cook like me and have your good clothes covered in bubbling soup, or an exploding curry, you will realise that an apron could have saved you! There are loads of funny ones and personalised ones, pretty ones, and posh ones. I’m sure I don’t need to direct you to where to find an apron. The one here is from Zazzle, where you can design your own apron.
Talking about posh aprons, here is an apron that is designed for gardening. Look at the pockets! I need one of these. This one is from a site called Buy me Once, it sells amazing things, and all of them are good quality and designed to last – no land fill rubbish here.
15. DIY Coupon Book for Mums
Include vouchers for tea refills, a day out, washing her car, or one uninterrupted TV evening. It’s cute AND useful.
16. Personalised and handmade Jewellery
My favourite jewellery is always handmade, I really don’t understand the expensive generic items. But it’s all down to personal preference I suppose. But what ever you decide you don’t need to spend a fortune.
Custom Photo earrings
I love these custom earrings, you can use any photo. I would wear my cats in each ear!
17. Handmade Bookmark & Her Next Favourite Book
Being a ‘bookish’ person this is my kind of gift.
If your Mum is always losing her reading glasses, how about this bookworm reading glasses case.
18. Make your own Spa day
Book her a proper spa day, or set one up at home — run the bath, hand her a voucher, and let her put her feet up while you do the pampering. There’s also a free printable DIY spa voucher below if you want to create one yourself.
Free Printable
Print out this DIY spa voucher, you could use as a gift for your own Spa Day.
Spa day voucher
You can always get a spa day voucher – and the good thing about this is you probably get to go along too!
19. A Wine or Tea Gift Set
A personalised wine glass, a custom teapot, or a proper loose-leaf tea hamper — an easy, reliable win for any mum.
20. Make and fill a photo album
Either a blank one for her to fill herself, or better still, print off your favourite photos of her and do it for her.
There are some lovely photo albums available – like this one from Etsy.
21. A Handmade Gift, or a Kit to Make One
If you’re not the crafty type yourself, get her a kit so she can make her own . There are loads of different crafts to try.
If she hasn’t got a particular hobby try an unusal one, like this solar printing kit. I’m writing this in th esummer, and the sun is actually here (even in the North!), so this might actually work!
22 A Tech Gadget for the Practical Mum
If she’s more “useful” than “sentimental,” think tablets, smartwatches, sleep headphones, or a good travel organiser bag.
Noise cancelling earbuds are the best things ever! Like these from Amazon.
23. The gift card
If you really can’t decide and hate choosing gifts, you can always get a gift card, so they can choose themselves.
This one is good because it’s accepted in thousands of stores nationwide including Primark, M&S, TK Maxx, John Lewis, Currys, Waterstones, IKEA, Nando’s, Boots, John Lewis and many more.
Gift-giving doesn’t need to be expensive to be memorable. The best presents show that you know her — quirks and all. Whether it’s something that makes her laugh, something genuinely useful, or just a sweet reminder that she’s appreciated, the right gift can make her whole day.
Fancy something even quirkier? Have a browse of my Etsy shop — pin badges, oddity jewellery, and a fair few things that don’t fit neatly into any category, in the best possible way.
