What Moms Want for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, and I don’t know about you but I always struggle to decide on the perfect gift! Ebates recently shared their survey findings that show that gifts moms most want to receive vary by location. Here’s a breakdown of what moms in 10 top U.S. cities are wishing for this Mother’s Day.

Most Wanted Mother’s Day Gifts by City

New York City Moms

1. Gift card to favorite store (40%)
2. Fine dining out (38%)
3. Quality time with family (32%)
4. Flowers (30%)
5. Tickets to a show/concert (28%)

Flowers are a great present and you can easily save money on flowers. If you’re lucky enough to live by a nice hiking trail you can usually find wildflowers that will be a beautiful (and free) bouquet.  You can also save by buying flowers that are in season or heading to your local farmer’s market.

Los Angeles Moms

1. Quality time with family (43%)
2. Gift card to favorite store or Fine dining out (both 37%)
3. Flowers (33%)
4. Clean house (32%)
5. Chocolate (29%)

I love chocolate and my personal favorite is Godiva. My dad used to always buy them for us on Valentine’s Day and he got me hooked. Drugstores normally have coupons for chocolate around Mother’s Day, so be sure to check for deals! Another favorite, is chocolate covered strawberries! While they’re expensive to buy, you can usually make them at home for between $5-$10 (depending on how many you make). Not only will they be delicious, but your mom will also love that you made the effort to make them.

Washington DC Moms

1. Quality time with family (41%)
2. Clean house (34%)
3. Gift card to favorite store (33%)
4. Fine dining out (32%)
5. Spa day (30%)

One common theme was that all the moms wanted quality time with family! In all ten cities, quality time with family was among the top three gift choices. On Mother’s Day my sisters and I always go visit our grandmother and help her with any chores she hasn’t been able to get to. It’s a nice way to spend quality time and make your mom’s life easier without spending a penny.

Chicago Moms 

1. Quality time with family (37%)
2. Fine dining out (31%)
3. Gift card to favorite store (30%)
4. Clean house (29%)
5. Flowers (26%)

Cleaning the house is a chore no one ever wants to do…at least in my family. My siblings and I would always clean the house as a gift to our parents around the holidays. Giving your mom a coupon for a free spring cleaning (maybe you could get the whole family involved?) is a fun and cost-friendly gift.

Philadelphia Moms 

1. Gift card to favorite store (54%)
2. Quality time with family (52%)
3. Fine dining out (48%)
4. Tickets to a show/concert (33%)
5. Spa day (32%)

Going to a concert or show is a great way to bond with Mom, but this can be on the expensive side. I like to use sites like Stubhub.com to find discounted tickets.

Dallas-Fort Worth Moms 

1. Quality time with family (45%)
2. Gift card to favorite store (38%)
3. Clean house (32%)
4. Fine dining out (29%)
5. Jewelry (24%)

What woman doesn’t love jewelry? Jewelry is a timeless gift and it’s easy to find a piece for everyone…if you have an unlimited budget. If not, it becomes a little harder to find that perfect fit. Our post on 12 places to find inexpensive jewelry is a great place to start looking for quality jewelry that you can actually afford.

San Francisco Moms 

1. Spa day (45%)
2. Flowers (44%)
3. Quality time with family or Fine dining out (both 42%)
4. Gift card to favorite store (35%)
5. Chocolate (31%)

If your mom is looking for a Spa day and you’re on a budget you could try making her some DIY Spa treatments. Trying them out together could be a fun mother-daughter activity. I’ve also found some great 2 for 1 deals for local spas on Groupon. Also, many spas have Mother’s Day packages that tend to be discounted.

Boston Moms 

1. Fine dining out (44%)
2. Quality time with family, gift card to favorite store or tickets to a show/concert (36% each)
3. Spa day (32%)
4. Clean house (27%)
5. Chocolate (25%)

I’m not surprised Boston Moms are looking for fine dining on Mother’s Day. The majority of my all-time favorite meals have been at Boston restaurants. If you’re looking to treat mom to a Mother’s Day feast here’s a list of the best bets for Mother’s Day dining in Boston.

Atlanta Moms 

1. Quality time with family (51%)
2. Gift card to favorite store (44%)
3. Spa day (40%)
4. Fine dining out (38%)
5. Clean house (32%)

Quality time with family is a great gift but it isn’t always possible, especially if your family members living far away. If you can’t make time to be there why not make a personalized gift, that feels like home?  A few ideas for frugal and personal Mother’s Day gifts are: a personalized mix CD, homemade photo coasters, and a framed picture of mom and kids with a quote about motherhood.

Houston Moms

1. Gift card to favorite store (47%)
2. Quality time with family (44%)
3. Clean house (41%)
4. Flowers (37%)
5. Fine dining out (32%)

If your Mom is dying for a shopping trip (and really, who isn’t?) you can grab her a gift card to her favorite store…at a discount. Cardpool.com allows you to purchase gift cards at up to 35% off. Sweet deal!

What are you getting your Mom for Mother’s Day?