We can all agree that moms and mother figures deserve the world. But realistically, very few of us can afford to gift ours the diamond necklace or island getaway she's worthy of unwrapping this Mother's Day.

Is that an excuse to just send Mom a gift card from the grocery store checkout line and call it a day? Not in the slightest. (Don't even think about it.)

Read on for more than 20 inexpensive but thoughtful Mother's Day gift ideas under $50 that will make her feel special without breaking the bank, including several products recommended to us by our own moms and mom friends.

Credit: Aluratek

A digital picture frame

For the sentimental mom

Featuring a built-in clock and calendar, this slim digital picture frame can display Mom's favorite memories in a rotating slideshow (via SD memory card or USB). It'll come in real handy if she's starting to run out of room on her phone, and you and your siblings won't be able to fight over who gets the primo spot on her gallery wall anymore — a win-win.

Buying Options

$49.99 from Amazon

side by side images of two homesick candles

Credit: Homesick / Mashable composite

A Homesick candle

For the mom with kids away at college

Homesick creates custom candles inspired by specific states and cities (including some college towns) — Austin smells like bergamot, amber, and "warm Texas suede," for example. Find the one that corresponds to your new stomping grounds, and Mom will think of you every time she lights it. If you have a little wiggle room in your budget, you can add a personalized note for $15 more.

Buying Options

$38 from Homesick

side by side images of two women wearing stars above pajama sets from target

Credit: Target / Mashable composite

Some soft button-up pajamas

For the mom-to-be

Mashable executive commerce editor (and soon-to-be mom of two) Nicole Cammorata loves to gift button-up pajamas to expectant mothers: They're "great for recovery" and "make breastfeeding and skin-to-skin easier," she said. This ultra-stretchy, buttery-soft set from Target's Stars Above brand comes in five colors and ten sizes.

Buying Options

$27.99 from Target

a close-up of a woman touching a teleties hair clip in her hair against a pink background

Credit: Teleties

Teleties hair clips

For the new mom

A friend with a five-month-old told us Teleties' bendable, non-slip claw clips are great for moms with little ones who like to grab and tug on long hair. They're a little pricier than standard hair clips (ranging from $8.99 to $14.99, depending on the size), so she probably wouldn't think to splurge on them herself. Choose from three sizes and seven colors.

Buying Options

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Credit: BodyRestore

Shower steamers

For the first-time mom

Available in five scents, BodyRestore's top-rated aromatherapy tablets are made with natural essential oils that dissolve in the shower for instant at-home spa vibes. These come highly recommended from Nicole, who received a bag of the eucalyptus ones from a friend after her daughter was born: They're "seriously magical," she said.

Buying Options

$29.97 from Amazon

a close-up of a woman using a paper cutter to cut a piece of cardstock next to a cricut machine on a wood table

Credit: Cricut

Cricut accessories

For the crafter

If your DIY-inclined mom has a Cricut machine, build her a bundle of accessories and tools she can use to make even more projects. (And if she doesn't already have a Cricut, go in with your dad or siblings on one.) You can pick from a range of foil transfer sheets, vinyl samplers, gel pens, mats, and ready-to-customize blanks starting at just $4.99.

Buying Options

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Credit: Asmodee

'Wavelength'

For the family game night coordinator

This TikTok-famous party game for ages 14 and up tests how well you can think like your fellow players — which should be easy, since you share genes... right? It's an entertaining way to "get conversations going and raise the energy for hours," said Mashable contributor Jenna Clark, who recommended it for groups of four or more people.

Buying Options

$34.99 from Walmart

a custom shutterfly puzzle on a wooden table

Credit: Shutterfly

A custom puzzle

For the puzzle-doer

Shopping reporter Bethany Allard's mom "adored" a custom puzzle with a picture of the family dog on it. You can make one in a few clicks on Shutterfly, which offers four sizes (from 60 to 1,014 pieces) and collage layouts for up to 22 images; prices start at just $32.98. Its puzzles are printed on high-quality paperboard and arrive in matching boxes.

Buying Options

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a createmycookbook recipe book surrounded by a bowl of flour, measuring cups, and three eggs sitting on a hand towel

Credit: CreateMyCookbook

A custom cookbook

For the home chef

Turn Mom's hodgepodge of recipe cards and clippings into a professionally printed and bound cookbook for as low as $19.95 using the website CreateMyCookbook. (eBook options are also available.) You can personalize it with photos you've taken yourself, play around with different themes, and even invite family and friends to contribute.

Buying Options

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Credit: Clarkson Potter

'Half Baked Harvest Super Simple'

For the wannabe home chef

Shopping reporter Haley Henschel's mom famously hated getting cookbooks until she wound up with Tieghan Gerard's second opus in a gift exchange; it's now a fixture in her meal rotation. It's packed to the brim with incredibly indulgent yet hassle-free recipes that can be made with minimal ingredients or prep work.

Buying Options

$29.99 from Amazon

a woman in a pink sweater scrolling through netflix with a voice remote for chromecast in a beige living room

Credit: Google

A Chromecast with Google TV (4K)

For the TV watcher

Mom can streamline her entertainment with Google's 4K media player from 2020, which offers speedy performance and a super user-friendly interface. (Mashable tech and games reporter Alex Perry still considers it best streaming dongle at this price point.) It comes with a Chromecast Voice Remote so she can use it hands-free.

Buying Options

$49.99 from Google Store

side by side images of a pair of pink bombas gripper slippers and a close-up of a woman wearing a blue pair

Credit: Bombas / Mashable composite

A pair of Bombas Gripper Slippers

For the mom who likes to lounge

Another mom friend recommendation, these cushioned half-slippers, half-socks have a cozy brushed lining and thin PVC sole grips to prevent slippage when a flighty toddler makes a break for it. Bombas also donates a pair of socks, underwear, or shirt to a homeless shelter for every item purchased, which we love. Choose from four sizes and five colors.

Buying Options

$45 from Bombas

a bluetooth-enabled sleep mask on a wooden dresser next to a bed with beige linens and a white vase

Credit: MUSICOZY

A sleep mask with built-in headphones

For the chill mom

A pal with two boys under three loves this upgraded sleep mask, which has built-in speakers and Bluetooth connectivity so she can listen to music or podcasts while she dozes off. It's made of washable, ultra-breathable cotton with light-blocking padding and has a battery life of up to 10 hours per charge.

Buying Options

$39.99 from Amazon

a close-up of a woman wearing a gold gldn initial necklace

Credit: GLDN

An initial necklace

For the luxe mom

That same mom friend who vouched for the sleep mask is hoping to get jewelry with her kids' initials this Mother's Day. GLDN's collection of affordable handmade pieces includes the delicate Yue necklace, which has pendant discs you can personalize with letters and tiny motifs. Prices start at $48 for a single-disc design in a sterling silver finish.

Buying Options

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a close-up of a woman wearing patterned gardening gloves planting flowers

Credit: COOLJOB

A pair of gardening gloves

For the green-thumbed mom

Executive editor Nicole is a big fan of these comfy, rubber-coated gardening gloves for planting and weeding. (She moonlights as a flower farmer, so she knows her stuff.) "My mom gifted some to me a while back and then I ordered more for myself," she said. They come in two sizes and four fun patterns.

Buying Options

$9.99 from Amazon

a close-up of a woman in a grocery store holding a beige reusable grocery bag filled with lettuce

Credit: VENO

Reusable shopping bags

For the eco-friendly mom

Shopping reporter Haley's mom never goes anywhere without an armload of VENO's heavy-duty reusable shopping bags. They're made from recycled woven polypropylene that can hold up to 45 pounds of stuff and feature a hard bottom for stability. They're also collapsible, which makes them super easy to store. Choose from six colors.

Buying Options

$29.99 from Amazon

Credit: YETI

A YETI Rambler Wine Tumbler

For the outdoorswoman

YETI's bestselling stainless steel wine tumbler has double-wall vacuum insulation to keep her sauv blanc chilled and a sliding lid to keep it safe from bugs. It's available in eight finishes, including limited-edition Canopy Green (lime) and High Desert Clay (peachy orange), and you can personalize it with any name, monogram, or logo for free.

Buying Options

$25 from YETI

Credit: Franklin Sports

A Franklin Sports Pickleball Sling Bag

For the sporty mom

Haley's mom is the "I played pickleball before The New York Times was writing thinkpieces about it" type, and she's asking for a nice bag for her gear this Mother's Day. This little number from Franklin Sports is the official bag of the U. S. Open Pickleball Championships, and it's got enough room for six paddles and balls (plus a comfy adjustable strap).

Buying Options

$34.99 from Amazon

three anthropologie calle vases filled with flowers on a wooden dresser next to a lit three-wick candle

Credit: Anthropologie

A new vase

For the flowers you're also getting her

Level up the foolproof Mother's Day gift of a floral bouquet with a chic new vessel for displaying it. The colorful and contemporary Calle vase from Anthropologie is made from durable, mouth-blown borosilicate glass and comes in three different styles (ranging from $28 to $36) to suit different décor tastes.

Buying Options

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a close-up of a man in a tan sweater holding a potted plant

Credit: Bloomscape

A Bloomscape plant

For the mom who's anti-flowers

Or hey, maybe she's bouquet-ed out. Bloomscape is a Mashable's Choice Award-winning online plant store that ships its healthy, already-potted greenery with detailed care instructions and offers 24/7 customer service; Mashable contributor Michelle Rostamian said it "gave me the confidence I needed to become a good plant mom." Prices start at $39.

Buying Options

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a floral paint by number kit from Target

Credit: Mondo Llama

A paint-by-number kit

For a gift you can use together

Pair some paint-by-number kits with a bottle of her favorite wine for a DIY paint and sip night. This beginner-friendly set from Target's in-house arts and crafts brand includes four preprinted canvas boards, 24 miniature pots of acrylic paint, and two paintbrushes. (We've linked to one with floral designs; there's another version that's jungle-themed.)

Buying Options

$10 from Target

side by side images of a festive doorway and a close-up of a blank build your own door sign base from darling door decor

Credit: Darling Door Decor / Mashable Composite

A Build Your Own Door Sign from Darling Door Decor

For the mom who lives, laughs, and loves

Senior reviews editor Miller Kern saw Darling Door Decor's build-your-own door sign kit on TikTok around the holidays and bought it for her mom, who's now obsessed with it. You can customize the birch wood base ($40) with interchangeable, magnetic inserts for different seasons and occasions — those are sold separately for $6 to $12.

Buying Options

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a close-up of a woman with a scrunchie on her wrist holding a dog wearing a matching bandana

Credit: The Foggy Dog

A Scrunchie and Bandana Set from The Foggy Dog

For the dog mom

The Foggy Dog's impossibly cute matching sets come with a cotton scrunchie for your favorite dog mom and a durable bandana for her favorite pooch. They come in 17 patterns and can be personalized with embroidery for $13 more. (Bonus: TFD donates half a pound of dog food to a rescue shelter for every purchase.)

Buying Options

$37 from The Foggy Dog

Credit: COVONO

A cat backpack

For the cat mom

Senior shopping reporter Leah Stodart likes toting around her beloved cat Sansa in a backpack like this one: It's well-ventilated and features a built-in mesh extender that's perfect for hanging out on a patio or at the park. It's sturdy enough to support Absolute Units that weigh up to 18 pounds, and it comes in six colors.

Buying Options

$49.99 from Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions

In the U.S., Mother's Day always falls on the second Sunday in May. That means it's slated for Sunday, May 14 in 2023 — mark your calendar accordingly.

Miller Kern

Deputy Editor, Shopping and Reviews

Based in New York City, Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor, Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, and deals about tech products including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She has five years of experience writing buying guides, gift guides, and deals, and covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.

Haley Henschel

Senior Shopping Reporter

Haley Henschel is a Chicago-based Senior Shopping Reporter at Mashable who reviews and finds deals on popular tech, from laptops to gaming consoles and VPNs. She has years of experience covering shopping holidays and can tell you what’s actually worth buying on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Her work has also explored the driving forces behind digital trends within the shopping sphere, from dupes to 12-foot skeletons.

Haley received a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and honed her sifting and winnowing skills at The Daily Cardinal. She previously covered politics for The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, investigated exotic pet ownership for Wisconsin Watch, and blogged for some of your favorite reality stars.

In her free time, Haley enjoys playing video games, drawing, taking walks on Lake Michigan, and spending time with her parrot (Melon) and dog (Pierogi). She really, really wants to get back into horseback riding. You can follow her on X at @haleyhenschel or reach her via email at [email protected].