Gift IdeasGift ideas for your mother
Mothers often say "I do not need anything". What they value is being thought about: something that makes a daily task easier, something they would never buy for themselves, or simply your time.
A handwritten letter
Say three specific things you are grateful for. It is kept longer than any object.
A framed photograph of the two of you
Choose a photo they have not seen for years. Print it larger than you think.
A box of their favourite sweets
Find out the exact shop and the exact sweet. Precision is the gift.
A potted plant
Pick a hardy one that survives missed waterings: money plant, snake plant or jade.
A bunch of fresh flowers
Ask the florist what came in today. Fresh and simple beats large and tired.
A book you loved
Write a line on the first page saying why you chose it for them.
A photo collage printed as a poster
Collect pictures from friends and family first, then join them in any collage maker and print the result.
Breakfast in bed and a day without chores
Costs nothing and is remembered. Do the dishes too.
A meal you cook yourself
Their favourite dish, a set table, phones away.
A jar of notes
Fifty small slips, each with a memory or a reason you are glad of them.
A hand-knitted or hand-stitched item
A scarf, a cushion cover, an embroidered handkerchief.
A hand-painted card
Children's drawings are the best cards a grandparent can receive.
A tree or fruit sapling
For someone with a garden. Planted on the day, it marks the year.
A pack of dry fruits
Keeps for weeks, suits every age, and nobody has to guess a size.
A warm shawl or stole
Wool for the north, light cotton or silk for the south.
Reading glasses case, magnifier or reading lamp
Small comforts for someone who reads every day.
A soft cushion, backrest or foot rest for their favourite chair
Comfort gifts are the right gifts for elders.
A large printed family photograph
Get everyone into one picture, print it big and frame it.
A photo album you have filled yourself
Printed photos, with dates and names written underneath, in an album they can hold.
A day out together
A film, lunch and a walk. Put the phone away for the day.
A tea or coffee set
For a home that loves guests.
A hobby kit
Gardening tools, a painting set, a fishing rod, a set of chess pieces: whatever the next chapter is about.
A subscription to a magazine or newspaper
A gift that arrives again every month.
Earrings or a bracelet
Easier than a ring, because no size is needed.
A donation in their name
To a cause they care about. Give them the receipt in a card.
A wall calendar of family photos
A year of pictures on the wall, one for each month.
A helper for a day
Arrange a cleaner, a cook or a babysitter for a day or a week.
Their old photographs scanned and restored
Collect the family's loose prints, have them copied and give back both the originals and a new album.
A set of storage jars
A new kitchen never has enough.
A saree, suit piece or dupatta
If you do not know her taste, choose a classic colour and a fabric she already wears.
A handbag or wallet
Look at the one in use now, and choose the same style in better quality.
Perfume or attar
Buy the one they already wear, or go together to choose.
A pair of comfortable walking shoes
Take them along for the fitting. Feet do not forgive guesses.
Dinner at the place they keep mentioning
Book the table, arrange the travel, and pay before the bill arrives.
A class or workshop
Pottery, cooking, music, dance, photography: something they said they would try one day.
A spa or salon voucher
For someone who looks after everyone except themselves.
A good pressure cooker, mixer or non-stick pan
Only if they have said they need one. Then buy the best you can.
Bed linen in plain colours
Check the bed size. Good cotton in a quiet colour is always used.
A brass or silver item for the puja room
A diya, a bell or a small plate. Only when you know the family's faith and practice.
A music player or radio
Loaded with old songs, bhajans or ghazals for an elder who finds phones fiddly.
A piece of gold or silver jewellery
Small and classic, such as earrings, a chain or a ring, is worn more often than large and elaborate.
A pilgrimage or a trip to their home town
Plan every detail: tickets, stay, a companion. For elders, the planning is the gift.
A weekend trip
Choose a place a few hours away. Two calm days are better than a rushed long journey.
A big family gift bought together
A television, a washing machine or a holiday, given by all the children or all the friends as one gift.
No idea matches these choices. Set one of the boxes back to "Any".
Your shortlist
How to choose for your mother
- Notice what she uses every day and has worn out: a handbag, slippers, a pressure cooker gasket she keeps meaning to replace.
- Gifts of time count double: a day out, a meal you cook, an album you put together.
- Avoid a gift that is really more housework, unless she has asked for it by name.
About the spending levels
This site does not quote prices, because prices change with the city, the shop and the year. Each idea is marked with one of four levels instead:
- Token: A small gesture: the cost of a snack or a few cups of tea.
- Modest: An everyday gift for friends and family.
- Generous: A special gift for someone close or a big occasion.
- Grand: A once-in-years gift, often given by a family together.
Questions people ask
What is a good gift for your mother?
Start from what the person does every day and what they would not buy for themselves. On this page, "A handwritten letter" and "A subscription to a magazine or newspaper" are two ideas that suit most people.
What if I have very little to spend?
Choose the Token level in the filter. Handmade and personal gifts, such as a handwritten letter, cost little and are often the ones remembered.
Gifts for other people
Guides
- Shagun: giving moneyThe envelope, the extra rupee and how to decide the amount.
- Gifting etiquetteGiving, receiving, regifting and gifts to avoid.
- Return giftsIdeas for birthdays, weddings, pujas and housewarmings.
- Gift wrappingWrap a box neatly, or wrap without paper at all.
- Gift messagesShort lines to write on a tag or card, to copy.
- Secret Santa name drawerPair everyone for a gift exchange on one phone.