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This Mother's Day calls for a money-can't-buy gift

What to get mum this Mother's Day. Source: Getty
What to get mum this Mother's Day. Source: Getty

This Mother’s Day, in a little over a week, will probably look very different than previous ones. Even with some states allowing a limited number of people to gather from tomorrow (for example, with two others in NSW), six-in-10 families don’t expect to be able to see their mum.

The poignant stat is from a survey of more than 1000 Aussies given exclusively to Yahoo Finance, by MyState Bank.

So what do you give the woman who gave you life, if you can’t deliver it in person?

Gift vouchers (81 percent), hampers and self-isolation care packages (80 percent) top the parent-popularity pops, and seem to me like a successful strategy too.

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The next-most on-the-money-with-Mums present works because it plays on nostalgia and the shared experiences we’re all missing out on right now: photo books (77 percent).

How much will Aussies spend on next (weird) weekend? Despite the potential isolation, more than two-thirds expect to spend a similar amount on Mother’s Day as they did last year. More than a third are budgeting $50 to $99, while a quarter expect to fork out $25 to $49.

Of course, with Australia Post already groaning under the weight of a huge spike in online deliveries – as we all click from our coaches – there’s no time for delay this Mother’s Day.

For example, Kashmira Sachania, Marketing Manager at Snowgoose Gift Hampers said, “We are seeing dramatically increased demand for online gift hampers, and are warning customers that they should place orders by Sunday 3 May to ensure their Mother’s Day gift arrives on time”.

So get onto it!

Then you need to prepare the celebration...

How to show your Mum you care if she’s there

Even if the rules are further relaxed by next weekend, it’s certain social distancing will be required.

So one thing you’re sadly not giving your Mum is a hug.

But for those who will be able to enjoy a face-to-face celebration with their mother this year, research revealed organising a simple, home-cooked meal was the preferred way to celebrate, with more than eight-in-10 mothers identifying this as a ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ idea.

How to show you Mum you care if she’s NOT there

We’ve all been bundled unceremoniously onto the digital world in the past month, whether we like it or not. And to differing degrees, it’s challenging for most.

A tweet by TV personality Adam Spencer this week about the look on his mother’s face when she nailed Zoom, is just beautiful.

Yet, the MyState Bank survey found mums, in general, aren’t keen on a virtual Mother’s Day lunch via Zoom or WhatsApp. More than half (58 percent) identified this as an ‘average’ or ‘poor’ idea.

Using something like Netflix Party to watch a movie together, or signing your mother up to digital subscription services, was even less appealing to your parent: 70 percent and 62 percent, respectively, gave these ideas low rankings.

The trouble is that tech-dependent tactics may be the only option for many.

Perhaps a present of a patient online lesson, to lessen the stress of this rapid digital transition?

A final note to Dads with young children

There is no cute craft – organised by a thoughtful teacher or carer – coming home this year. You are on your own!

Start cajoling your kids into starting the epic art now. Because don’t miss that you may have to somehow keep this huge, messy project a secret… in the same living space as their mother!

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon is the author of How to Get Mortgage-Free Like Me, available at www.nicolessmartmoney.com. Follow Nicole on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Yahoo Finance Breakfast Club.
Yahoo Finance Breakfast Club.

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