This is a collaborative post: Is your mum the queen of practical gifts? If she often buys you or other family members items that are more useful than frivolous, then it’s a great idea to take her lead and return the favour with a practical gift for Mother’s Day. Consider gifts that will save her time, can be used repeatedly, and combine multiple components into one.
No matter what interests your mum has, there are plenty of ways to spoil her – even if she’d prefer a gift that works well, over something that merely looks pretty. Opting for a practical present shows her how much you care about her and her values.
Read on for six fantastic gifts that any mum who appreciates utility will love.
A rice cooker
A rice cooker is one of those appliances that, on the face of it, seems surplus to requirements, right? After all, you can cook rice in a pot, and we all have one of those. Well, if you’ve ever watched one of Uncle Roger’s videos on Youtube, you might have discovered what a magical item a rice cooker can be. It’s the perfect option – whether you’re looking to help the busy and time-poor mum, wanting to spoil the budding Masterchef, or just want to make life easier for your mum. There’s nothing quite like being able to put the rice on ahead of time and having it perfectly cooked and ready to serve without going to the effort of trying to time it with your other dishes. Once you’ve used a rice cooker, you’ll wonder why you haven’t had one forever!
Vouchers for a meal delivery service
One of the worst parts about being an adult is needing to plan for the week ahead, shop and then cook. If your mum needs more help in the kitchen than even a rice cooker can provide, consider buying her gift vouchers for a meal delivery service. There are a few options to choose from – some offer meal kits that you prepare yourself, while others send you ready-made meals that are snap frozen, so all she will have to do is heat and eat. Both are efficient gifts that will take a lot of pressure off and give your mum a well-deserved break.
A handbag organiser
Confession moment: how much time do we all lose trying desperately to find something buried in our handbag? Or spend in frustration because we’ve changed bags and left something behind? Save your mum that hassle with a nifty bag insert. With handy compartments and pockets, this is the perfect way for your mum to store her life in any bag or tote she chooses to use. While handbags themselves make for great gifts, a purse organiser is a practical present that will work for all the bags she already owns. Your mum will thank you for making her life easier!
Wireless tech chargers
Does your mum have a lot of devices? Has she created a spaghetti junction with lots of charging cables? A wireless charger will look great on her bedside table and make sure her phone, watch or earphones never run out of juice. A present to organise the technology in her life might not be the standard go-to gifting idea, but they are super handy! Consider which devices she’ll want to charge and buy a pad that can charge all of them simultaneously. You can also buy one for her car – no more trying to put her phone on a traditional spring-loaded car charger with one hand – and a portable charger for on the go. Replacing lots of different cables and chargers with a sleek solution is a gift that any mum who values practicality will love.
An acupressure mat and pillow
A spa voucher for a massage is lovely, but it’s a one-and-done gift. Instead, opt for an acupressure mat and pillow to give your mum relief from sore muscles year-round. They are the perfect gift for a mum who is stressed or anxious, has issues with chronic pain, or loves to exercise. These spikey mats are designed to target sore muscles and reduce tension, and are particularly useful if she can’t make it to a physio or allied health professional regularly. They can also be used in yoga or meditation.
A blow-dry brush
Rather than having to coordinate both a brush and a hairdryer (why is it never as easy as hairdressers make it seem?) buy mum a handy blow dryer or straightening brush that can do both at once, blowing hot air from within to dry her hair as she brushes. Why they haven’t been a thing for longer is a mystery, because they are a brilliant and practical way to streamline the morning shower routine. They are particularly great for mums with mobility issues as they require less hand-eye coordination. It’s easy to see how blow-out brushes have become a cult favourite in the last year. Let’s face it, who doesn’t want that just-walked-out-of-the-salon look every day?
The practical mum in your life doesn’t need to be tricky to buy for. While they might not love the standard scented candle, there are plenty of gifting options to make their lives a little easier!