MOTHER’S DAY: LAST-MINUTE TIPS AND TRICKS TO SAVE ON YOUR PRESENTS

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and, with the cost of living on the rise, many of us are scrambling to find the perfect gift that doesn’t break the bank.

The good news is that, regardless of what you’re shopping for this year, there are several tips and tricks that you can take advantage of to keep costs low.

Florence Codjoe, Personal Finance Editor at money.co.uk, said: “We all want to treat our mums on Mother’s Day, and the good news is that if you know the tricks of the trade, then you can grab a great gift without having to empty your bank account.

“Shopping online can be a great way to bag a last-minute bargain, but if you’re worried about finances, don’t go in blind – set yourself a budget and stick to it.

“You also need to be on the watch for retailers taking advantage of the last-minute buying frenzy by hiking prices. No matter how rushed you are, try and use a price tracking site like PriceRunner to compare costs across different chains and avoid paying over the odds.

“Mother’s Day is also a great opportunity to spend any unused gift cards you have lying around the house. Shops make millions from people buying gift cards that are never used due to the expiry dates on them. Have a hunt around for any gift cards that you may have picked up at Christmas or birthdays, and use them before they expire to avoid losing out.

“You can also look for discount codes to bring the cost of your gift down. Some major retailers offer 5-15% off your first purchase if you sign up to their newsletter. You can use this discount to make your purchase before unsubscribing.

“If you shop online, you will probably be aware of Buy Now Pay Later schemes like, Klarna and Clearpay. It’s easy to be drawn in by the promise of no interest and no fees, but by spreading purchases out over several weeks, you could find yourself in a lot of debt.

“Using BNPL providers can make it hard to keep track of how much cash you’re actually spending. If you can pay for the purchase in one go, this might work out as a safer option, especially if you’re not sure that you can commit to a monthly agreement.

“Whilst you’re at it, make your purchases work for you by earning cashback rewards from websites like, Quidco or TopCashback. Each time you make a purchase via a retailer listed on their site, you could receive cashback, which can then be transferred to your bank account or even be used as vouchers for another purchase.”

“When it comes to your purchase, we all know that mums can be picky and sometimes your gift won’t hit the mark. Luckily, online purchases come with a 14-day grace period, so if mum’s not happy, you have 14 days to return your item. Most retailers won’t charge you to return an item, and if your item arrived damaged, then it’s the supplier’s responsibility to fix the problem, not yours.

“Using a credit card for your purchases is a good idea if you’re able to. Thanks to Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act you’re automatically protected for lost items, damaged items, scams and fraud on purchases over £100 and not more than £30,000. You also have the option of cashback or reward points with many major brands.

“However, with credit cards, it’s easy to fall into the trap of spending beyond your means. While many banks offer tempting 0% introductory deals, these don’t last forever. After the introductory period, high interest rates usually apply. Be sure to clear your monthly payments to avoid paying interest.

“As a general rule, if you’re already close to your credit card limit, or you’re making a smaller purchase, it’s better to use your debit card instead. Also, if you’re grabbing a gift in town and need to withdraw cash, avoid using your credit card at all costs – it will inevitably cost you a fortune.

“You can use money.co.uk’s credit card comparison tool to compare deals from all the top providers by visiting: https://www.money.co.uk/credit-cards.htm.”