3 of the Most Common Mother's Day Gifts and Where to Find Them

The NRF expects 74% of shoppers to gift Mom a fragrant floral bouquet (or possibly a rose for those on a budget). The same goes for those buying greeting cards. And more than half are expected to take Mom on a special outing of some sort (Mother's Day brunch, anyone?).

Skip banging your head against the wall and jump straight to the good stuff. Here's where to find and purchase flowers, greeting cards, and special outings for the mothers in your life.

1. Flowers

Flowers are some of the best Mother's Day gifts for two simple reasons: They're traditional and can spruce up any household. To give floral arrangements a unique spin, consider pairing them with a personal greeting card, customizing them to Mom's tastes, or if you're really into it, creating a bouquet by the meanings of each flower (i.e., hydrangeas for gratitude, etc.).

Local florists can be found budding just about everywhere across the United States. They'll help you create custom arrangements for Mom, explain the meaning of flowers, or whip you up a one-of-a-kind bouquet. Florists tend to be on the pricier side, so keep your personal finances in mind.

Affordable alternatives include pre-arranged bouquets at big grocers like Pavilions. Costco, Walmart, and Target may also offer seasonal arrangements around Mother's Day, so keep your eyes peeled for fresh flowers at low prices. 

Costco is offering Costco members an entire Mother's Day bouquet for $60, vase included. Plus, Costco Anywhere Visa® Card by Citi cardholders snag an extra 2% cash back on their floral purchases. 

2. Greeting cards

Greeting cards rock because they're meaningful and affordable. A personal card costs more in time than cash. As a poet, I love bringing Mom to tears or spontaneous gales of laughter with a few creative stanzas. This is even better when paired with a funny card.

My favorite place to shop for high-quality cards is Etsy, the online marketplace for custom-made goods. It has some of the funniest, most original cards out there, many handmade. But order sooner rather than later; near big holidays like Mother's Day, deliveries get tied up.

Affordable alternatives include dollar store cards, which are $1 apiece, or big stores like Costco, Trader Joe's, Walmart, etc. A thoughtful interior can make up for a standard design, so consider setting aside time to include something personal.

3. Special outings

Folks plan on spending about $274.02 per person this year, according to NRF data. Group activities and alcohol can cause budgets to spill over. Keep things affordable by estimating expenses ahead of time.

It's trickier to purchase an entire experience for Mom, but it's possible. Airbnb offers virtual classes on everything from origami to foreign cooking, taught by English-speaking instructors worldwide. Ticketmaster likely offers a long list of big-ticket local events to treat Mom.

Affordable alternatives include outdoor activities like hiking or picnicking, which charge zero admission fees. Pair a traditional gift with an at-home brunch to make Mom feel special. It's casual, affordable, and unlike big-ticket events, it's chaos-free.

Now you know the most common Mother's Day gifts and where to find them. Use these gifts as a springboard to launch your search into hyperdrive, or avoid these tried-and-true gifts entirely in favor of something out of the box.