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"I don't want you spending money on me. Spend it on your kids," my mom told me. At that point in the conversation I told her I could promise to spend LESS on her, but that I wasn't going to not get her anything. That was when she made me promise to spend $10 or less on her that year... What is there to get for a mom for this sum of money? It took a little creativity, but I did find some items many moms (including mine) would love. Here are 10 starting ideas:

1) Is mom a reader?
You can a decent book light, a bookmark and/or a book from the sale rack for close to this amount - especially if you check out the used books for sale at your local library or used book store.

2) Is mom a gardener?
Buy her a new pair of gardening gloves, a gardening tip book, or maybe a new vase for flower cuttings (or those wildflowers the kids/grandkids keep picking for her.)

3) Is mom a cook?
If mom loves to bake visit a dollar store and invest in some new spoons, spatulas, or maybe some new kitchen towels and potholders. Even if she has a ton of these she can retire some of the more worn ones or use decorative ones seasonally.

4) Is mom an artist?
Buy her some new charcoals, pastels, canvas or other artistic medium. Even if it's one she doesn't currently use - she may enjoy trying something new.

5) Is mom a bird lover?
Buy an unfinished wooden bird house at a hobby store. You can either paint it up to be used as an actual home for birds, or decorate it with found objects, or vines and flowers to make a cool indoor decoration for very little money.

6) Is mom a sports fan?
Sports lovers aren't all dads and grandpas. If your mom is a sports lover look for sports gloves or hats to go on sale or, ... make her a sports watching snack pack. Decorate it with the logo of her favorite team (you can probably find one on-line or scan one off of something she owns already) and fill it full of snacks you either made or bought at the dollar store. Rename/label items to match the team or players whenever possible - get creative!

7) Is mom often stressed?
Buy her some bath beads, some luxurious lotion or some other pampering item. If you buy an off brand you may be able to buy a couple of these items.

8) Is mom a chic-flick lover?
Check out the discount DVD rack for older movies that might be labeled for under $10. Make it a gift-pack by coupling it with some Kleenex tissue and a tiny bar of chocolate for the ultimate chic-flick afternoon of viewing.

9) Is mom a coffee/tea lover?
Buy her a special mug. Big Lots and the discount stores often have holiday ones on sale that are pretty nice. Fill it full of tea bags or a small bag of her favorite coffee. You can also bake/buy some biscottis or tea biscuits to pair with it for her enjoyment.

10) Is mom a working woman?
She might enjoy a new mouse pad, mug or other desk item to take to work,featuring a photo of her kids/grandkids on it. Or ... a calendar made by her kids/grandkids to hang on the wall. You can also very cheaply have the kids draw her pictures of her at work and matte or frame them yourself - making them hangable with a nice ribbon. Mom's love this kind of stuff! It may hang on her cubicle wall for years ... unless you keep them coming.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it should give you a head-start on thinking of the perfect item for under $10 that will please the moms in your life this Christmas.

Learn more about this author, Suzanne Wesley.
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