Mother's Day Gift Ideas That Won't Break the Bank

May 6, 2008 — -- Dutiful children and husbands have less than a week to pick out their perfect Mother's Day presents. But before you scramble out to stores to fetch the got-to-have gift, realize that it doesn't have to cost you a small fortune.

During these tight economic times, there are plenty of Mother's Day gift ideas for people looking to please mom without strangling their wallets. Check out a few of them below.

Usually people only make photo books for their mom, but the Kodak Gallery Cookbook is an interesting spin on an old idea. Instead of just uploading photos, you can upload photos and recipes to personalize your very own family cookbook.

Give mom the recipes you've made together throughout the years or put in your own favorite delicacies. It's something you can do for mom or grandma with photos of you guys together and it's just a great thing that she can treasure throughout the year.

Help mom become more environmentally savvy with an enviro-sack. These are portable little bags that she can carry in her handbag or car because they roll up really small. When she's out shopping at the grocery store or the drug store, instead of using plastic bags, she can throw her items in these bags. They're cute, small and inexpensive.

By creating a customized playlist with an iPod or laptop, you can give mom the soundtrack to her life. Even if she doesn't have an iPod or mp3 player, she still can download the music to her computer.

It's a great way to combine all of her favorite tunes and can be a romantic gesture for husbands looking for the perfect present. It's also financially flexible. You can spend as little or as much money as you want on it. It can be 5 songs or 50 songs.

This gift is a good way for grandmothers to bond with their grandchildren. It has an outline that lets grandma give her autobiography with humor and intelligence, while making a fun and easy heirloom that will be read for generations. "The Grandmother Book: A Book About You for Your Grandchild" is a write-in book that will keep moms and kids busy. The book is available at your local bookstore including Borders, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com

Mix things up this year, literally, with an autographed pink artisan stand mixer from Kitchenaid. During the month of May you can bid on the stand mixer, autographed by famous chefs Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich and Sara Moulton.

The proceeds support breast cancer research and the mixer makes make a one-of-a-kind gift for mom that has charitable repercussions. So, it's like giving two gifts at once. Go to www.CharityFolks.com/CookfortheCure to learn more and make a bid.