The Best Frugal Mother’s Day Gift: Love Coupons

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, I’ve been struggling to decide on a gift for my wife.  There are very few things that she wants, so gift buying for her is always difficult.  And when you’re living under a fairly strict budget, buying gifts is even more of a pain.

So this year, I’ve decided to bring back one of my favorite gifts as a child: Love coupons.

What’s a Love Coupon?

The idea behind a love coupon is that you’re offering a person you love time instead of stuff.  Frankly, most people have more than enough stuff, but rarely have enough time.  Giving a love coupon says that you value your loved one’s time and want to give more of it back to them.

What Kind Should I Give?

Think about the recipient:  What do they like best?  Is there anything they’ve complained about lately?  The answers to those questions might be the best coupons you could give.  For instance, my wife has been struggling to take care of the kids and manage the house, so my coupons focus on taking tasks away from her that cause her frustration.  I’m betting her favorite coupon this year will be “One Chore-Free Weekend” where I do all of the cleaning chores for the entire weekend.

How Do I Make a Love Coupon?

You don’t have to be artistic or clever – I’m certainly not – but the coupons should always be hand-made.  Since you’re making “time” your present, put some of your own time into making the present.  It’ll make a bigger impact and the recipient will know it was produced out of love.  I grabbed a piece of printer paper, measured out enough space for 10 coupons, and pulled out some old colored pencils.  My first two coupons can be seen above.

Spread the Love

Now, don’t go overboard with your coupons.  This is a special kind of gift and every coupon you produce is a promise to your loved one.  Don’t promise things you can’t provide and make sure you provide something your loved one wants.  Now grab a pencil and start making your coupons!