spending

How to Wisely Spend Saved Money

March 24, 2021 By Vicky Monroe Leave a Comment

During the pandemic, the average American’s savings rate increased from 12.7% to 32.2%, so you may have a small nest egg that you’re wondering what to do with. It’s important to wisely spend saved money instead of blowing it so you get the most benefit from it. Here are some responsible things you can do with your money to improve your financial position.

Start a Business

Although there are businesses you can start with very little or no money, having a cash infusion will open up a lot more options.

It’s a great time to launch an online store because everyone is shopping from home due to the pandemic. You can use your savings to buy inventory or craft supplies to make your own handmade products. Any extra money you have can be spent on marketing to spread the word about your new shop.

Commercial cleaning businesses will also be in high demand as restaurants, gyms, and salons begin to reopen. Employees may not have time for the strict cleaning protocols that are required, so companies may bring in outside help to ensure the health and safety of their customers.

Starting a commercial cleaning business usually costs a couple thousand dollars, but could earn you $100,000 per year or more. So this is definitely a way to wisely spend saved money.

Buy a House

Buying a house is a great way to make your money work for you. You’ll be building wealth with every housing payment instead of lining your landlord’s pockets.

Although many people believe you need a 20% down payment saved to buy a house, there are cheaper options. FHA loans, for example, only require a down payment of 3.5%. Some conventional loan programs even allow you to put down 3%.

If you don’t have enough money saved for closing costs, there are grants that can help you cover them. So you may be able to get into a home for much less money than you thought and start building equity.

Make Upgrades to Your Current Home

If you already own a home, making repairs and upgrades is a way to wisely spend saved money. Improvements can increase the value of your home and reduce the amount of capital gains tax you have to pay when you sell it.

Kitchen and bath remodels are some of the most profitable renovations. They can net you up to 182% more than what you paid for them in resale value. Replacing your home’s roof, upgrading the siding, and landscaping are also good investments.

Invest in Your Career

Another way to wisely spend saved money is investing in your career. Going back to school and getting a master’s degree could increase your lifetime earnings by as much as $620,000. Taking a course that teaches an in-demand skill like data analysis, user interface design, or cloud computing can also help you get a better job and earn more.

Although it’s tempting to spend your savings on tech gadgets or a vacation, wisely investing it in your career or home will pay off more in the long run.

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If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.
Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

5 Supermarket Psychological Tricks That Make You Spend More

March 23, 2021 By Vicky Monroe Leave a Comment

We’ve all gone into the grocery store for just one or two things and come out with a full cart and a much bigger bill than intended. But why is it so hard to stick to our shopping list once we get inside the store?

Supermarkets are set up to part you with your hard-earned cash, from the layout to the size of the shopping carts. Grocery stores are designed to get you to buy more than you really need, which is why it’s so easy to end up over budget.

If you want to lower your food costs, you’ll need to be aware of the supermarket psychological tricks that are driving you to spend too much. Here are five of the most common tricks and some tips on how to resist them.

5 Supermarket Psychological Tricks to Watch Out For

Scent Marketing

Have you ever walked by the bakery at a grocery store and gotten hit with the smell of warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies? Some grocery chains actually pump scents into their stores to make you hungry and get you to buy more.

And studies have shown that it works. When a Brooklyn grocery store called Net Cost started using a grapefruit scent machine in their produce department, sales jumped by 7%. Indulgent aromas like the smell of fresh baked goods are even more effective and can triple sales.

So the next time you walk by the grocery store bakery, try to hold your nose and resist the temptation to stray from your shopping list.

Ten for $10 Deals

One of the pricing strategies grocery stores use to get you to spend more is ten for $10 deals. Although it would be simpler to say each item costs $1, supermarkets display the discount as ten for $10 to get you to put extra items in your cart.

Believe it or not, this is one of the supermarket psychological tricks that actually works. Studies have shown that people buy more items when the price is displayed as ten for $10 rather than one for a dollar.

To resist this trick, make a grocery list at home and write down how many of each item you need. Then it will be easier to resist the temptation to buy higher quantities just because things are on sale.

Snacks in the Checkout Lane

One of the most common supermarket psychological tricks is putting candy and other snacks in the checkout lane. We’re all a little hungry by the time we get done shopping, especially since we’ve been around tons of delicious food. So grocery store owners hope that we buy a couple extra Snickers bars on our way out.

To prevent yourself from falling for this one, keep a high protein snack like trail mix in your glove compartment. If a bag of chips starts calling your name, remind yourself that you have a healthier option waiting for you in the car.

Bigger Carts

Research has shown that the size of our shopping cart has a huge effect on our food purchasing habits. In a recent study, simply doubling the size of the cart made consumers buy 40% more.

Grocery stores have taken notice of this and have steadily increased the size of their carts over the years. Between 2009 and 2011, Whole Foods nearly doubled the capacity of their trolleys to try to boost sales.

So if you’re having trouble sticking to your grocery budget, shop with a small basket instead of an oversized cart.

Store Layout

Last but not least, the store layout can trip you up and cause you to impulse buy. Dairy products are all the way in the back, which forces you to walk through the whole store even if you just need a carton of milk.

Supermarkets usually advertise sales on the endcap of each aisle so you see them as you walk past. These deals may cause you to put extra items in your cart and draw you into the main aisles of the store where all the processed foods are.

It’s hard to impulse buy milk, but easy to pick up a bag of chips you weren’t planning on getting. That’s how supermarkets get you to fill your entire cart even if you just planned on running in for one or two essentials.

I recommend always shopping with a list and trying your best to get in and out of the store quickly. The more time you spend inside, the more temptations you’ll be exposed to. You may even want to bring along a friend who can hold you accountable and tell you to put back that container of Oreos you don’t really need.

Resisting these supermarket psychological tricks is hard. But if you stick to your grocery list, both your wallet and waistline will be better off.

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Recession Worries? What To Do

March 18, 2021 By Joe Wallace Leave a Comment

On January 28, 2021, the Washington Post ran a headline asking, Is The U.S. Still In A Recession?

And in February 2021, FoxBusiness.com ran a headline stating, US Economy Poised To See Historic Gains In 2021 After Covid. Yet another headline, this one from March 2021 on Yahoo!Finance, stating, The 2021 Recession Will Be Long And Lingering.

That’s a lot of worry in those headlines. There’s just one problem with skimming headlines like these–context is EVERYTHING. For example, the “long and lingering” recession mentioned in the Yahoo!Finance headline above? If you felt a wee bit of panic after reading that, know that this particular headline refers to AUSTRALIA’s economy.

And that is one reason why I continually advise people who worry about their finances in the troubled economic times we’re experiencing in 2021 to take a deep breath, avoid panic, and examine the facts.

Diversify Your Savings And Investing Plans

And what are those facts? Those who want to save money and secure their financial futures know or will soon learn that diversity in their economic plans is key. If you do not have a diversified financial plan for your income and debts, one that does not rely on a single factor or a small number of steady factors to maintain the status quo, you are at a disadvantage with or without a recession. What does this mean? Let’s examine the panic-inducing word “recession” first.

The National Bureau of Economic Research defines “recession” as follows:

“A recession is a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, normally visible in real GDP, real income, employment, industrial production, and wholesale-retail sales.” In the context of this definition, a recession starts after a peak of activity and ends “as the economy reaches its trough.”

And what do people do when these economic conditions hit? They shift their priorities to being more frugal. Eating in restaurants drops in a recession, the interest in buying new vehicles and other high-dollar items diminishes…people simply start trying to hang on to their money. Why?

What It Means To Be In A Recession

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics these measures are taken because consumer priority shifts in a recession to a conservation of cash. Scarcity of disposable income forces consumers to revise their indulgences, their long-term plans, etc. Manufacturers and consumer goods companies may hold off on investing in infrastructure and other areas as they wait out the recession and hope for rising sales in the future.

What should you do in anticipation of or in mitigation of a recession? The “don’t panic” advice is sound, as is all the other advice you have read on this blog about cutting corners, reducing indulgences in favor of long-term savings plans, etc. are all sound advice.

Don’t rush into brand new austerity plans for your personal finances–examine what you are doing RIGHT NOW and see how you can up your game from where you are currently at. It may make sense to revise your financial plans if you don’t really have them well thought out or organized, but if you are already following some saving advice, make sure you really need to alter that plan first–you may just need to add some tweaks.

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started.

Check out these helpful tools to help you save more. For investing advice, visit The Motley Fool.

How to Stop Paying Money for Others

December 10, 2020 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

Do you regularly find yourself paying money for others? There are several scenarios in which this problem might occur. However, you can deal with all of them by implementing two key tricks. And the best part about these tricks is that they don’t require the other people to make changes; it’s stuff that you can do yourself.

Scenarios When You Might Be Paying Money For Others

When are the times that you are paying money for others? Here are some common scenarios:

Your name is on a lease or utility bill. Therefore, you pay the bill and others are then supposed to pay their half to you. However, they don’t always pay you. As a result, you’re paying the entire cost for others.
The check comes at a restaurant or other shared event. Somehow the total doesn’t add up. You pay the extra to resolve the problem.
The check comes at a restaurant or other shared event. You say, “I’ve got this.” You do this more often than not.
You’ve offered to share your streaming services with others. Then you want to cancel or downgrade. However, you feel guilty for nipping their services in the bud. Therefore you just keep paying.

These are just a few of the scenarios that play out where you might find yourself paying for others. Brainstorm a list of others that apply to your own life. The more you know about the situation, the easier it’s going to be to resolve.

2 Key Things You Can Do To Stop Paying Money For Others

Each of these situations is different. However, they share a common denominator: you. You have choices. You can make changes. Therefore, it’s up to you to figure out what to do. And there are two key things that you can begin doing right now:

1. Work Through Your Own Money Issues

Many of us have psychological and emotional issues about money. We have received messages from our families and our culture that affect the way we deal with financial issues. This shows up in all sorts of ways. However, it especially shows up in our relationships. If you’re having problems paying money for others, then chances are that there is some underlying emotional stuff coming up for you that’s making it hard for you to set appropriate boundaries.

For example, if you’re the one at the table who always pays extra to settle a shared check, then dig deep to figure out why that is. How were financial conflicts handled in your family? Are you avoiding conflict because it’s a trigger for you? If so, what can you do differently in these situations to feel safe without having to foot the bill?

Conflict avoidance could be at the root of issues like covering rent for roommates as well. On the other hand, perhaps money represents security to you. Is that why you chose to be the leaseholder? If so, then what can you do differently to feel secure without people taking advantage of that?

Similarly, if you always pick up the check at a shared event, then it’s worth asking yourself why that is. What do you feel that it says about you that you pay for everyone? Is it a self-esteem issue? Is it a belief that you’re responsible? What’s going on underneath?

2. Learn to Talk About Money

This goes hand in hand with working through your own money issues. Once you know what’s going on with yourself, the other aspect is learning to properly communicate that information to others. Talking about money isn’t easy. But you can learn to do so with practice.

Start by discussing money issues with the people you find it easiest to do so with. They’ll help you strengthen your skills. You can even work with a therapist to help you learn to set boundaries and communicate them to others.

Obviously it helps if the other person will join in the conversation with you, but if all you ever reach is the goal of communicating your feelings then you’re still doing great. It will still help you stop paying for others when you don’t want to.

Additional Tips to Reduce The Problem of Paying for Others

Working on your own underlying issues, including learning better money communication, is truly the way to resolve this problem forever. But, of course, that might take some time. Here are some tips and tricks that you can implement in the meantime to minimize the problem in your life:

Promise yourself that you’ll always say no first if someone asks you to pay. You can always change your mind and decide to pay later if that’s a choice you consciously want to make. Saying no (or saying that you need to think about it) will help buy you some time.
Make use of apps like Venmo. People can instantly pay you right from their phone. Therefore, you should ask that they do so in appropriate situations such as when splitting a bill.
Set up weekly or monthly money meetings. Whether these are family meetings or get-togethers with roommates, this is a way to address financial issues. Sometimes just setting aside the time to talk resolves the issues. Once it becomes a habit, it will be easier for everyone.
Ask someone you love to hold you accountable. For example, if you always say, “we’ve got this” at the restaurant, ask your spouse to remind you not to do that. Ask for support in letting the situation unfold as it will.
Set a budget that includes paying for others. If you enjoy paying sometimes, then work that into your budget. Don’t exceed it. Monitor it closely.
Let everyone in your life know that you’re working on your personal finances. Say outright to everyone, “hey I’m just trying really hard to save money right now.” You can say this during a neutral time so that they know it’s not about them. This helps set the stage for all future conversations about money.

If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month!

Avoiding the Monthly Payments Mentality

August 30, 2019 By Kathryn Vercillo Leave a Comment

Chances are that you often think about money in terms of monthly payments. For example, you make monthly payments on your car, house, and cell phone. It’s not your fault; we’ve been conditioned to think this way. However, the monthly payments mentality can be such a trap. If you look only at that small picture, you might end up spending money when you could have been saving it. That’s why it’s important to learn how to get out of the monthly payments mentality.

What is the Monthly Payments Mentality?

You walk into a car dealership and the salesperson says to you, “how much are you looking to spend per month?” It’s finally time for you to buy your first home, and the broker wants to know what you are able to pay monthly on your mortgage. You sign up for a new cell phone service and they try to upsell you with a bundle package that’s “only” x dollars more per month. Or to give you a better phone that you pay for in small monthly additions to your regular bill. These are all examples of the monthly payments mentality.

The monthly payments mentality means that you’re thinking entirely or primarily about how much you’re paying for something per month. Therefore, you aren’t thinking about the bigger picture. You aren’t worried so much about the total amount paid over time. You aren’t concerned with what else you could do with that money over the long haul. You’re simply looking at, “what’s the cost per month and can I afford it?”

Why is the Monthly Payments Mentality So Popular?

The monthly payments mentality is so popular, so common, that you probably didn’t even think it was weird until you started to think about it a little bit more closely. Most of us pay almost everything in monthly installments. Car loans, student loans, mortgages, credit card bills, rent-to-own furniture, video streaming services … the bills arrive monthly, so we pay them monthly, and we don’t think much else about it.

Part of the reason for this is because most of us only get paid once or twice per month. We know what we earn per paycheck (or approximately what we earn monthly as freelancers.) Therefore, we can easily tell whether or not we can afford to make a monthly payment for something. It’s a little bit harder to look at your annual income and determine what you can and can’t afford all throughout the year. After all, doing so requires some serious advance planning.

However, the main reason that the monthly payments mentality is so popular is because it benefits the sellers. They realized long ago that you’re a lot more likely to believe something is affordable if you can pay just $10 per month for one year than if they want $120 out of pocket right now. Some services offer you a discount if you pay an annual fee instead of a monthly fee, knowing that they will benefit either way (with a smaller upfront one-time payment or more money paid out over the long run.) Some businesses even offer you the first month or two “free” so that what you’re focused on is zero payments until the future. It lures you in to make impulse purchases.

Make no mistake: the monthly payments mentality is popular because it benefits a business’s bottom line. It’s not popular because it’s best for you.

What’s Wrong with the Monthly Payments Mentality?

There are four key reasons that the monthly payments mentality is a problem for individuals who are truly interested in saving money.

1. It hides the total cost of your item.

What are you paying for your cell phone over the entire lifetime of the phone? You probably don’t know. All that you know is what you pay for it monthly. Hopefully you know what your total mortgage cost is, including all of the interest accrued over time, but many people don’t even know that. They know what they pay monthly, and that’s it.

If you don’t have a true understanding of the total cost of each and every item that you’re paying for monthly then you don’t really understand your finances. And if you don’t understand your finances then you’re on a slippery slope towards financial trouble.

2. Monthly pricing makes comparison shopping challenging.

This relates back to point one. If you aren’t looking at the total cost of an item, then you aren’t able to make the best long-term decisions about the right items to purchase.

Consider, for example, if you are about to buy a new car.

Loan #1 is for a car that costs $15,000. You pay $2000 down. Then you pay the rest in monthly installments at 6% interest rate for 84 months. You only pay $189.91 per month.
Loan #2 is for the same car with the same down payment and the same interest rate. However, you only take out the loan for 24 months. Your monthly payment is $576.17.

If you’re only comparing your monthly payments, then of course you take the first option. But obviously, when you consider the interest rate (not to mention the fact that you’ll be saddled with Loan 1 payments for many more years than Loan 2), you should take the second option. You’ll save over $2000 by making higher monthly payments for a shorter amount of time. If you can’t afford that, then maybe you should get a less expensive car.

Oftentimes, when you’re trying to compare monthly payments, you’re working with different interest rates and other terms of the sale. It all gets confusing. That’s why it’s important to look closely at total cost, rather than monthly costs.

3. Small Loans Encourage Big Debt

When you’re trapped in the monthly payments mentality, you can easily find yourself taking on a lot of debt. As long as you can cover the monthly bills, what’s the problem? The problem is that debt comes with interest, so you’re paying more than you need to for items that you may or may not need in the first place. Moreover, if you get into financial trouble, you’ll have all of that debt to deal with.

4. If You’re Spending, Then You Aren’t Saving

The more that you shell out, the less that you have to save and invest. If you get trapped into worrying about the amount of money you can afford to spend each month, then you’re no longer thinking about all that you can save. Therefore, the monthly payments mentality encourages waste.

How to Avoid the Monthly Payments Mentality

It’s time to get out of the monthly payments mentality. It’s time to start thinking about the bigger picture. Take a long hard look at your budget and make sure that you understand the total cost, including interest, of everything that you’re currently paying out monthly.

In cases of subscriptions, or services such as cell phones and streaming services, calculate not just your monthly cost but also the annual and five-year costs. This will give you a better view of the big picture of your spending. Therefore, you’ll be better able to make choices that empower you to save and invest, rather than to spend.

Before you make any new purchases, always go in with a plan. Never disclose your “monthly allowance” to the lender. That just encourages them to upsell you to that amount. Instead, make sure that you focus on the total cost of the item over time. In many cases, if you can’t pay the total cost out of pocket now, you might not actually want to purchase the item at all. If you do decide to make the purchase, looking at the total cost will enable you to make the soundest financial decision.

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56 of the Best Mother’s Day Freebies and Deals of 2019

May 8, 2019 By Jackie Cohen Leave a Comment

If you haven’t yet gotten a gift for your mom, you’re in luck: there are plenty of great sales you can check out in time for this Sunday’s holiday. And if you’re looking into treating her to a meal, there are plenty of deals at restaurants too. Here are 56 of the best Mother’s Day freebies and deals.

50+ Mother’s Day Freebies and Deals for 2019

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans will spend a record-breaking $25 billion honoring their moms on Mother’s Day this year. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a lot. Not only are there numerous deals and discounts at several retailers and restaurants, but there are also quite a few freebies.

With all of the restaurant promotions out there, you would do well to assume that anywhere you want to dine this year will be busy, so make reservations ahead of time. Also, keep in mind that participation and pricing may vary by location and franchise. Contact your local restaurant to confirm details.

99 Restaurant & Pub

Order from a special menu on May 11 and 12, featuring Twin Petite Filet Mignon, fresh New England Baked Scallops, Colossal Lobster Rolls, specially priced cocktails and beverages, and more.

Another Broken Egg Cafe

Moms dining here on Mother’s Day will receive a $10 Brunch Buck (redeemable on next visit, May 13 through 26).

Applebee’s

Get a $10 bonus card free (redeemable through August 11) with the purchase of any $50 gift card through June 30. Also, $1 margaritas are available for the entire month of May.

Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar

Moms eat free on Mother’s Day with purchase of equal or greater value – dine-in only. (Offer not available in East Brunswick, NJ).

Baskin-Robbins

Now through May 12, save $3 on any ice cream cake order of $15 or more when you redeem the Mother’s Day coupon available on Baskin-Robbins’ website.

Bahama Breeze

Get two free dine-in gift cards for $10 apiece when you buy a $50 gift card; the first free card is valid May 27 through July 31 and the second one is good from July 1 through August 31.

Baker’s Square

When you buy a $25 gift card through June 16, you get a $5 coupon card (redeemable June 26 through August 9).

bd’s Mongolian Grill

For every $25 gift card you buy before June 30, receive a free $5 bonus card (redeemable through June 30).

Beef ‘O’ Brady’s

Moms eat for free on Mother’s Day with purchase of equal or greater value up to $10.

Benihana

Purchase $50 in gift cards through May 12, and receive a free $10 promotional card (redeemable May 13 through June 16).

BJ’s Restaurant

For every $50 BJ’s eGift Card purchased through May 12, the purchaser receives a free Pizookie® bonus card (redeemable for one free Pizookie® May 13 through June 15). Also, all moms get a free commemorative wine glass on May 11 and 12 while supplies last.

Bojangles

Make it a magical Mother’s Day with heart-shaped bo-berry biscuits available only Mother’s Day weekend.

Bravo

Buy $100 in gift cards through June 16 and receive a $25 bonus card (redeemable June 17 through August 31). Also, enter for a chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip for two to Southern Italy (contest ends May 12).

Brixx Wood F ired Pizza

Get 1/2 Priced Bottles of Wine on May 12.

Burger 21

Free burger for Mom on Mother’s Day with any kid’s meal purchase. Also, purchase $20 in gift cards and receive a free small fry or shake reward (redeemable on your next visit).

Carrabba’s Italian Grill

The restaurant has a special menu for Mother’s Day weekend, and doors will open at 10:30 am on Mother’s Day. Also, receive a $10 promotional card (redeemable May 13 through July 19) when you buy $50 in gift cards through June 16.

Carvel

Get $2 off any cake 48 oz. or larger; $3 off any sheet cake; offers valid through June 10.

Cheesecake Factory

For every $50 ecard purchased online (up to $200) through May 12, receive a $10 bonus ecard.

Fogo de Chao

Moms receive a complimentary dining card on May 12 (redeemable May 13 through July 11. Also, receive a $25 bonus ecard (redeemable June 17 through August 29) for every $125 in online gift card purchases through June 16.

Grubhub

Satisfy Mom’s cravings with delivery from popular neighborhood restaurants and chains with $10 off your first order.

Joe’s Crab Shack

Celebrate mom with a special four-course meal on Mother’s Day for $35.99; meal includes appetizer, side salad, entrée, and dessert.

Mimi’s Caf é

The restaurant is serving a three-course meal on Mother’s Day starting at 11:00 am, $19.99 for adults and $10.99 for kids — including appetizer, entrée, and dessert.

O’Charleys

Purchase $25 in gift cards through May 12 and receive $10 in rewards (redeemable June 17 through August 18).

Olive Garden

The Olive Garden will open early at 10:30 am on Mother’s Day. Plus, receive a $10 bonus card (redeemable June 1 through June 30) with every $50 in gift cards purchased by May 12.

Outback Steakhouse

Treat Mom to a meal fit for a queen with a special menu available May 8 through 12. Plus, purchase $50 in gift cards through June 16 and receive a free $10 gift card (redeemable May 13 through July 19).

Panera Bread

Purchase $50 in gift cards through May 31 and receive a free $10 bonus card (redeemable June 1 through June 30).

PF Chang’s

Purchase $50 in gift cards through June 19 and receive a free $10 bonus card (redeemable June 20 through July 31).

Spaghetti Warehouse

Free Spaghetti and Meatballs on May 12 with purchase of a Mother’s Day Meal and the coupon available on the Spaghetti Warehouse website (offer not available in Columbus, OH).

Texas Steakhouse

Treat Mom to Texas Steakhouse on Mother’s Day, and she will receive a voucher for a free entrée redeemable on her next visit. Also, if you buy a $50 gift card online, for a limited time a $10 bonus voucher will be emailed to you.

TCBY

Moms get a free six-ounce frozen yogurt on Mother’s Day.

TGI Fridays

Purchase $25 in gift cards through June 19 and receive $5 in Bonus Bites (redeemable July 1 through August 31).

Wienerschnitzel

Moms get a free meal on Mother’s Day consisting of a chili dog, small fries, and small soda.

Mother’s Day Gifts

1-800-Baskets

Use promo code WOW20 at checkout to save to 20% on Mother’s Day gifts; free shipping on select items.

1-800-Flowers

Use promo code 25MOM at checkout to save 25% on flowers.

Bath & Body Works

Use promo code MOMSDAY at checkout by May 10 to get a Mother’s Day tote featuring 8 spring essentials for $30 with any $30 purchase; buy 3 get 3 free on select body care items; get 2 Concentrated Room Sprays for $12; get 5 Wallflowers Fragrance Refills for $23.

Bed Bath & Beyond

Promotions include:

35% off Brookstone® Outlast® down comforter while supplies last
30% off Calphalon® griddle and grill pans through May 26, plus receive a $50 bonus gift card with select Calphalon® items
25% off select Corningware® bakeware through May 13
20% off Breville® toaster ovens through May 15
Up to $100 off Dyson vacuums through June 3
Save $50 with a Google Home Hub purchase and get a Google Home Mini
$100 off KitchenAid® Artisan® mixer through May 12
$30 off Instant Pot duo through May 13; $30 off Keurig® K-Cafe™ through May 12
Free shipping on orders over $39

Best Buy

Save $50 on the Apple Watch Series 4; purchase $100 in gift cards through May 11 and receive a $10 savings code (redeemable through May 11).

Charming Charlie’s

Save 50% off select beauty products; free shipping on orders $59 or more.

DSW

Earn a $10 bonus card (redeemable June 6 through 27) when you purchase $50 in gift cards, or $25 bonus card when you purchase $100 in gift cards, through May 12; free shipping on orders of at least $35; save up to 70% on women’s shoes marked as clearance items; other styles have savings ranging from 20% to 70%.

From You Flowers

Use promo code 050 at checkout to save 15% on purchases.

FTD

Order by May 10 and save up to 25% off; select bouquets listed up to half off.

Gourmet Gift Baskets

Select items eligible for free shipping.

Hallmark

Save up to 50% on gifts and cards with Mother’s Day themes.

JC Penney

Buy $75 in gift cards through May 12 and receive a coupon for $10 off $10 (redeemable May 13 through May 27).

Jewlr

Save up to 75% on select Mother’s Day gifts; receive a free gift with each purchase; shipping is free to all 50 states.

Kay Jewelers

Save 30% on everything in the store, and up to 50% off clearance items through May 12; free shipping for orders over $50.

Kohl’s

Use promo code MOMSDAY10 at checkout to get $10 off when you spend at least $50 on Mother’s Day gifts
Use promo code JEWELRY20 at checkout to get up to 20% off select styles of women’s jewelry
Use promo code WATCHES10 at checkout to get 10% off women’s watches
Free shipping with $75 purchase; offers valid through May 12

Macy’s

Free summer tote bag and 6-piece gift with $37.50 Lancôme purchase
Three additional gifts with $75 Lancôme purchase
Free full-size cleanser with $125 Lancôme purchase;
Six full-size pieces and travel-size primer only $45 with any Lancôme purchase
Use promo code MOM at checkout to save up to 20% in select departments
25% off Michael Kors items; 35-50% off select jewelry
Free shipping on all orders over $75

Mass age Envy

Buy three 60-minute customized facial sessions for just $150 (redeemable starting May 12).

Murad

Use promo code GIFTBOX at checkout to receive a gift box when you spend at least $35 by May 12
Use promo code SMOOTH or RADIANT at checkout to receive one of two free mini duos with $65 purchase, or enter DOUBLEDUO at checkout with $100 purchase to receive both, through May 31
Use promo code ONTHEGO to receive a free TSA-friendly wristlet with purchase of any 2 travel-size essentials through May 31
Free shipping with any order of at least $50

Pandora

Several pieces of jewelry are on sale, and many clearance items are up to 30% off.

Reebok

Sitewide sale 30% off all apparel, footwear and accessories, plus use promo code MOM at checkout to receive additional 30% off.

Target

Use promo code BEAUTY at checkout to receive $5 gift card with purchase of $20 in select beauty and personal care items through May 18
Use promo code SHORTS20 at checkout to receive 20% off select women’s shorts through May 11
Receive $5 gift card when you buy three select Neutrogena skincare items through May 11
Receive a free 3-piece Neutrogena brush set with the purchase of at least $15 on Neutrogena cosmetics through May 12
Receive a free Covergirl striped makeup bag with purchase of at least $15 on Covergirl cosmetics through May 18
Save 20% on select jewelry and accessories as well as top fitness brands
Save 25% on patio items
Buy three select women’s tees and tanks for $20 through May 18

Plus various sales sitewide and throughout stores.

West Elm

Save 20% on select dining furniture; save 25% on select bedding, rugs, curtains, pillows, throws, and bath items; save up to 40% on outdoor furniture and decor; enter code BESTBUDS at checkout to save 15% on select vases with purchase of Bouqs Bouquet; save up to 60% on various clearance items sitewide and throughout stores.

Williams Sonoma

Save up to save up to 20% on select outdoor cooking and dining essentials; save up to 50% on select cookware; save up to 50% on Nespresso coffee and espresso makers; save up to 60% on select electronics; save up to 75% on various clearance items; plus get free shipping on all orders over $49.

Zales

Save up to 50% sitewide and throughout stores; save up to 60% on various clearance items; order by May 10 for free shipping on most items.

Readers, please share with us your experiences with any of the Mother’s Day deals we’ve listed. And if you see any we’ve missed, please let us know by posting about it in the comments section below.