How to Shop Online for Mother's Day

Mother's Day has only been a national holiday for a century, and its impact has been incredible. Every year we thank our moms with cards, flowers, gifts and even a trip to the spa. When you need to get a present for your mother on Mother's Day you have a few choices. Walking into the store is always a possibility, but if your mom lives across the country you might want to just shop online.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Pick a budget. If you shop online with a specific price cap in mind then you can narrow down your choices in advance and make finding a gift much easier. Don't be afraid to go a little over budget, however, if you find a perfect gift for a few dollars extra.

2. Determine what type of gift you'd like to get. If you're planning on buying her beauty products then you'll likely find the best deals at a specialty store. Department store websites like Macys.com are great for when you're still undecided and want to browse to get ideas (see Resources below).

3. Create an account with the online shop you choose. Most websites now require shoppers to create virtual identities to store shipping and contact information. Be sure to create a unique, complex password to help prevent identity theft.

4. Shop online at QVC.com for Mother's Day (see Resources below). QVC has an incredible selection of products ranging from beauty to technology, with great sales on gifts for mothers year round. QVC has a great return policy, too, should your mother not like your gift.

5. Get flowers for your mom from 1800Flowers.com (see Resources below). Flowers are a great all-round gift, as well as a terrific idea for a supplemental gift if you decide to get something else. In addition, through 1800Flowers.com you can have your flowers delivered right to your mother's door without having to worry about them dying en route (they are cut fresh at a shop near her).

Tips & Warnings

• Try to time your purchase with sales that happen around Mother's Day. It's not uncommon for certain products to go on sale as the holiday approaches. Beauty and relaxation products (massages and foot baths, for example) commonly go on sale around the time of Mother's Day.
• Shop online early for Mother's Day if you're concerned it will not arrive in time for the holiday itself. Most ground delivery services take between 3 and 5 business days to arrive, and overnight delivery can be very expensive, especially for heavier packages.

Resources

• Shop online at QVC.com
• Macys.com for gift ideas
• Flower selections from 1800Flowers.com