How to save on Mother’s Day flowers

Many florists hike their prices at this time of year – I’m sure I can’t be the only one who shudders when checking out the cost of a bouquet online. Fortunately, there are ways to say it with flowers on Mother’s Day and make your mum feel deservedly special, even when your budget is modest.

Flowers by post. There are some excellent florists and companies providing a postal service. You order online and the bouquet is dispatched in a pretty box. Shop around and you’ll note that the prices can be significantly cheaper than hand-delivered flowers. The downside is that your flowers (obviously) won’t arrive on Mothering Sunday itself, but will have to be delivered the day before.

As always, price and quality can vary dramatically between suppliers. I have two recommendations. The first is a Nottinghamshire company called Bunches.co.uk, from whom I have purchased flowers on a number of occasions now. The prices are excellent, the bouquets have always been as pretty and as luscious as they look on-screen, and the service has always been first-class. (Note: the last order date is the morning of Friday 28/03/14 – so get in quick.)

My second recommendation is to go online and check out supermarkets and department stores, many of which have online exclusives in addition to selling flowers in-store. In the past, even in the run-up to Mother’s Day, there have been discounts and deals on offer. Last year, for example, you could get a giant bouquet of 100 daffodils and purple tulips from Marks & Spencer for £25 – and I see the same offer is available this year too.

A DIY bouquet. Present a hand-tied bouquet costing a fraction of the shop-bought price. Pick flowers from your garden, or buy a couple of those cheap little bunches of daffodil buds in advance, from a supermarket or florist, and wait for them to bloom. Arrange the flowers into a tightly-packed bouquet with the largest bloom at the centre, and the stems at a 45 degree angle (you can find more detailed instructions here). Wrap with tissue paper or brown parcel paper and tie with string, or secure the stems with a large red ribbon.

Go for something different. Last year I rounded up some of the quirkiest and prettiest homemade gifts for Mother’s Day here. My favourites include a souped-up vase of daffodils: paint an empty jam jar with enamel paint, then decorate with the grandkids’ handprints. If you will be with your mum on Mother’s Day and are planning to take her breakfast in bed, do check out this flower-themed version with bacon, eggs and a fruit salad cut into daisy shapes. It looks amazing.

Published in association with first direct, which has asked me to share some of my thriftiest ideas and inspirations with its customers.

Image credit: flubdr.