I know this lady who almost received a new La Germania gas range oven that cost around P20,000 last weekend, but opted for a P400-bunch of yellow calla lilies, homemade paper cards and lots of hugs and kisses. The P20,000 went into the family savings.

Do you think she’s…

a) nuts
b) a miser
c) sensible
d) smart

With gas already at P50-something per liter, rice prices higher by more than P10 since the crisis began and everything else going north, I would be surprised if inflation hasn’t curbed spending for Mother’s Day. In fact, mothers were most likely the ones who discouraged lavish celebrations!

Read our personal finance article: Inflation cramps Mother’s Day celebrations.

Excerpt below:
Inflation cramps Mother’s Day celebrations

By Chupsie Medina
INQUIRER.net

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, searching for that ideal gift poses one big challenge. Skyrocketing inflation compounded by continued hikes in crude prices have turned cost into a major consideration.

Stores big and small are now enticing gift-hunters with just about anything – from the cute to the fabulous. Restaurants too are sprucing up.

For some Filipinos, cost hardly factors as an issue. Cecille Yap, a doting daughter, quips: “Mothers are priceless, so it doesn’t matter if times are hard.”

This year, as in previous years, she will still make time to buy something for her mother. She doesn’t mind purchasing something more expensive, thanks largely to a bigger disposable income.

Those who feel the constraints of rising fuel and food prices, however, are resorting to more creative gifts. Koni Macapagal, 28 and single, plans to stay the whole day at home with her mom.

“Time with her is something that I have not been giving lately. I’m like a boarder in the house,” she proffers with a guilty grin. She feels this gesture will be better appreciated than the unforgettable little things she had given in previous years.

Here are some ideas for financial and non-financial gifts for Moms, some of which are based on true stories:

1. Zero out or at least pay a portion of her credit card debt. (Based on a true story)
2. Buy her a good timeshare in a good company or hotel chain.
3. Placement in a mutual fund or unit investment trust fund
4. If she’s still in her 20s to 30s, shares in companies that are sound and secure. Retail treasury bonds are also an option.
5. If the budget is tight, breakfast in bed with toast, jam and freshly squeezed juice is always a hit.

One year to plan for another successful Mother’s Day.