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Each year, many doting grown children dip into their savings to shower their moms with the perfect Mother's Day gift. This year, Mother's Day spending is expected to reach $33.5 billion, according to the National Retail Federation.
You may be more than happy to spend some of your hard-earned money on a gift for your mom. But what if she's a person who's tough to shop for?
If your mom doesn't tend to enjoy classic gift items like chocolate, flowers, and jewelry, you may be at a bit of a loss. But rather than stress, there's an easy gift you can purchase that might really make your mom's day -- a Costco membership.
A basic annual membership at Costco costs $60 a year. Or, you could upgrade your mom from the start and buy her an Executive membership, which costs $120 for the year but gives her 2% cash back on her Costco purchases. No matter which membership type you choose, here are three reasons why it could be the perfect gift.
1. You won't have to worry about cluttering up her house
If your mother is the type of person who doesn't appreciate clutter and likes to own a minimal amount of stuff, then she probably doesn't want another vase, photo frame, or kitchen gadget. The beauty of a Costco membership is that you're not giving her an item that takes up space -- you're giving her an opportunity to buy low-cost items during the year as she sees fit.
2. She can enjoy ongoing savings that are all attributed to you
Whether your mom is an avid cook or spends as little time in the kitchen as possible, she's apt to need groceries at some point, not to mention household essentials like cleaning supplies and paper towels. The great thing about the gift of a Costco membership is that your mom will get to save money on her purchases year-round, thereby easing the strain on her budget. And every time she's able to spend a bit less, she's likely to think of you and smile.
3. Your mom can always cancel if she's not happy with her membership or doesn't use it
If you buy your mom a sweater that doesn't fit and she doesn't make it back to the store you bought it from within 30 days to return it, she may be stuck with it. On the other hand, a Costco membership is something you're never really stuck with. If your mom decides she doesn't want her membership, or she comes to realize she's not getting great use out of it, you can cancel and get refunded. Granted, at that point, you may feel compelled to come up with a replacement gift, but that's a different issue.
This year, instead of spending $70 on a Mother's Day floral arrangement or $100 on a gourmet gift basket, consider buying your mom a Costco membership. You can go here to purchase a membership gift card online (you'll want to get two $60 cards if you're trying to give the gift of an Executive membership). Otherwise, see customer service at your local store.
And if she ends up loving that membership, guess what? You've just solved the problem of what to get her for Mother's Day for many years to come.
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We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
