• The ultimate gift, ready for Mom to open.Indeed/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  
  We all appreciate our moms, but sometimes it's difficult to find the perfect gift that expresses that sentiment. The right present must acknowledge the hard work and sacrifice that your mother goes through on a daily basis, along with conveying the very love you feel for her. When choosing your gift in a tight economy, it is imperative to have inexpensive options.
  
  

Photo Gifts

• Find an old, sentimental photo in the attic.woman holding a photo image by forca from Fotolia.com
  
  Photos are highly personal gifts. Whether the image is refurbished or straight out of the camera, you can adjust your gift to meet your style and spending plans. If the opportunity arises, sneak up to the attic and score an old, forgotten image. Pictures of mom's great-grandfather could be paired with a fashionable frame. Or grab your camera and take your own shots of that newest grandchild, nephew and puppy and make a calendar.
  
  If you are proficient with digital imaging software, change the background, add family members who were not in the original image or create virtual matting.
  
  The market abounds with photo gifts. Online and department stores that specialize in photo finishing now offer products on which you can display an image, including mugs and calendars, as well as jigsaw puzzles, woven and picnic blankets, canvas and wall art, clothing and stationery.
  
  Personalizing photos has never been easier and can be tailored to suit any budget.
  
  

Write a Story, Poem or Book

• Write a story, poem or book for Mom.Pictures of glasses resting on a notepad, image by Albert Lozano from Fotolia.com
  
  For many decades, children have run home from school, clutching a poem written for Mom on the occasion of Mother's Day, but now the digital world has opened up a whole new and exciting approach.
  
  You can easily assemble digital books with online software, which will arrive in the mailbox within a couple of weeks. These are bound in hardcover and the customer has full control as to the quantity and layout of the photos and text inside. But daunting it is not. This software is so user-friendly that even the least savvy customer can be a skilled layout artist. There are many templates to use and, if the customer is able, she can build her own.
  
  Create a story of Mom's history, her grandchildren or her companion animals. There is no limit.
  
  This is a relatively inexpensive project and accomplishing it gives great satisfaction to the bearer as well as the receiver.
  
  

Time to Herself

• Nothing shows appreciation like time to herself.bath #5 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
  
  As much as our moms love looking after us, it's imperative that they have time to themselves for recharging. Perhaps there is no more perfect gift than to afford her just that.
  
  If budget allows, mom getaways -- ranging from a single night at a spa, to a weekend dude ranch to a one-to-two-week specialty cruise -- would refresh any mother.
  
  But, if you need to count pennies and there is no one to look after young children, then the time has come to put your imagination to work.
  
  Think about what gives the mom in your life the greatest relief from everyday stress. For many, it's the ability to not have to think or plan dinner, remember to drive children to rehearsals, take the dog to the vet or work out the week's budget.
  
  If time is precious, plan an afternoon or even an evening for her to spend alone. Take care of all chores and cook dinner not only for the rest of the family, but also for her. Rent a "chick-flick" that she loves and watch it with her. Then pour her a bath filled with bubbles or a bath bomb in a room lit with aroma-therapeutic soy candles.
  
  Although an evening that is just for mom costs very little, she will most likely remember it as one of her favorite gifts.