Mother’s Day in 2012 falls on March 18 with mums around the world set to be spoiled and pampered by their loved ones. If you want to make sure you treat your mother to the special day she deserves then it is best to think ahead, instead of just buying the dregs of the cards from the supermarket on the day before. With money tighter than ever for families up and down the UK, special occasions can often be a stressful time rather than an enjoyable one with fears over how to pay for the celebrations leaving a dark cloud over the event.

But with a bit of thought and some forward planning, there is no reason why you should let money worries spoil Mother’s Day – after all, the day should be about showing your love and appreciation for your mother, not just splashing the cash. Here are some simple tips to make your Mothers Day 2012 celebrations as affordable as possible:

Plan ahead

It may be easier said than done for some people but make a note of the date now and don’t let April 3 creep up on you without preparing anything in advance. Try putting a little bit of money aside every month to save up for a gift, dinner, or a day out so you are not lumbered with the entire cost of it from your April pay packet. You can find some great deals if you order things in advance as well, instead of being stuck with over-priced gifts and less choice if you are doing some last-minute shopping.
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I pour myself another cup of coffee and start to get very excited as I add milk and sugar to the dark essence of purified Heaven. I recently quit alcohol, and coffee and cigarettes have proved to be a life-saver. There’s a problem though: I couldn’t sleep because I kept feeling things crawling all over me, so I hopped on the computer and made myself a huge pot of the finest blend acquired from the lovely people at my local café (one of about 10 in the one block).

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