Mother's Day sales: what to expect

It might not be the best time to score a bargain, but strategic shopping can still save you a bundle on that perfect gift for Mom. Here are some things to watch for.

Mother's Day is just around the corner! Since traditional gifts like flowers and jewelry are in high demand before the holiday, it's unlikely that you'll get the very best prices. However, our research shows there are still Mother's Day deals to be had, if you know where to look. Make your mama proud and read on to find out which gifts will offer big savings in 2015.

Non-Traditional Mother's Day Sales Offer Unexpected Bargains

The usual Mother's Day gifts are great, but they're not necessarily great for your mum. Luckily, we've seen a rise in sales from non-traditional sites in recent years. For example, last year Newegg took up to 80% off a selection of laptops, tablets, and other electronics during its Mother's Day event, while BuyDig slashed prices on certain items by up to 82%.

Even Best Buy got in on the mom-gadget action, including tablets and smartphones alongside more traditional gifts in its sale, which took up to 62% off regular prices. If you're shopping for a techy mommy, look for Mother's Day sales from merchants like these to start up about a week before the holiday.

Accessories (Not Diamonds) Are a Mom's Best Friend

As we mentioned in our buying guide, jewelry prices start going up in May. Keep that in mind, because we also typically see an influx of jewelry store coupons around the holiday — so even if you get a discount, you might not be getting a deal.

Instead, you can placate your fashionista mother with a shiny new handbag or shoes. Last year, 6pm discounted more than 9,900 clothes and accessories during its Mother's Day sale, with prices slashed by up to 85%. Meanwhile, perennial mom-favorite Vera Bradley had a coupon that took an extra 20% off sale items for the holiday, and Macy's trimmed 25% off Micheal Kors handbags. The only caveat with these sales is they tend to take place on Mother's Day itself, or a couple days beforehand. Savvy kids would be wise to call their moms and tell them to expect a package in the mail!

"Forget" the Flowers

Last year, we saw a few extremely short-lived sales from retailers like 1-800-Flowers that took up to 40% off select Mother's Day bouquets. However, we saw a lot more credits for flower delivery sites. With deals like "$15 for a $30 credit" and "$20 for a $40 credit," these offers from merchants like Amazon Local and Groupon are akin to getting a half-off discount on arrangements. Rather than paying a premium for Mother's Day flower delivery, you may want to grab a credit now and send her a "late" bouquet. (Sorry, moms!)

This Mother's Day, you don't have to settle for a call or a card. Getting your favorite mom a thoughtful gift is easy when you know where and when to shop!