Brits are gearing up for a year of celebrations, with a new survey by VoucherCodes.co.uk, the UK’s most trusted voucher site, revealing just how much the nation plans to spend on special occasions in 2025 – and the numbers are surprising.
With an average of £2,007 set aside for celebrations, it’s clear the UK loves a good festivity. But, the data highlights some interesting trends – especially when it comes to showing our parents some love. Brits are proving they’ve got a clear preference for treating mum over dad!
Spending more on mum or dad?
When it comes to parental appreciation on their respective days, Brits are ready to splash a little extra cash on mum. On average, the nation expects to spend £80.94 on Mother’s Day, compared to £70.85 on Father’s Day.
However, generosity isn’t evenly spread across the nation. Surprisingly, 46% of Yorkshire and Humber residents claimed they would spend nothing at all on Mother’s Day, and those from the North West expect to spend the highest amounts, with 3% of residents planning to spend over £900 on the special day.
Mother’s Day gift ideas under £25
1. LEGO blooms:
Looking for flowers with a difference? You can gift an everlasting bouquet with the bonus of buildability with one of the sets in the LEGO Botanicals collection. They’re available at a range of price points, with several under £25 – including the LEGO Botanicals Mini Orchid (£19.99 at Very). Shop around to find the best price for your chosen bloom. And then build it together for an even more special Mother’s Day moment.
Look up the latest very good Very vouchers.
2. Birthstone jewellery:
Represent Mum’s family in sparkling gems with a Family Birthstone Link Bracelet (£25) from JOY by Corine Smith via Not on the High Street. Each month is represented by a different stone, so pick the corresponding gems for your mum and you/your siblings/your kids, and then Mum can keep representations of her kids/grandkids/loved ones close by. The price includes three Swarovski crystal birthstones on a silver plated bracelet. If your budget stretches beyond £25, you can add more family members for an extra £4.50 per birthstone, or pay to upgrade to a gold plated or sterling silver chain.
Check out current Not on the High Street money-savers.
3. Bathtime pampering:
Give Mum the gift of relaxation with the Restoring Bath Collection (£25) from Neal’s Yard Remedies. She’ll get three foaming bath formulas with different scents and different effects, so she can pick the perfect pamper option to suit her mood. There’s Geranium & Orange to relax and uplift, Seaweed & Arnica to relax and revitalise, and an Aromatic blend to bring a sense of wellbeing. Aaaaand relaaaaax.
Discover our pick of Neal’s Yard Remedies offers.
4. Cream tea hamper:
For the quintessential teatime treat (without you having to do all the work!), The Cream Tea Hamper (£22.95) from The Cornish Company is a tasty Mother’s Day gift that’s sure to delight. It comes with free delivery and a free Cornwall-themed gift card with your personal message. Oh, and not forgetting the delicious four freshly baked plain scones, four strawberry conserve jars and four Cornish Smugglers Brew black tea bags, along with Rodda’s cornish clotted cream, Furniss Original cornish fairings biscuits and clotted cream shortbread biscuits. The bonus is you’ll get to enjoy it too (if Mum shares)!
Mother’s Day gift ideas – that don’t cost a thing
1. Breakfast in bed:
It’s a classic for a reason, and breakfast in bed can be the perfect start to your Mum’s special day. You can present her with her favourite morning meal or surprise her with something more unusual using what’s already in the fridge/kitchen cupboards. Just remember to pop a handmade card on the tray too to really melt her heart. BBC Good Food has plenty of Mother’s Day breakfast ideas to inspire you.
2. Home-baked sweet treats:
Perfect for the Mum with a sweet tooth, nothing quite says I love you like a tasty homemade bake. If there’s a family recipe that’s been handed down, or a treat you used to make together, that’s the perfect choice for Mother’s Day. Raid the cupboards to see what ingredients are ready and waiting. If you need ideas, check out Baking with Granny to find easy recipes for crowd pleasers like rocky road, flapjack and school cake.
3. Homemade paper bouquet:
Rather than splash out on a bunch of real flowers that will wilt within days and cost double what they would the following week, you can make an everlasting bouquet of paper blooms to present to Mum. You don’t need much equipment at all – just some paper, scissors and glue. To see how simple it can be, watch the Easy Paper Flowers DIY YouTube tutorial by Origami Studio, which is under a minute long and shows an easy yet effective technique for an impressive floral display.
4. Heartfelt letter:
This one is all about the emotion, the memories, the gratitude – and getting it all out in a thoughtfully written missive that Mum will no doubt shed happy tears over. You don’t need to have beautiful handwriting or fancy stationery for this, just write from the heart and show Mum just how much she means to you.
5. Make a playlist:
If you and your Mum have special songs, put them together in one place so she can enjoy the tunes and think of you whenever she hits play. You can make a free playlist using any of the usual suspects. If you’re in the market for a paid account, check out the best deals at Amazon Music, Apple Music, Spotify and YouTube.
6. Movie afternoon:
Mums often just want to have fun with their kids, and snuggling up on the sofa under a blanket watching a feel-good movie is a wonderful way to bond. You could get the popcorn in and/or a selection of sweets. The biggest treat for Mum in all this? Letting her choose the film for once! You could set-up a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime Video, or if you want to get a new streaming service make sure to see what savings there are to be made first with the current codes for Disney Plus, Netflix and NOW.
7. DIY spa day at home:
Get the cucumber slices ready! You and Mum can get your best dressing gowns on and get your spa on at home with DIY treatments you can whip up with ingredients from your fridge. Eating Well has the lowdown on DIY spa treatments you can make in 10 minutes – honey-avocado face mask, anyone?
8. Time together vouchers:
If what Mum really wants is quality time with you, you can promise her this through a collection of ‘vouchers’ that she can ‘cash in’ at a mutually convenient time. For example, ‘Walk in the park’ or ‘Coffee shop catch-up’ or ‘Day trip to a museum’. Or it could be things that you’ll do for her, like ‘Foot massage’ or ‘Bring the wine!’. Write them out on little pieces of card and pop them in an envelope (or clean glass jam jar) to make it something gift-able. You could even draw a doodle on each one!
Celebratory spending
Overall, Brits intend to spend a whopping average of £2,007 annually on celebrations. From heartfelt gifts to big celebrations, Brits are ready to splash the cash across a range of occasions this year:
- Birthdays are to be celebrated in style with an average budgeted spend of £245.48.
- Valentine’s Day comes in at £84.27, outpacing Mother’s Day by £4.
- Parents are budgeting £105.35 for the back-to-school season.
- Easter celebrations will see chocolate lovers spending an average of £95.84.
- Halloween enthusiasts are planning to spend £59.60 on spooky festivities.
Christmas is set to see an average spend of £371.44, with those aged 65+ spending the most on average (£428.64). Weddings will also make a notable dent in wallets, with people spending an average of £145.35, though younger Brits are more likely to splash out to treat the happy couple.
Birthdays remain a top priority, with the average spend coming in at £245.48, while spending on smaller events like Halloween and Valentine’s Day tends to be a little more modest. And, men tend to spend more than women across most categories, with notable exceptions being birthdays and Christmas, where spending is relatively similar between genders.
What’s clear is that no matter the occasion, us Brits love a reason to celebrate, and this year, they’re ready to make the most of it!
Spending smarter in 2025
Outside of seasonal events and celebrations, here’s what Brits are planning to splash the cash on (and what’s getting the boot) this year:
Holidays are the top priority for 37% of Brits this year, with one-third planning to spend more on trips than they did last year. It seems Brits can’t resist a good getaway – the average holiday budget comes in at £709.26, with beach holidays (24%), European holidays (17%) and staycations (16%) the top choices.
However, holidays aside, Brits are being sensible with their spending in 2025, as a one-fifth plan to prioritise home improvements (21%). On the renovation radar are sprucing up bedrooms (20%), outdoor spaces (20%), and living rooms (18%). Additionally, 10% of Brits will prioritise buying a home in 2025, with the number rising to 20% for 18-24 and 25-34 year olds.
Food and dining are the nation’s third biggest spending priority (13%) with a whopping 64% of people planning to eat out at least once a month, and another 65% planning to order a takeaway at least once a month.
Hunting for deals like pros
In 2025, Brits are turning bargain-hunting into a hobby. Before making a purchase, like a Birthday present or wedding gift, 41.6% of us plan to shop around for the best deals, and 34.5% are all about tracking down discount codes before making a purchase.
Where are we looking for these savvy savings? Trusted voucher websites and brand pages are the top searched spots for scoring deals.
And it’s not just about saving money – nearly 19% say they feel a little thrill every time they snag a discount.
Anita Naik, savings expert at VoucherCodes.co.uk, comments: “Our data shows a clear trend that when it comes to seasonal occasions and celebrations – Brits are sparing no expense. Whilst people are using deal-hunting tactics and careful planning to make every penny count in other areas of their lives, when it comes to treating our loved ones, we’re willing to go all out.
“No matter what event you’re spending on, there are some easy ways to help you keep costs under control. Firstly, the earlier you shop the better as this will give you plenty of time to hunt out bargains, shop around and compare prices – no more panic buying! You can also pick items up as you go. If you see a good price on something that would be perfect for an occasion, don’t wait until nearer the time, make the most of the deal. Lastly, always check VoucherCodes.co.uk as there you’ll find savings on everything from gifts for Mum and Dad, the Christmas food shop, and even summer holiday activities.”
