How to Shop Smart This Mother’s Day: 6 Gifts That Reward You Too

Mother’s Day is just two weeks away. While the brunch reservations and flowers are lovely, I’ve always believed the best gifts are the ones that feel both personal and smart. This year, Rakuten is making it easier than ever to give generously and earn meaningfully at the same time.

From May 5 to May 12, Rakuten is hosting “Big Give Week”, featuring 15% cashback at top stores, right on time for Mother’s Day shopping. And the cherry on top? They’re offering their biggest referral bonus of the year: $40 for every friend you refer who signs up and shops. Just in time for thoughtful gifts, spring refreshes, and maybe even summer travel planning.

Whether you’re shopping for your mom, your partner, your kids’ grandma or treating yourself, this is the perfect week to turn everyday purchases into cashback or American Express Membership Rewards (Amex MR) points that unlock incredible future value.

What Is Rakuten?

If you’re new to Rakuten, here’s the quick version: It’s a free site that partners with thousands of online stores to give you cashback when you shop through their link. If you hold an Amex card that earns MR points, you can switch your cashback to MR points instead, $1 = 100 point. Those points can go way further than cash when redeemed for premium travel.

• Related Reading: Unlock Big Rewards: The Ultimate Guide To Earning More With Rakuten Online Shopping

Gifts That Feel Good And Give Back

One of my favorite things about Mother’s Day is not just the giving. It’s the conversations that happen around the gifts. Sometimes it’s the kids trying to surprise me (and picking shocking pink), and other times it’s a quiet dinner with my mom where we share stories over a cup of tea and admire a bouquet we built together. That’s why this year’s gifts feel extra special. Each one is something I’ve either loved receiving, gifted myself, or plan to give. And thanks to Rakuten’s 15% “Big Give Week” promotion, each purchase turns into cashback or Amex MR points, which I later use for travel, upgrades, and more.

Here are six meaningful and thoughtful gift ideas to plan for Mother’s Day. Let’s start with a favorite:

LEGO Icons Wildflower Bouquet

If you’re looking for a shared experience, the LEGO Icons Wildflower Bouquet is perfect for building memories, not just bricks. Whether your mom is a nature-lover or just appreciates a quiet afternoon crafting something beautiful, this gift becomes a moment. My daughters and I love building sets like this together. It’s one of those “accidentally deep” times where the real joy is just being side by side.

Buy on LEGO – $59.99: With 15% cashback promotion, you will earn $8.99 cashback or 899 Amex MR points

Supersonic Nural Hair Dryer

A few years ago, my girls gave me the Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer for Mother’s Day. It came in a hot pink / gray combo they picked themselves. Every time I use it, I smile at the memory, but I’ll be honest, the newer Jasper Plum edition is elegant and chic. This isn’t just a gift, it’s a luxury upgrade that saves time and energy daily. One of my favorite gifts I’ve ever received.

Photo Credit: Maria Fung. One of my favorite things about Mother’s Day is not just the giving. It’s the conversations that happen around the gifts with the kids. Sometimes it’s the kids trying to surprise me (and picking shocking pink like this).

Buy on Bluemercury – $499.99: With 15% cashback promotion, you earn $74.99 cashback or 7,499 Amex MR points

Book the hotel stays for your upcoming vacations with mom on Hotels.com

While planning our trip to New Zealand’s South Island, we couldn’t find great points hotels, but the local boutique stays were magical. This is where Hotels.com became a game-changer. You don’t always find high cashback on Hotels.com through Rakuten shopping portal. This time it will jump to 15% from 1-3%, so start planning for your upcoming stays.

• Queenstown Park Boutique Hotel. This is the hotel we have stayed before. If you book on Hotels.com now, the suite in the low season it is $375. This means you could earn $56.25 cashback or 5,625 Amex MR points
• A suite in Unwind Otaru, Japan. You can plan to book on Hotels.com when “Big Give Week” starts. Currently it is approximately $420 per suite which accommodates 4 persons. You will earn $63 cashback or 6,300 Amex MR points

Make sure you plan for refundable bookings. So there’s flexibility built in which is perfect for families still locking in summer or even Spring Break 2026 plans.

JBL Authentics 300 Speaker

For something that delights the ears as much as the eyes, the JBL Authentics 300 Speaker is one of the most charming tech gifts I’ve seen. While I still adore my Bose (thanks to my Dell statement credit from Amex Business Platinum), this speaker won me over with its retro design. It’s the soundtrack to dinner-prep, weekend mornings, and wind-down podcasts. If your mom loves good sound with good style, this is it.

Buy on JBL – $349.95: With 15% cashback promotion, you earn $52.49 cashback or 5,249 Amex MR points

KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer

The KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer is a staple in our home. From Lunar New Year dumplings to birthday cakes, this mixer has been part of my and so many family moments. It’s not just a gadget, it’s a workhorse. With 15% cashback promotion? It’s a great time to invest in a gift that truly keeps giving.

Buy on KitchenAid – $499.99: With 15% cashback promotion, you earn $74.99 cashback or 7,499 Amex MR points

Book an tour, an experience, airport transfer on Viator

If you’re planning a trip with Mom, don’t sleep on the value of Viator tours and transfers. I’ve used them everywhere from Sydney to Queenstown, and they’ve delivered every time. My favorite? A private jet flight over the Southern Alps and Milford Sound, which is unforgettable. With Rakuten’s 15% cashback promotion, it’s the perfect time to book those memory-makers.

Book on Viator – $406 per person covering private jet and cruise in the tour. With 15% cashback promotion, you earn $60.90 cashback or 6,090 Amex MR points

Why I Use Amex MR With Rakuten

I personally link Rakuten to my Amex Business Platinum, because Amex MR points are the currency I use for our family’s international trips. Here’s a real-life example from our recent travels:

I booked two Japan Airlines business class seats on Cathay Pacific using Amex MR points earned through a mix of Rakuten, credit card sign-up bonuses, and spending.

• The cash value of those tickets? $12,000
• The points I’ve used? 178,000 MR points

That’s a redemption value of 6.7 cents per point, far beyond the typical 1 cent / point rate many people settle for. When you look at that through the lens of everyday purchases, like Mother’s Day gifts or hotel bookings, you can tell that’s why I treat Rakuten as part of my travel strategy, not just a cashback site.

Photo Credit: Maria Fung

Don’t Miss The $40 Referral Bonus

Even if your gift shopping is done, there’s still more to earn. From now through May 12, 2025, Rakuten is offering $40 for every friend you refer who signs up and shops. There’s no limit during “Big Give Week” promotion. If 5 people sign up? That’s $200 cashback (or 20,000 MR points, depending on your setting). If 10 friends join? That’s $400 cashback, or your next premium flight halfway paid. It’s a simple way to earn even more, just by sharing something that’s truly useful.

Final Thought: Celebrate Her, Reward Yourself

Rakuten’s “Big Give Week” promotion is more than just a shopping event. It’s a reminder that thoughtful Mother’s Day giving and smart earning don’t have to be separate goals. Whether you’re shopping for Mom, booking your next adventure, or simply want to make the most of your spending,15% cashback and a $40 referral bonus is a combination worth acting on.

But don’t wait, and start planning. The Big Give Week starts from May 5, ends May 12, on Mother’s Day itself. Because the best gifts give twice: once to someone you love, and again to the journey ahead.

• Maria’s Referral Link: Register Rakuten account

• Maria Fung is the founder of Maria Points The Way. She helps families how to simplify award travel and turn points chaos into seamless, luxury journeys to Asia. Visit mariapointstheway.com for expert tips, insider strategies, and premium award travel insights.