Here are five ways to save.

Food: Are you serving lunch or dinner? Meats and barbecue items go on sale around Memorial Day, so stock up when you see great deals, even if it means freezing food till June. Look for crockpot-friendly foods—great for feeding large groups. Or put Dad and his buddies on grill duty for hot dogs and burgers while you take care of the sides – save $1.00 now on sweet potato fries!

Beverages: To make things simple for your guests who are coming and going, have soda, juices (save $2.50 on Welch’s) and bottled water on ice (try using kiddie pool as a giant-sized cooler). However, since that can get expensive, limit the amount of convenience beverages you purchase and also brew some sun tea, make lemonade and serve ice water in pitchers.

Cake: To save on dessert, buy a small decorative cake that you can use as a table centerpiece, then place a few serving platters of cupcakes and cookies (save $1.50 now) around the room—easier for both you and your guests (no cutting and serving) and less expensive than purchasing large decorated sheet cakes.

Decorations: Instead of spending money on streamers, balloons and other party store swag, frame the art projects and school pictures you’ve saved over the years and hang or set them around the room. Find inexpensive frames at the dollar store.

Tableware: Skip the grad-themed tableware and buy plain plates, napkins, cups, etc. in school colors instead. It’s typically cheaper, plus it’ll be more colorful. Cover tables in white butcher paper and leave markers out so that guests can write a “congrats” message to your new grad.

Looking for inspiration? Check out our Pinterest board of Graduation Party Ideas.

• This will require a little advance planning, but ask each student in your son or daughter’s class to write a poem or draw a picture, then put them all together into a scrapbook. Save 40% on a scrapbook from Joann’s.
• Fill a small basket with apple-scented soaps and lotions for a twist on the classic apple theme. We like the Country Apple line from Bath & Body Works (save with these coupon codes).
• Spray chalkboard paint onto a terracotta pot and have your child write a special message on the pot. Fill it with flower bulbs or herbs.
• Create a summer survival kit. Fill a canvas tote bag with a beach towel, sunscreen (save $1.00 now) and magazine. For a personal touch, kids can use fabric paint to decorate the tote.
• Give a bouquet of flowers in a vase fit for a teacher with this idea we found on Pinterest. Take a circular vase with straight sides and glue colored pencils or your classic number two pencils vertically around it. Use measuring tape to tie a bow around the vase.

Final Word: The best gifts for teachers include a personalized message from your child. With the gift, encourage your student to write about a favorite lesson, a field trip they loved or a significant school year memory.

1.  Flowers in a Reusable Container.  If you can’t personally deliver flowers to Mom, send the next best thing – a professionally arranged bouquet.  Rather than sending flowers in a traditional vase, why not try a white ceramic pitcher like this “Fields of Europe” bouquet from 1-800-Flowers?  Mom can use a gift like this all year round.

2.  Hire Help.  One of the best things you can get Mom is some extra time.  A service called TaskRabbit does this by providing trustworthy individuals who can do a variety of tasks from picking up groceries to building furniture.  Buy Mom a gift or post a task on her behalf – what’s something that she’s always talking about doing, but hasn’t done yet?  Save $10 on your post by using coupon code ILOVEMOM (expires 5/14).

3.  Will Travel for Mom.  A visit to Mom – whether it’s a few hundred miles or a few thousand, is quite possibly the best gift you can give.  There’s many great travel coupons and deals this month so take advantage of them.  Book a flight and send Mom the itinerary.  Or, if you know that Mom has been dying to go to Paris, why not buy her an American Express Travel gift card so that she can finally take the trip she’s always dreamed about?

Want more ideas?  Check out our promo page for more ideas on creating a memorable Mother’s Day (there’s still time).

Here are our Top 10 favorites.

• A journal or calendar of 52 of your favorite memories about your mom—one for her to read each week over the next year.
• A frame with “now” and “then” photos—one from when you were a child and she was a young mom, and one of the two of you now.
• A collection of favorite family recipes from all the generations. (Icing on the cake if it includes photos.)
• A new iPod that comes with a playlist of her favorite music that you remember from your childhood.
• A candle made out of her grandchildren’s melted down crayons.
• Her children/grandchildren’s artwork in a frame.
• A recurring appointment added to her iCal for a call or a Skype date with you each week. (Put it on yours, too, so you don’t forget.)
• A morning to sleep in as long as she likes.
• A new ringtone with all the kids yelling, “We love you mom/grandma!”
• A clean car—get it washed, detailed and filled up with gas.

Want more DIY ideas or a little inspiration for your inner crafty self? Check out what we’ve found on Pinterest.

But before you start writing, think about the possibilities—what would YOU do with $1,000? The first place our minds went is “shopping spree,” of course. But there are several other fun ways to celebrate Mom, as well. Here are a few of them:

A day for family. For many moms, “family time” equals cooking, cleaning, and a variety of other mom-like duties. With $1,000, you could hire a cleaning service for a few months and give Mom a much-needed break. Let someone else do the heavy lifting while your family treats Mom to a new outfit (complete with designer shoes), wines and dines her at her favorite restaurant and enjoys a family-sized “staycation” with local walking tours, a movie matinee or trips to an art gallery.

A day for relaxing. What’s a busy, hard-working mom really need? A few minutes of peace. With $1,000, you can give her 24 hours, at least. Rent a hotel room at a luxury hotel in your city, stock her room with her favorite beverages and snacks, leave a new iPad on the table and give her iTunes credit to load it with music and apps. Book her a massage and facial at an onsite or nearby spa then top it off by paying for her room service.

A day for indulging. Mothers are notorious for putting themselves last when it comes to spending. So what about giving your mom the $1,000 Visa gift card with one stipulation: She has to spend it all on herself.  New clothes, cool shoes, a designer handbag, new home décor, a spa visit, a nice bottle of wine, apps or books for her iPad or Kindle, music for her iPod, and the list goes on—she could indulge her tastes and spend money on herself without any guilt or buyer’s remorse!

Don’t miss your chance to enter this fabulous contest and then ask your friends to vote. You could make this a Mother’s Day to remember.

BREAD. The average price of white bread in the U.S. is $1.40 per pound, and for whole wheat it’s $2.06. This is a slight decrease from a year ago for white bread, but up 16 cents for wheat. That’s because Americans are trying to incorporate more whole grains into their diet.

In the Midwest, white bread costs about $1.28 per pound, less than the national average. However, it’s easy to find sandwich bread on sale anywhere, often for as little as 99 cents a loaf. Coupons can help you save on specialty bread, too, like Ecce Panis Bake at Home Bread.

RED DELICIOUS APPLES. The national average price per pound has stayed consistent at $1.28 this year, and it’s slightly higher in the Midwest. In some heavily populated cities such as Los Angeles, we found Red Delicious Apples for as little as $0.77 a pound, a 40% savings from the national average. FYI—California, Michigan, New York, Washington and Pennsylvania are responsible for the majority of apple production.

MILK. Milk costs an average of $3.50 a gallon across the country and $3.86 in the Midwest. June happens to be National Dairy Month, so you may see more sales on milk then than usual.

EGGS. On average, large Grade A eggs cost $1.78 a dozen—in the Midwest, just $1.44. According to the USDA, eggs are the most volatile when it comes to price. When the recession began in 2008, eggs reached a peak price of $2.20, more than double their cost in 2002. If you want to gage how the economy is doing, take a walk down the egg aisle.

BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST. Boneless chicken breast averages $3.18 a pound nationally and $3.24 in the Midwest. We found boneless chicken breasts on sale for $4.99 per pound in Chicago, much higher than the average. Yet, that same exact brand of chicken was $1.97 per pound in a L.A. grocery store owned by the same supermarket chain.

National Average vs. Midwest

Final Word: Bread and eggs are less expensive in the Midwest, but apples, milk and chicken breast are more expensive.  Living in a smaller town doesn’t necessarily mean smaller grocery bills. For the best savings, shop store circulars and use your coupons.

Where: Bliss
Why: Not only can you buy high-quality spa products for mom to use at home, Bliss also carries other brands that’ll help mom look and feel her best.  For a limited time, when you spend $95+, use Bliss coupon code ILOVEMOM at checkout and you’ll also receive a free tote filled with deluxe samples.  Alternatively, use coupon code TAKE20 to get 20% off your entire order.  You also get free shipping with every $50+ order.

Where: Things Remembered
Why: Moms love sentimental gift and nothing says heartfelt like a beautiful bracelet, vase, or even digital frame that has your personalized message engraved.  Use Things Remembered coupon code TRSPRING15 to save 15% off your entire order.  You’ll also get a free flower engraving as well as a free keepsake box with any $25+ order.  Orders $100+ also ship for free.

Where:  1-800-Flowers 
Why:  If you’re going to send Mom flowers, send her a beautiful bouquet that has been arranged professionally and hand-delivered.  Of all the different offers out there, the best one we’ve found so far is this 1-800-Flowers coupon code for free shipping and no service fee (a $14.99 value) with code EARLYMOM.  All of the flowers include something extra such as a vase, basket, or tote. Prices start at just $39.99.

If you’re looking more more ideas on creating a memorable Mother’s Day, be sure to check out our $1,000 Facebook Contest and DIY Gifts & Recipes on Pinterest.

• This month, score deals on cookware, china and small kitchen appliances like blenders or coffeemakers. Basically anything that would make a good graduation or wedding gift will go on sale.

Extra tip: The prices may go down even further throughout the month, so save receipts and take advantage of price adjustments.

• Nab a deal on a mattress in May, especially around Memorial Day weekend. Stores are making room for new inventory, plus they’re expecting graduations and weddings to boost business, so they’ll try to stay competitive.

Extra tip: Don’t automatically purchase the box spring paired with your favorite mattress. A high-end mattress on a lower-priced box spring will likely work just fine.

• Chocolates and flowers and jewelry, oh my! These gift ideas will go on sale as families prepare to pamper mom on Mother’s Day.

Extra tip: There are coupon codes galore. Right now, save 15% on Mother’s Day-themed cookies, cakes and more at Cheryl & Co.

• Fire up your grill, it’s BBQ season. In preparation for Memorial Day, expect sales on condiments, soda, charcoal and other BBQ essentials.

Extra tip: Need grilling supplies? Retailers tend to offer deep discounts in mid-May and early June to entice shoppers away from their competitors.

• With all the parties and celebrations on tap, look for stores to discount decorations and disposable dining products (cups, plates, tablecloths, etc.).

Extra tip: Pair coupons with in-store sales for the biggest savings.

Final Word: In May, people are graduating, celebrating, planning weddings and preparing for vacations. If a product screams new home, new season, new life event, look for it to go on sale this month.

• For the best deals, buy the most seasonal items. Right now, look for asparagus, cauliflower, potatoes and root veggies, wild mushrooms, rhubarb, cherries, artichokes and lettuce.

• Shop late (or in bad weather) for the best prices. The best produce will disappear right away, so if you have your heart set on something in particular, it pays to wake up early. Otherwise, go later in the day when vendors lower prices to boost sales.

• Get to know your favorite vendors. They may reward your loyalty eventually with discounts or little extras. Also, bring small bills. Many farmers’ markets are cash-only operations, and vendors will appreciate the ones and fives.

• Shop around before you buy. If several farmers are selling the same fruits and vegetables, compare price and quality. Sometimes larger farms will get prime market real estate (closest to parking or highly visible) and will charge a little more.

• Chat it up. A huge benefit of a farmers’ market is the chance to ask about the food—how it was grown, how to cook it, and whether it’s coming in or heading out of season. Also, find out what the farmer expects to bring to market next week so you can budget accordingly.

Many people wonder if it’s worth it to buy organic. Here’s a good rule of thumb: Generally, the more water something absorbs, the more pesticides it may contain. Every year, the Environmental Working Group lists the Dirty Dozen and Clean 15—produce with the most and least pesticides. To find out more about these lists, visit www.ewg.org.

 1. Clean up and rake. Winter can leave behind a lot of leaves, twigs and other debris. Clear it away to help your lawn and garden breathe. The occasional leaf isn’t a big deal, but piles can lead to mold or decay.

Frugal tip: Add leftover organic materials to your compost pile, which can later be used in your garden. It’s cheaper to make compost than to buy it.

2. In your garden, clear away weeds and aerate the soil. Get rid of weeds as early as possible and then loosen the soil—this makes it possible for oxygen to reach the roots of the plants. In smaller areas you can use hand tools, but if you have a large garden, a rotary cultivator is the way to go.

Frugal tip: If you need to rent an aerator, coordinate with your neighbor and split the cost.

3. Prune trees. Fruit trees especially need to be pruned in order to carry fruit. This involves removing dead branches or cross branches that rub against each other. Branches that point straight up or inwards should be removed, as well.

Frugal tip: Pruning requires work, but your tree will produce a lot more fruit if you take care of it. This means savings at the grocery store.

4. Trim the hedges. Hedges with leaves should preferably be trimmed in early spring. Conifers are better trimmed during the growing period, one time early spring and once more in the middle of the summer.

Frugal tip: Need a new trimmer? Check out these coupon codes for lawn and garden supplies.

5. Cut and aerate your lawn. Don’t cut the grass too short. When you mow only a third of the grass leaf each cutting, you can safely leave clippings that will decompose and add nutrients to the soil. Also, altering the direction you mow means a more even cut since grass blades will grow more erect and not develop into a set pattern.

Frugal tip: Keep your mower blades sharp—you’ll reduce fuel costs and get a cleaner cut.