Looking for something different from the usual chocolates and flowers? Try these ideas for Mothers' Day gifts with lasting value.

And if you're a mum yourself... it never hurts to drop hints.

This charming mum
Silver and gold will never go out of style, but charm bracelets are particularly hot this year - the style pages of Harpers & Queen magazine are dripping with dinky little trinkets and Whistles and Tiffany are doing a roaring trade in them. Start her off with a simple gold or silver bracelet, then add a charm every Mothering Sunday for a present which grows in value every year.

Hoarding truffles
If your mother is a chocoholic but would prefer to see her assets grow rather than her hips ­ indulge her in some shares in a chocolate company. As a sweetener you can throw in a £30 gift voucher if you invest in 200 Thorntons shares - click on www.thorntons.co.uk to check out the share prices.

Click on www.londonstockexchange.com for practical advice about buying shares.

It was a very good year...
... to grow burgundy grapes in 2000. You could to worse, says Paul Milner of wine merchants Berry Bros and Rudd, than invest in half a case of Domaine des Perdrix Echezeaux Grand Cru for £198.18. You won't double your money ­ but you could make enough profit over five years to justify cracking open a bottle.

But tread carefully, go through a reputable wine merchant or financial adviser and beware of wine scams ­ plummy-voiced, silver-tongued con merchants have been cold-calling people, promising to sell them a cellar and leaving them high and dry without so much as a hangover. Doctors are prime targets apparently ­ because they are considered to have good savings but poor financial acumen. You have been warned.

Find out more at www.bbr.com and www.investdrinks.org.

Disclaimer While every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy at time of publication, this information may be subject to change. Always consult your financial advisor.