It's nearly mother's day! And what better time to buy your mom a present!

But what? Chocolates are always a good idea - but maybe she's on a diet. Flowers are sweet - but not if she has allergies. And a lot of the traditional gifts are rather unimaginative.

Besides which, your mom is an individual. She's your mom and not someone else's (well, of course if you have brothers and sisters, she's someone else's, but let's not quibble). So you want to put some thought into finding just the right present.

DIY Mom or Outdoors Mom would love a Leatherman - defined as what a Swiss Army knife wants to be when it grows up. This multi-tool comes in a number of versions, with knife, pliers, screwdriver, and many more useful tools included in a neatly foldable tool. You can customize the colors, too, so it doesn't have to come in matte black.

Gourmet Mom probably has all the tools she needs, but she'll love it if you can find some really good ingredients like Szechuan pepper, truffle cream, dried mushrooms, vanilla bean paste, or Thai basil. You could also buy her a premium selection of different teas or coffees to enjoy.

Home Baking Mom is a bit different. She'd probably appreciate something new in the kitchen, like Pastrymade's lovely decorated rolling pins, or a new shape of cookie cutter, or a new recipe book. She'd love a set of Bonne Maman French jams and conserves ('Bonne Maman' is 'lovely mom' in French, by the way).

Arty Mom might like a coloring book, or some paints (why not a collection of her favorite color in watercolors?), or a silk scarf with Monet's waterlilies or Van Gogh's Starry Night on it. Or you could get her exhibition tickets if there's something she wants to see.

And for Rocker Mom? Don't get her anything pink, unless it's a crash helmet, or a pair of pink Doc Martens boots! (Doc Martens do some fantastic florals, too.

A little bit of thought will make any present extra special. If you know your Mom's favorite flower then try to find a piece of jewelery that includes it or is in the same color; if you know her favorite scent then a scented soap or better still a toiletries package might be what you're after.

And of course all moms like a bit of pampering - though for some, that might mean a set of essential oils they can use, for others, scented candles or a bottle of special botanical gin. (A friend's mom only drinks whiskey, so he always gets her a bottle of vintage Scotch from her birth year - it's getting quite expensive by now, though!)

But remember, we all have a few things we keep secret from our moms. What she doesn't have to know if you don't tell her is that you got her a better present for less money by looking for a discount offer on Vipon!