My first instinct was the bag. You just get so much joy from a bag, even if it's really just in rotation for one season. You look at it all the time and it will be so easy to be seen in it by your Mom.

The bag would be my second choice. I have leather bags from the 1980s. I do still wear the jewellery.

I would go for the bag or the necklace. That way your mum can see you wear and use it. The boots are a practical choice, but the bag or necklace seems more special/indulgent, like a gift should be.

Cocolion, that's true. My mom would see me using it when I visit her.

Style Fan, I guess my style in bags could change, just as it could in jewelry. It's wonderful that you're still wearing the jewelry, and thinking of your own mother as you do.

Brooklyn, I think the bag is winning, not just in the responses here, but in my own head.

This is a great question because I am struggling with this issue as well. I don't want to spend the money frivolously. I want whatever I buy to be something meaningful and substantial.

I like the purse the best of the choices I saw in your thread.

Sterling, thanks! I'm trying to not be frivolous either. I've loved the scarf since we saw it in the museum gift shop years ago. It's not very expensive, but we had a kid in college and a scarf was low on the list of priorities. Since then I've gone grey so the color might not be as good now.

I noticed the bag maybe a year or two ago. I've never seen the brand in real life so I have no idea how the leather is, or the zipper, etc. The design seems very clean and modern to me.

I have a silver necklace with pieces of turquoise every inch or so. I like that style and thought a more neutral looking necklace might be nice. I love the turquoise one and wear it a lot.

I would sooooooooooo get those boots!

I would definitely go with a classic piece of jewellry. The necklace is nice, but I would personally go for a full pearl necklace or a pair of pearl earrings as it is timeless and money well spent! Maybe a nice perfume along with that and it would make it the ultimate luxury present to yourself!

BC, which pair of boots?

Eleanor, I love pearls! I have pearl earrings and necklace. But now that I'm grey I would LOVE some Tahitian pearls. Unfortunately they are out of my budget.

I hesitate to add more input as you have received quite a bit. But my PHILOSOPHY to your question is that I personally would spend the money on something I would NEVER spend such $$ on. Therefore making it a truly special gift. Are any of the three items something you typically would not buy or spend the $$ on for yourself? If the answer is yes then I would buy that item. If the answer is no, is there something else you might consider as a purchase?

JAileen. I hope you'll let us know what your final decision will be. Whatever it is, I am sure it will be perfect for you and your Mother will be proud.

Personally, I would spend the money on something that would always remind me of the person who gifted me the money. Something that I would hold onto for a while if not forever. When I was younger my godmother gifted me money and told me that I had to buy something with it instead of saving it. I bought a pair of small sapphire (my birthstone) earrings when I was 17 that I still have and wear to this day (I am 60). I always think of her when I wear them.

I HAVE THAT SCARF! It was a Christmas gift from DH. I can speak to the colour--I am VERY cool toned (Winter) and can't wear any beige or yellow. That does not stand out in this scarf at all; what does is the blues. I have worn it to tie together or complement shades of blue or navy or denim. It adds a bit of lightness or neutral to a monochromatic outfit. And the pattern layout (waves at the ends) makes it easy to show off the print, or just the colour, as desired.

Mtnsofthemoon, I probably wouldn't buy the necklace. I was just on Etsy and found another necklace I really like..

Sterling, I'll post what I eventually buy.

Danusia, sapphire is my birthstone, too! How wonderful that you've worn those earrings for so many years! I love sapphires, but don't have any.

L'Abeille, that is great to know! I love the image. I have several woodcut prints of the local mountain from my childhood, Mount Tamalpais (in SF Bay Area). The artist's style is Japanese inspired and he did 28 views of Mt Tam just as Hokosai did of Mount Fuji. I think that's why I like the scarf so much.

I'm a magpie, so jewelry always gets my vote.

I don't know what would work best for your feet, but I love the boots in pic#3. All of them are great, though!

Thistle, jewelry is very tempting!

BC, yes, those boots are very nice. I also really like the ones in 1. I haven't tried any of them on, or even seen them in person.

In a similar situation, I bought a very sentimental necklace. Five years ago, when I turned 50, both my father and my grandmother gave me money and I combined those gifts and purchased a necklace depicting a dove and LAUREL. It came with a card describing the symbolism "Doves represent loving constancy, as well as peace. The laurel in the beak symbolizes good health." As it turned out, it was my last birthday with my father, and so the necklace is especially dear to me. My grandmother, who is now 101, lives nearby and enjoys seeing the necklace as much as I enjoy wearing it.

So, my vote goes to buying something special with the money which will remind you of the giver.

Laurel, that's a lovely sentimental piece. BTW, I love your name. If I had had a girl, Laurel was a possibility.

I thought long and hard on this topic. I could not come up with anything "special enough." So I changed strategies. I decided to spend the money upgrading my athletic capsule. All new workout gear will inspire me to work out on a regular basis. I will consider money spent as an investment in my overall health. I consider it a win-win.

Sterling, that is a big change!

I was afraid of this: this hard and taxing shopping (just kidding!) has made me want all of my suggested items. As I said earlier, I've ordered the bag along with its baby cousin, AND a necklace on Etsy (see below). And of course now I think I need snaky booties. Oh my goodness..