50 gifts for a 50th birthday

[PurpleSock]

My auntie turns 50 in July and she's been like a mum to me since my own mum died when I was a teenager so I want to go all out for her birthday

I was thinking about getting her 50 smaller gifts that I could maybe make into a hamper (or maybe gift separately depending on what they are) but I need some inspiration.

I also don't want to fall in the trap of getting cheap rubbish just because it's cheap and I need to get the number of gifts up

Any suggestions or recommendations would be great, for background, she works in a school full time but not a teacher, and dotes on her 3 grand children, she also speeds a fair amount of time caring for/helping out her mother in law and is the most wonderful loving and generous person I know and I really would like her give her something wonderful back after all she's done for me!

It is a lovely thought but am the same age and again a, going to echo what the others have said. I’m going through a major get rid of stuff sort out and most of the things on the lists people have posted don’t really appeal.

Would love tickets to go somewhere with you if I were your Aunt, you sound lovely.

Magpie do some lovely things at great prices in their outlet store:

www.magpieline.com/shop/outlet

I did that for my best friend for her 21st. 21 presents. It was so hard to think of things. The first 10-15 were ok but after that I struggled. It’s a lovely idea but 50 will be difficult.
You could get one of those multi picture frames and do 50 photos for 50 years? Like a collage of her life?

You'll end up with tat, OP. Just get one really nice gift. Nobody wants fifty tiny presents, ffs.

I did this for DH's 30th and it was a nightmare. Took me ages to put together and there was a lot of filler. Should have just spent the cash towards a weekend away or something. I doubt either of us could tell you 10 of the things now.

50 gifts is going to be a huge faff to put together and there's absolutely no way you are going to get high quality, worthwhile stuff for every item. Some of the suggestions are great but a travel mug is at least £5, voucher for a pedicure £20, nail polish £3+, dressing gown £15+, scarf £10+. Even if you call it an average of £5 per item that's £250 😮 Is there something you could spend £250 on that would be more memorable, enjoyable or useful? A weekend away for the pair of you, some jewellery, commission a piece from a local artist etc?

Nobody wants fifty tiny presents, ffs

I would!

The danger is that you end up with 50 meaningless bits of tat and the thoughtfulness of the gift is lost in a drift of wrapping paper.

Even if you only spent £1 on each thing, you’re still spending a lot of money on nothing that special (although the idea is). Personally I’d spend that £50 on something more special. But to do the 50 presents thing you could make an advent calendar type thing (I’ve seen them made out of match boxes..) and add a chocolate, little photo, a note about why you love them etc into the drawers.

I've had my 50th not that long ago, and tbh, 50 gifts would have done my head in. At 50 there's not alot that you still need. You'd be much better gifting an experience, like a spa day/massage/posh meal out.

Apart from the (to me) pointless expense on unexciting everyday items, the thought of someone else (even my dearest niece) choosing fifty items I’m supposed to like/enjoy/use makes me decidedly twitchy. Because I’ve lived long enough to Know What I Like. And to prefer to choose my own notebooks and seeds and tea strainers.

Also. Clutter. Indescribable Clutter.

My SIL is queen of the hamper gift concept, but I think it can be more fun for the giver. We did 8 gifts for MILs 80th. That was hard enough but varied from pot plants and quirky vintage things to a DVD box set and concert tickets (the big present).

I'm 50 this year. I would wince at 50 pieces of tat, sorry! I can hardly bear Christmas presents as it is. At this age I know what I like. A gift voucher for a lovely sewing shop (that's my thing) or something personal like a piece of original art or jewellery would be lovely.
Could you do a photo book of 50 memories if you've known her that long?
It is a lovely thought but might be hard to manage in practice.

I did 40 for my sister's 40th.
I included photos and an album.
Nice wine etc a scarf a pen etc

Thank you all for your quick replies so far! Some lovely ideas particularly Notso and Rkay for those lists!

Apologies for not mentioning but yes will likely be combining gifts from my dad(so auntie's brother) and my younger brother who although lovely people, are a bit rubbish with gift ideas

Porridge has it spot on, inexpensive and meaningful is exactly what I was hoping to achieve

I also really like some of the ideas given for things that would be free (or almost) photographs, notes about memories sec and suggestions of things I could make! Although I'm not at all crafty, I'm willing to try!
I'm also pretty good with graphics/Photoshop so could do a few from that angle too,

Thank you all so much again!

My friend's grandmother turned 80 recently and he got her 8 books. One book from each decade of her life. I thought that was a lovely, meaningful gift and she was over the moon.

This is such a good idea! I shall be stealing it, my Dad is 70 next year.

@Purplesock I had a collage made for Dh for his 30th. All the important people in his life up to that point are in it in pictures with him. (Also included sils even though they definitely are not important😂one pic each)
Anyway the girl who did it kind of blurred the edges of the photos so there are no lines in it. Happy to pm you a pic if you’d like? It wasn’t very expensive and he loves it

1 x £30 item
2 x £20 item
5 x £10 items
20 x £1 items
2 x £3 items
15 x multipack items totalling £6 (e.g. pens)
5 x free things e.g. voucher for coming over to cook dinner etc

That's doable - total cost £150. If you want it cheaper, do more multiipack things & free vouchers of things that just cost you time

Sorry, I should have said, my post was more for people who said It's not possible - it really is, and a lovely idea I think.

A Poundland mug with a posh teabag.
I'm sorry, I just wouldn't want that.

I think this is such a lovely idea. Favourite magazine, face pack, mini wine and prosecco.
Nice lunch box for work travel mug.
Glasses case.
Keyring (I.e cath kidston)
Considering time of year - beach bag and travel items.
Hair voucher

I like the book per decade idea too.
Maybe pick 5 or 6 interests you know she has and do several items for each theme. Say if she likes growing house plants then get 3 nice pots, 3 sets of seeds, bag of potting soil and little trowel (so that's 8 items there) or if into books a series she has always liked could easily be several of that 50 (eg Lord of the Rings + Hobbit = 4 gifts) .
Personally I could quite easily think of 50 things I would like but I would insist on writing a list of the 50 things and handing it over!

I did this recently for a friend , who appeared to appreciate most of the gifts!
Had some Stupid ones but actually tried to give her stuff she would like.
Little bottles of gin and tonic, scarf, necklace, bath salts , bath bombs, a book she wanted, bamboo socks, a memory book with pictures, very nice chocolates, stuff to laugh at ( baby Cham from the 1970's) posh earl grey tea a leaves and a tea pig/ strainer, nice mug, pen things that were useful as she is a teacher, nice moisturiser , a watch, but also daft things like a Tony Hadley cd. I am 50 next year so was careful that I did not put anything too crass in it.she appeared to like it, I think it's the thought that counts but try to get stuff she will use or eat rather than crap. At 50 most people have got what they really need but sometimes for birthdays we want stuff that we would not buy ourselves and it's just nice that people have cared enough to think about you. We did it as a joint present from a group of friends.

What about a compromise?
A gift for each decade?

I’m over 50 and I would really hate this. I’d rather have one nice thing.

I like the books from each decade idea. You could do the same with film or music.

For a previous boyfriend's birthday I made him CDs of every number 1 on his birthday since his birth. He loved it. But I guess it would only work with a music lover?