What to buy a 50 something woman

[Pippin2028]

I am relying on the wisdom of all you lovely MN. I have a relative to offer an olive branch too, it is a birthday but i don't know what to buy. She is not really into beauty or pampering, but she has quite alot of junk so I want to get something decent but useful and not tat.

Theatre tickets or spa for you to catch up?
It doesn’t sound like a catch-up would be likely to bring either party much pleasure. I’m not sure this relationship has legs

I am 58, and not into "beauty and pampering". Amazon voucher would be good, but Lakeland would get me salivating.

How about a 50 year old hot man?

Hubba

I'm 54 and wouldn't want any of the stuff listed, I'll choose my own experiences and stuff that I have around me so about all that I'd welcome would be a decent sized book token.

I'm 40s but would cry if you bought most of the stuff here, especially a scarf.

Why not buy a real olive tree?

OP - I wouldn't want any of this 'stuff'. I also wouldn't want to renew our friendship especially if you need to ask on the internet what I might like.

As this thread has shown very clearly you can’t generalise that all women (or men) of a certain age range or gender will like similar things. I would be very, very hurt and/or pissed off if someone bought me a scarf or a reed diffuser or Prosecco or many of the other things suggested here - hurt because it would show me that they didn’t know me at all and had just bought a generic ‘old Woman’ gift and pissed off at having to be gracious and grateful for a total waste of money and resources.

Someone recently did buy me an unexpected gift that was EXACTLY what I wanted and not a waste at all. I later discovered that she had secretly liaised with my daughter to find out what I would like. That’s the sort of care, attention and thought that should go into buying a present.

I'm mid sixties. Would hate a 'spa day'. In fact any gift that requires me to put in some kind of effort is out (experiences, trips, theatre etc). I like sitting on my fat arse enjoying myself on my birthday so something special to eat or drink (champagne, spirits, good wine, not cheap and nasty prosecco), some tasty food and an amazon voucher so I can chose a good book for my kindle.

I’d like tickets to the theatre, but not (please god) to a musical, I’d prefer Shakespeare or something Nordic and dark. Or very expensive chocolate, but nothing with salted caramel or coffee flavour. A beautiful piece of kitchenware, but not something I already have a nice version of (Anthropology always have lovely versions of mundane things). An interesting cookbook that suits what I’m interested in now, probably vegetarian, not baking, we don’t seem to eat cakes nowadays. A really perfect pair of slippers (warm but not sweaty, not mules, soles good enough to nip outside). A voucher reeks of “don’t know what to buy but feel this is an appropriate amount of money for what I did”. Your problem is that you don’t seem to know the person you are buying for very well. Good luck.

If you bought me a reed diffuser or scented candle it would go straight to the charity shop. A spa day would never be used or be given to my DD.

@littlecatfeet

Throwing knives Worm farm Cowboy boots Ham radio equipment Lifesize cardboard 'standie' of (young) Pierce Brosnan

I think this post sums it up really!

It’s all about knowing the person, age is irrelevant and sounds like you really don’t like the person.

For me
Cashmere socks
Amazon voucher
Cheese board with knife and cheeses

I know you said she wasn't into beauty stuff but I crave posh hand sanitiser that comes with a moisturising element in it so that my hands smell good and feel soft after I've santised them when I'm out and about.

I asked for (and got) a staple gun for my 50th birthday.

It's a very good staple gun, much better than I would have bought for myself.

Too many people give wine- I don't drink it, so it goes into a cupboard with what I would call 'the rest of the tat' (also includes cheap candles, cheap beauty sets etc).

Flowers are always appreciated, but they're not olive branch level I wouldn't say.

Ooh-how about extending loppers for the garden?

I’m 50 in a few weeks. I’d like
A Dry Robe
A swimming wetsuit
Ortlieb panniers
A good lambs wool jumper in China blue
Red wine

I would not like vouchers for anywhere, a hamper of anything,scarves, multiple small gifts (if I want/need lipsalve, teabags, moisturiser etc I know what I like and where to get it.), plants, Prosecco,perfume, candles or anything to do with gardening.

If you owe this lady an apology, visit her or ring her and apologise in person.

I think a 30 year old hot man should be returnable

Shock horror, we're all different. Some 50 year olds would like a spa weekend. Some would like a reed diffuser. I'd like a plane ticket to Italy or a surfboard, or a book token. (Oh, and a 50 year old hot man - my cradle snatching days are behind me.)

@Shodan

I asked for (and got) a staple gun for my 50th birthday.

It's a very good staple gun, much better than I would have bought for myself.

Too many people give wine- I don't drink it, so it goes into a cupboard with what I would call 'the rest of the tat' (also includes cheap candles, cheap beauty sets etc).

Flowers are always appreciated, but they're not olive branch level I wouldn't say.

Ooh-how about extending loppers for the garden?

I just remembered that for her 50th my sister got an axe! 😂

If you want a relationship offer meal vouchers, and maybe a date too meet up.
The roses from Tesco that are growing are good for under £5.

50?

Anti-depressants
HRT
A picture stating 'relatives are meant to be seen, not heard'
If she's got teenagers, a separate garden cottage
If she's got a dh, a shotgun (or axe as pp) and a new patio
Then the 30 years old eye candy.

Otherwise a subscription for tea, coffee, cheese whatever she is in to.

I’d phone and offer an apology if I needed to offer an olive branch - I can’t think of a gift that says “sorry” in and of itself. I’m 50 next year and oddly enough I’m not planning on shuffling off to old lady land any time soon.

I would love something given specifically with me in mind, otherwise a nice card and a thoughtful note would be fine. But fix the relationship first.

I always feel if I can't have what I really want (a pony) then books or dvds off my wish list will do nicely.
I'm 52 and still nobody has bought me a pony

I’d like an Irish Wolfhound rather than a pony, I think. I’ve always wanted one.

I'd like some custard cream biscuits, some cat litter and a nice fossil.

How old are you, OP? And what did you do that means you have to offer an olive branch?

Cashmere scarf
Olive Tree
Sourdough Bread Making Course
A Craft Day workshop
Audible subscription and headphones
Beauty Pie subscription
Case of Wine
Hotel Chocolat Subscription
David Austin Rose voucher
Manicure voucher
Cheese selection
cashmere socks
sheepskin hot water bottle
NT membership
Wetsuit
Sundial
Tickets to a major exhibition next year
A book of great circular walks
Beautiful Flowers
a meal

But you know her best!