80 presents for 80th birthday...help!

[tessiegirl]

My nan is shortly turning 80 and I wanted to try and come up with 80 presents for her
Is it possible?!
Presents can be small and cheap to some which can be more expensive...
Can anyone please help with ideas?

I hope she has a lovely birthday and feels really spoilt x

A bag of 20 marbles. We have a long running joke that she’s worried about losing her marbles so this was to replace any when she starts losing them - maybe considered tat by some on the thread but provided lots of laughs and as she used to enjoy playing them when she was young, she taught her grandchildren to play against her and they all had a lovely time and made lots of happy memories together, they live in her games cupboard and still come out at family gatherings to be played by all generations so well worth it on several levels for the fiver they cost (making it more like 25p each for these 20 presents).

That is a pretty good idea, tbf.

So let's assume OPs Nan doesn't want a bench, spa treatment or family party. Instead perhaps she has said I would really like 80 presents for my birthday....from everyone. OP just needs to work out what those things might be, talk to other family members. Any of these suggestions might be appreciated/appropriate. They don't have to be expensive, actual things either. OP I hope you have found some ideas to work with and that you all enjoy the big birthday.

But if my plan was to buy my Nan 80 gifts and I knew she would really want and love this.
I wouldn't need to ask for help in choosing gifts as I would be able to name 80 things she would like

Yes...but if that were the case for OP she wouldn’t have felt the need to post here, would she?

Anyway @tessiegirl I hope you’ve had some good ideas and that whatever you come up with is just right for your nan!🌷

@quarentini

But if my plan was to buy my Nan 80 gifts and I knew she would really want and love this. I wouldn't need to ask for help in choosing gifts as I would be able to name 80 things she would like

Exactly. How can you claim someone would “love” this when you haven’t a clue what to include and need inspiration from strangers?

Argh I’ve just agreed with the very point you were making! Honestly I only had one cup of coffee today, and it clearly wasn’t enough!

Time for a glass of wine to get the old brain going again! 😉

I recently had a milestone birthday and one of my favourites was a milestone number of challenges. Not saying you have to do 80 of them but a few 'challenges' as presents might be ok? I'm thinking of things like visit your favourite place with your favourite people, write a diary every day for a year, take a picture every day for a year, etc. No pressure ones, but ones to make her 80th year memorable!
Good luck. 80 is a lot

Ah love the idea of a penny from her birth year. I think my nan would like that

Saw my mum today and we exchanged idea lists...we are going for It!

No good taking nan out for meal, theatre as she has been shielding and so nervous about going too far from home. In other years we would have definitely done this so hence the need to think outside the box and make it a birthday to remember!

The final gift could be her birthday cake with 80 on it?

@myotherusernameisonholiday

I recently had a milestone birthday and one of my favourites was a milestone number of challenges. Not saying you have to do 80 of them but a few 'challenges' as presents might be ok? I'm thinking of things like visit your favourite place with your favourite people, write a diary every day for a year, take a picture every day for a year, etc. No pressure ones, but ones to make her 80th year memorable! Good luck. 80 is a lot

I really hate gifts that mandate that I do something!

Gifts should be about people doing things for me!

Ok, well you're going for it.

I don't think you've said what her interests are? That might help with ideas

It sounds wasteful and overwhelming.

Sponsor 80 children

I really hate gifts that mandate that I do something!
Gifts should be about people doing things for me!
I won't argue with that!

Those things always sound like a good idea but in reality 80 gifts will be expensive for the sake of opening 80 items.
Do 80 memories of you stick them in a jar and buy one or two really lovely gifts. At 80 years old she surely doesn't want or need 80 random things.

I love the idea of a photo book with 80 photos/ memories but my grandma and DH’s grandparents would have found 80 presents incredibly overwhelming to have to open and find a home for.

BluebellsRock

My god, that list 🤦 I'd cry, I'd honestly cry

It just sounds awful it really does. Does she have a huge house? 😳

@VanGoghsDog

"I really hate gifts that mandate that I do something!

Gifts should be about people doing things for me!"

Fair point I really liked the challenges as I've been stuck in a massive rut and needed a kick to make me do something, but I think you're right and it totally depends on the recipient!

See the 20 marbles, that would be one present in my mind, cheating! 🤣

@Loveisthehope

BluebellsRock

My god, that list 🤦 I'd cry, I'd honestly cry

Me too. It's just awful. It's all about the idea and not what the person actually receives. I'd bag the whole lot up next day and charity shop it. And then cry at how my family, after all these years, didn't 'get' it.

The person who said that for people in their 80s, it's about family time and company, had it right. 'Things' are a burden for me already, and I'm 15 years younger than OP's gran. My 60th was wonderful because those in my life understood that without me needing to day a thing. My work team took me out for afternoon tea at a really fancy country house restaurant. My daughters took me away for the weekend, and made me a photo book of memories. My SIL organised an extended family get together. All just wonderful and personal.

The idea of even 60 random cheap gifts that I don't need and would add to the clutter in my house, would have had the opposite effect. The gifts I had made me feel loved and understood. 60 items, the majority of which I'd bin or charity shop? I'd have wondered what on earth my relationships with these people had been about. 80, and I might well just break down in tears by the time I'd opened number 10.

Don’t do it, it won’t be welcome.

Op you know your nan, so you know if this is something she would love.

My Nan would of hated it and been cross at the fuss, my grandma would of loved it. We did something similar with scratch cards (something she loved) flowers, favourite sweet treats, beauty products, magazines etc. Quickly added up to a higher number.

saraclara that's nice that your family know you. That's how it should be. But not everyones tastes are the same. I wouldn't want an afternoon tea or a big family gathering. I would find them boring. I would much rather have 80 nice little gifts of things I enjoy and get pleasure from. None of it would be 'tat' or 'random' because in my family no one ever buys things like that. Why would we?