What do you actually want for your birthday?

[Ireallywantsomechips]

Maybe something people wouldn’t think you would like?

Maybe something that’s actually really simple?

Maybe something crazy out there?

Am I shamelessly hoping I can steal some gift ideas for my dear mothers upcoming birthday? Yes I am!

I would really love some new pots for my garden. And candles, I actually love candles but no one ever buys them for me…maybe I wouldn’t love them so much if they did 😁

An experience!! Memories > measurable things. What about a nice spa day or afternoon tea?

Ooooh, thanks very much. A bottle of port ta... And a lovely bunch of carnations. AND a massive box of maltesers.

I’d actually like something that I wouldn’t buy myself because I’m too tight. Like Aesop hand soap, for example. I can afford Aesop hand soap, and I spend the same amount as Aesop hand soap costs several times a week on rounds of drinks at the pub. But I still just can’t bring myself to spend that amount of money on hand soap.

Is there anything like that for your mum?

I would like a really nice picnic blanket.

Also keen on candles and really lovely soap, although no one ever gives me them- i think they think they’re too generic but they’re not if they’re actually what I want.

Cookbooks

Olive oil

Emma Lacey mugs.

A lovely home cooked meal.

Perhaps Putin's head on a silver platter with an Apple i-phone 14 shoved in his mouth. Here mate......How's that for creative?

Another who likes a candle!

I’ve had my eye on one of those rings that looks like a diamond ring but is made of something else??? Always advertised to me on Facebook and I’ve got to say I’m tempted!

Skincare that’s too expensive to justify spending on myself!

Basically any fancy consumable. Or an afternoon tea.

I’m glad there are other candle people too! I do think people think it’s too generic of a gift.

I also love experiences over material items.

I wanted some naice skincare for Christmas because I couldn’t think of anything else. I still couldn’t bring myself to ask because I know I’d save it for “best” and never end up using it

Definitely going to cook mum dinner. I’ve done afternoon tea before but this has led me to pottery making or painting together! So that’s an idea!

Also if I had Villanelle type skills Putins head would be a winner! @Zuffe

I’d like some expensive hair oil please and a massage voucher for our local spa.

Lunch out would be nice too!

Experiences are great but you have to be really sure what they will want to do. Have seen too many chaps grimace their way through falconry experiences etc to think that the only thing stopping them doing falconry experiences before was lack of funds 😭 Also some experiences are only really fun for two- could you do something together?

lovely leather gardening gloves.
ruinously expensive secateurs.
5 tonnes of manure*

*I would not expect this to be wrapped.

A new timer for our boiler with clear buttons like our old one.

I’ve asked for a meal out for my birthday. Actually two. One with extended family and one just me and dp. Otherwise I like to get expensive skin products (the ones I actually use rather than just random ones), if I get them for birthday and Christmas I basically never have to buy them
myself.

Nothing, because fuss about birthdays is for children, not adults.
But, if there has to be a gift, definitely an experience rather than more junk taking up space in the house - so an art gallery membership, gin making, theatre tickets, go out for dinner etc

My birthday list (it's coming up soon) is:

• travel yoga mat
• gardening vouchers to spend on more houseplants
• a shelf for the bathroom to put said houseplants on

I've become a bit obsessed with houseplants

I like posh soap , doesn’t have to be that posh , the Savon de Marseille are really good , just not the chocolate 🤢

I also want an armful of bangles , have a look in antique shops I had 3 silver bangles for my last birthday , they were about £30 each

I wouldn’t like an experience ( hot air balloon 🙀) or an afternoon tea , I would like a facial and a nice cake though

i don’t know what your budget is , I would like a cashmere pashmina though

A planter for my favourite houseplant that is like a little head, so the leaves look like the hair. That would amuse me every day.

A picture. Either a lovely photo or art. Problem with art though is that it's so subjective so i'd probably want to choose it, even if it's just a poster thing.

I'd want a good massage.

Olaplex/K18

I want time to relax with a book. Or time with the gift giver, as someone said above, maybe spa or afternoon tea or museum/art gallery/whatever.

Homemade cake in my favourite flavour/s

This time of year, fancy tulip bulbs

I never understand people who think that birthdays and christmas are for children. I appreciate that my loved ones were born and are still here and i'm more than happy to celebrate them. It's nice for that to be reciprocated too. No wonder those miserable people say that having children brings them back their childhood, they got rid of it themselves. Sad really.

I’m really boring but always like a voucher for a massage or spa. Things that I would never be able to justify buying for myself

I got a new handbag for my birthday. I was happy with that

I do prefer a gift that I can do rather than keep- afternoon tea, massage etc as I have a lot of stuff and don't need anything else (except new handbags if DH is paying )

I love candles too and always have to buy them for myself.

Here are some other presents I love to get:

perfume, nice skincare or body lotion, voucher to get my nails done, things for my house such as pictures to hang, ornaments or cute tea pots or cups.

a pair of wireless headphones or a new hairdryer

easter eggs if your birthday is this time of year

chocolates or wine, books, fancy notebooks or pens

a new handbag or purse

I love having the chance to go for a meal or drink with my DH. We had a breakfast date planned for today that we had to cancel because our daughter is sick but we might try do it another time.

It’s my birthday today so that’s why I’m full of ideas. Luckily I did get some of the things on my list 😀

My list of 'things I can afford but haven't bought because they're expensive and I don't need them'.

Desi Kitchen cookbook by Sarah Woods, but it's over £22 and I know it will just sit on the shelf like all my other cookbooks while I google recipes.

Plus some vintage style gin glasses, but we have more glasses (and other crockery etc) than will fit in quite a large cupboard and I'm trying to declutter not buy more.

Some really nice slippers, something like Mahabis, but ONE HUNDRED POUNDS FOR SLIPPERS

Then experiences like meals out somewhere a bit more expensive than normal. And some art but I'd want to choose that myself.

My birthday is coming up and i would like a meal out or a night away. I am always happy to receive a really nice hand cream, and chocolates and a bottle of baileys would also go down well.

Mostly I like consumables, like nice soap, alcohol, chocolate, cheese etc but recently I’ve found an pilates instructor I really click with, so credit for classes would be greatly appreciated. Is there anything like that that she enjoys? Could you pre-pay for a class she already does, or supplies for an activity she does?