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Original poster

50 Gifts

133 replies

Challdell · 23/01/2024 18:31

Hi
My Sister will be 50th at the beginning of March and we have just found out that she will be having her long awaited surgery 2 weeks before so will be unable to celebrate the way we / she had planned. She also will be pretty much out of action for atleast 6 months.

i have foolishly agreed with my Mum to give her 50 gifts as her present.

Im looking for various value of gifts but it’s not as easy as I first thought.
Has anyone done anything similar or lead me to where I can find some inspiration please?

OP posts:
Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 20:54

Yes she will be recovering from major surgery so will be taking each day as it comes and will be signed off work.

OP posts:
Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 20:56

Hiw is it wasteful?

OP posts:
Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 20:58

Thank you that’s exactly the sort of thing I intend to do. Just needing a few more ideas.

OP posts:

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Shortbreadfingerss · 23/01/2024 20:59

It’s wasteful if you buy 50 items that your sister doesn’t want or won’t appreciate. As you will see from this thread a lot of people hate ‘gift’ items (tat) like personalised glasses, photo frames, etc. personally I would rather someone took that budget and bought me one or two nice gifts. However others love it and hopefully you know your sister well enough to decide if she will too!

Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 21:00

She will have 10 in her birthday then 1 each day.

OP posts:
Shortbreadfingerss · 23/01/2024 21:00

What’s your budget OP? 50 of the items you are describing (cash, restaurant vouchers, beauty treatments) would cost a fortune?

Needmorelego · 23/01/2024 21:02

This idea always get slammed on Mumsnet - but I like the idea.
Don't try to think of 50 completely different things - but theme them.
If she likes to read get 1 book for each decade since she was born - so a popular bestseller from 74, 84, 94, 04 and 14 - plus a Waterstones voucher to buy a best seller at the end of this year. So that's 6 gifts right there.
Personally to me a photo album type thing would be looked at a couple of times and then shoved in a drawer. You couldn't even pass it on as it's personal.
At least with books once read - they can either be kept or passed on.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 23/01/2024 21:06

If they are the sort of things she will actually use then fine. But it would be a waste - even if it was as vouchers for me. Just make sure the vouchers don’t also come with too many restrictions for her - eg no point in booking some things if she gets called away for work at short notice due to cancellations fees - it could
mean literally throwing money away.

marshmallowfinder · 23/01/2024 21:09

I think it's a pointless waste of money and time, just buying 50 items of arbitrary stuff. Stick to 1 or 2 really special things. She'll appreciate it far more surely, and it won't be so overwhelming.

delilabell · 23/01/2024 21:13

Could you maybe do a subscription to something. A weekly one? Some letterbox flowers or something like that. For a whole-year

NewName24 · 23/01/2024 21:14

I have on my list things like gift voucher for her nails to be done, massage / facial. Vouchers to her favourite restaurant, cash, Euros for holiday she has booked at the end of the year.
Make up brush set, travel toiletries, personalised luggage tag, scratch cards.

Well, that's going to cost an absolute fortune.

Is there mileage in doing 50 'Promises' she can cash in over the next year ....... including things you might do for her after her surgery anyway (like a load of laundry or the washing up) to things she might like to 'aim for' as part of her recovery - walk up a local hill, or day out to the seaside. Can include things like 'lunch out at the local pub' but stuff it full of things that will be really helpful to her whilst she is off her feet after the op. Maybe things like 'a game of scrabble' or an afternoon doing a jigsaw with you.

Things that will actually be helpful to her at the time, mixed in with whatever might be an actual treat for her (a show, or sports event or gig maybe - but you'll know her best).

Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 21:15

I never mentioned I was getting any of those items.
I definitely won’t be getting her any Tat.
i have a £500 budget!!

OP posts:
Disasterclass · 23/01/2024 21:16

A friend of mine had 40 gifts for her 40th but she had about 35 people at her party, so basically everyone put in their gifts and her family put in a few extra. It wasn't wasteful as everyone wanted to buy her something anyway, and she had some really lovely presents (plus nothing cheap as it was really one per person). Could others go in on this?

Revelwithacause · 23/01/2024 21:16

Could you re-frame it.. 50 things to do before you’re 50. And think of 50 things that she’ll be able to do in the lead up to her birthday (with 14 of them things she can do while recovering) and put each on in an envelope. Some could be gifts (e.g get your nails done today with voucher, or put on a nice dress we are going for afternoon tea), but some could be super simple like ‘pick your 10 favourite photos of all time’ or ‘go for a walk and pick up the most beautiful stone you find’

Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 21:16

£500

OP posts:
Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 21:19

The mail shop you can just turn up no need to prebook.

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HeadNorth · 23/01/2024 21:19

A £500 budget is just a tenner for each gift - so there is bound to be tat in there. With that budget, I’d much prefer one or two fantastic gifts than 50 cheap ones. Surely any adult would?

Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 21:22

Sadly there isn’t much time to do much before.

OP posts:
Shortbreadfingerss · 23/01/2024 21:25

If you do want inspiration there are quite a few of these on TikTok, people usually do a video each day. I find them quite addictive to watch! But inevitably some presents will be ‘fillers’ even with the £500 budget which I think is fine if they are bits and pieces your sister will genuinely use. Eg I don’t mind if someone bought me a few shower gels as I always use it, would be less impressed with nail polish as I don’t wear it.

Original poster
Challdell · 23/01/2024 21:25

Presents will have different values. I have got a make up hair band for £2.50 and the most expensive so far is a £50 note!

OP posts:
Needmorelego · 23/01/2024 21:27

@HeadNorth I can easily think of 50 things at £10 (or less) that I would be happy with.

slithytoveisascientist · 23/01/2024 21:27

I like this idea but I'd do it over 50 days as PP has said

I think with a budget of £500 you can do it nicely

Eg if someone was doing it for me I would fully expect one of the things to be Maltesers and one to be a Diet Coke - so that's 2 for £1 freeing up £29 for a third gift.

However if you aren't sure...

What about a book of 50 stories / memories?

flowerpotmike · 23/01/2024 21:27

My brother bought be 40 creme eggs for my 40th which was great as it was essentially one gift. In general I would hate 40 small gifts. With a budget of £500 you could get a brilliant gift.

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 23/01/2024 21:28

Hmm £500 and the list of things such as euros for holiday, massage or facial
voucher …. Yep going to be a lot of tat to make up the 50 gifts. Most are going to be a lot less than £10 each.

amalfilemonpie · 23/01/2024 21:29

50 bulbs for the garden? 50 individual hand made chocs? 50 of anything small that you know she likes.