80 year old gran so difficult to buy for

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Help! What on Earth do I buy my 80 year old gran for her birthday?!

The list of potential presents has shrunk over the years.

Chocolate: she's diabetic
Toiletries: she has sensitive skin and likes to buy her own
Writing sets: she can't write letters to people anymore
Clothes: wouldn't even know where to begin

In the past I've bought her these failed gifts...

CD player and selection of CDs by favourite singers: My dad let me know she played it once then hid it away in a cupboard. Any kind of technology is wasted on her. (See also: electronic photo frame.)

Plant: she has no interest in plants or gardening

Magazine subscription: she gave them all to my dad and asked me not to buy them again

Jewellery: she has so much jewellery and not much need for it these days

Every birthday and Christmas now she gets a few books, a bunch of flowers, and a photo gift of her grandson. Do I just stick with this (she seems very happy) or does anyone have any ideas?

Perhaps an electronic photo frame that cycles through pictures for her to look at?

An album of some music from her youth.

Treat her to afternoon tea, or a nice lunch. Or take it to her house for her.

Meal might be nice.

Would a blanket or electric heater be a good idea?

A TV streaming subscription for a year?

Stick to what she appreciates or an experience like a trip out for a treat like high tea. My Mum used to appreciate company and a chat more than stuff

Old style record player with some vinyl choons from the 60s? At first glance 80 sounds elderly, but when you put it in the context that she'd have been listening to the Beatles, The Who, The Rolling Stones in her early 20s, it seems like 80 is no age at all!

Wool socks with a fair isle pattern. Keeps my feets warm.

A blanket - not electric throw as she doesn't like tech
A cushion
Socks - hand knitted
A room fragrance
A teapot/tea cosy if she drinks tea
A book voucher - or keep on with books if you know they are her thing

At 80 I won’t want any presents. It’s just crap filling up your house.
Take her out for a nice meal or something

A hamper of all her favourite treats.. walk round M&S and buy cake, biscuits, jam

I do a hamper for my DM, she loves it, obviously would need to leave out the sweet stuff but perhaps more savoury based?

She's diabetic!

My parents are nearly 90. They don’t want any presents any more, especially not my mum. They like me coming to visit and us doing something together. Not tea and cakes. They don’t eat much now and it would stress them out.

Her favourite tea, coffee, but upmarket brands.
A throw.
big squashy cushion ( my back would kill for one of those right now)
Photo frame with one or two photos in it.
Faux plant.

edited , missed she’s diabetic .

She wants your time, not a gift that is just 'more stuff'. At 80 she more than likely has all the stuff she needs.

Nice card and go out for a meal. Doesn't even have to be a fancy meal (unless she says so) - it's about spending time with you.

We took an afternoon tea to my gran. She enjoyed the time with me, my sister and her daughter.
We've also bought her some new bedding. All washed and ready to go straight on the bed.

I can't stand it and I'm 40s.

I look around my bedroom in dismay sometimes and wonder how I've managed to accumulate so much rubbish. And no-one ever listens and buys you tat for Xmas.

My sister & I gave our 75 year old father this photo frame. You can send photos to it using a phone app & they cycle through. He loves it.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B09F31L8LS

Your time........Do something together.

Meal
Afternoon tea
Coffee
Cocktail
Concert
Theatre
Film
Local event
Fashion show
Shopping trip

Get her something comfy and warm.

Nice fluffy and warm slippers?

Blanket?

Rocking chair?

This is lovely idea.
Sit with her, bring something nice and sweet and just have a chat.

A big bunch of flowers in a vase.
That's it. She clearly doesn't want anything material.
Spend time with her.

Echo time with you and your DC. I’m much younger than your gran and my Xmas present from DH now is a lovely day out with a slap up lunch somewhere of my choice. Fabulous.

Google photo blankets - they are nice gifts

In the last few years I have bought my elderly grandmother:

• personalised cushion with great grandchildren’s names
• lap tray
• pretty hand-painted vase
• pretty cups
• soft blanket
• cashmere gloves

Lovely big bunch of flowers from a proper florist and take her for lunch - that’s what we do for my gran. She doesn’t need or want “stuff”.