What's the best gift you have ever received?

[BestestBrownies]

I'm after some inspiration please as have lots of birthdays coming up for adult family members of various ages (male & female). Normally I would see them in person and treat them to lunch or afternoon tea or similar, but I'm working away for the next 3 months so can't do that.

It needs to be something I can order online and that looks impressive when received, ideally £60 or under and not food or flowers please.

I was about to add an end-bit to my M&S stuff suggestion: I had a convo with my mum around her 75th birthday. She was trying to palm off her dinner sets and tablecloths etc etc that she'd received a century ago as wedding gifts and which have rarely been used. It was a weird moment where she was trying to give me this stuff, I was wondering what to buy her. I asked her outright if she actually wanted anything from me other than a Happy Birthday phonecall. She said she would be relieved not to receive anything she'd have to deal with!

Maybe you could take her out for a nice lunch when the weather's good?

A Melin Tregwynt cushion.

I have one too and it’s the best present as a massive coffee lover! It removes every trace of bitterness and no waiting.

For me I think my best presents tap into my passions - I LOVE gardening so for me a £60 voucher to spend at the garden centre is such a treat. What is she passionate about? Even if it’s a writer or a tv programme?

A surprise present on my birthday was an outdoor concert by a Simon and Garfunkel tribute band. It was late summer and the atmospheric was wonderful. I'm in my 60's.

Last year for each of my parents birthdays, I did an Ocado order of lots of delicious bits but also easy food that they wouldn’t normally order themselves, a giant hamper if you will!

• so Bacon, delicious butter and good quality bacon for bacon sandwiches for brekkie
• a ton of picnic bits dips etc (does 2-3 days of lunch for them)
• a dinner that they just pop in the oven (one of the dine in deals)
• fave choc/snacks
• fave drink/ wine/ beer

Was simple (and I was out of ideas) and they LOVED it

I definitely second the nice fabric idea for your DM. I know you said not food, but if you're not going to be around to take her out for a meal, my MIL always really appreciates posh cream tea hampers or similar

I was wondering what the surprise destination would be! 😂

She's working away for the next 3 months so wants to send something she's bought online.

That does sound like a thoughtful gift, but I'm guessing it cost more than £60? Perhaps just the wine and chocolates.

Someone got me one of those trays with a big cushion attached that sits on your lap. I never thought to get one, but it's been really useful! Not just eating in front of the tv, but I use it as a mini desk as well.

For my 87 year old mum in a care home and before:

no toileteries, we found tons I gifted her when we cleared her flat

Books - I look for decent second hand ones and she gets a new ones every two weeks or once a month. She reads each book only once so I then use a book charity box to recycle them. I set it up as a box with a "subscription" certificate and bring the new ones when I visit.

A really light but warm and fluffy blanket. She wouldn't have like a heated one.

Pens - she does crosswords and has a diary. We tried a really nice one but she struggles getting refills.

For your 80 year old mum, have you considered a digital photo frame? I bought one for my mother in law for Christmas and it's her favourite thing as we all add new photos to it regularly and she loves seeing them looping round.

Just checked and Dads was £62 and Mums £68 - if you're smart and use multi buy deals you can do it for comfortably under

That's actually incredible value, isn't it? They certainly got a lot for that.

So easy for me to answer that question. My DS gave me a kitten for my birthday and another one for Xmas the same year and I love them both to bits. Best gift ever. They cuddle into me giving me so much affection, they snuggle up if I am sad. They amuse with their playing and I know this sound mad but if I'm overnight in the house alone I don't feel alone with my kitties here with me. They are fabulous company.

They did, I used Ocado because it was more "lux" then their usual Morrisons and I was actually very impressed with what I got, I don't live in the UK anymore so not sure how they compare cost wise to other supermarkets but I was impressed.

Looking at the content, and the quality aspect, it's really very good. I'd like a gift like that!

For my Mum's 80th we all bought her gifts we thought she'd like. My younger sister gave her the best gift. She bought a beautiful box with roses on the cover. She hand wrote out 80 memories of her and Mum. My Mum absolutely loved it and spend time every day reading and re-reading the memories. I got her some tulip bulbs, a small bag of John Innes compost and a container to plant them in. She loved planting them in the container and we got a huge tray to put it on so it could be inside with her because she loved gardening but could no longer go out to do it. Sadly she never saw them bloom as she died before they bloomed.

Long hot water bottle. It is one of my favourite presents.

I'm not much help, the best gift I received was my dog 😁

However well received gifts I've given to others have been...A really pretty wax melt with a small dish you use to put the tea light in.
Flavoured marshmallows with an indoor fire kit to roast them on.
A photo book with really happy memories in.
One friend has a physical disability and complained to me that she hates getting cosy in bed then realising she has to sit up and reach over to turn the lamp off, so I got her an Alexa and a smart bulb. I think I made her week that time!
A mystery book subscription. You get to choose the genres they like and they send a new one out each month.

Gifts in that price range that have gone down well

Beautiful atlas or travel photo book.

fancy golf umbrella

History book about area they grew up in with lots of photos.

Silk pillow case

bulb selection for a keen gardener (with unusual plants) and a pretty pot

These would be some of the things on my wish list

Hotel Chocolat velvetiser (if they like hot chocolate. Might also be slightly out of the price range).

A cake or cream tea delivery (there are some local places to me who I would love to receive a cake box from) sorry also just seen you don't want food suggestions

A theatre ticket (depending on seat/show you could get something in the price range you suggest).

Lego (maybe depends on recipient but there are some great sets available now for adults).

Nice pen set and colouring book.

Personalised mug and tea set.

An experience of some kind (car driving experience, animal experience)

Tickets for a local attraction/national trust property

Diamond art set

My 74 year old DM who lives in a nursing home and isn’t able to do much loves the hairbrush I bought her for Christmas. It was an upgrade from her usual one.

@BestestBrownies or anyone who wants a present for someone who likes a tipple, give a membership to The Wine Society. Their website is just thewinesociety dot com. You pay £40 and that's a lifetime membership and a gift voucher to spend for £20. Wines go from just over £6 to over £50 and delivery by courier, or their own van, is free even for one bottle. They also sell soft drinks, beer, cider and spirits, will lay wines down etc. So you could buy them membership and say a bottle of their own gin, or a nice bottle of wine for £60 all in, and they still get £20 to spend themself.

I have a membership and can vouch that my experience with member services has been excellent. Am not affiliated with them in any way.

Oh yes! DB bought DDad a membership to this last week and it brings him SO much joy 😁 he loves it