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Help needed with presents....

23 replies

EricNorthmanYesPlease · 28/11/2022 10:43

Posting here for traffic.
My darling Dad needs help.
My Mom is VERY difficult to buy for.

Anyway...my Dad needs to get 10 small (size wise) gifts, all under £10.
Hes got earrings, 3 pack of ferrero rocher, lip balm, moisturiser and a xmas scratch card.

Please can you suggest some other things?
Shes into sewing and crafts, reading and thats about it!
Vouchers dont count.

OP posts:
CulturePigeon · 28/11/2022 11:47

I absolutely LOVE bits of stationery from W H Smith - or I suppose, John Lewis if you're minted.

It must be a hangover from school days, but I lust after the rubbers, pens, coloured pencils, glue, tape, pencil sharpeners etc. How about a selection of these? Always useful even if they don't cause major excitement.

Keyrings? Nice diary? Small handbag hairbrush? Little purse to put in your handbag for lippy, tissues, mints, paracetemol etc?

I love a £10 challenge - SO much more interesting than an unlimited budget.

OneTC · 28/11/2022 11:53

Small torch

BarbaraofSeville · 28/11/2022 12:56

Why does he need all these things?

If your DM is difficult to buy for, that suggests that she has all she needs and doesn't want 'things'.

He could buy her craft things, but unless she's very specific, it's likely that she'd prefer to choose her own as she identifies a need for XYZ.

Likewise books, chances that unless she has big lists up in the house of 'books I've read' and 'books I'd like to read' then the likelihood of getting it right is low.

On the off chance that he wants to pursue this mission, what about something like a puzzle book, jigsaw, nice tonics or other mixers if she likes a G&T etc, cheese truckles - you can get a variety of nice waxed ones at Christmas in different flavours.

But I still despair at the determination some people have for buying stuff for people who don't want or need it. There are other ways to show love and thought.

Leeds2 · 28/11/2022 13:08

Miniature of gin, vodka or her favourite spirit. Or a can of ready mixed cocktail.

A Lush bath bomb.

The latest best seller.

Nail varnish.
Perfume miniature.
Packets of seeds for the garden if she is into growing things.
A mug filled with tea bags or whatever type of coffee she drinks. Or a cake mug with a recipe and the ingredients. Or a mug with hot chocolate powder, marshmallows and squirty cream. Plus maybe those chocolate spoons that dissolve when you stir your drink.

A cactus plant.

A mini indoor watering can if she has house plants. You can get some that are beautifully decorated.

PoppyBlunt · 28/11/2022 13:09

Perfume atomiser for handbag

Glasses cleaner kit (spray and little cloth)

Nail varnish or nail files

Bath bomb

Water bottle

Bed socks/ slipper socks

Pen for handbag

Patterned foldaway shopping bag

DilemmaDelilah · 28/11/2022 13:09

Needle case and some easy thread needles.

bridgetreilly · 28/11/2022 13:42

Hobbycraft have small cross stitch kits for £1.25 atm.

MrsT007 · 28/11/2022 14:21

-You can get gorgeous magnetic needle minders on Etsy for like £5-£8 each. Godsend for me as I always lose needles while sewing or doing cross stitch. Etsy has loads of other sewing gifts too like needle/pin cases, personalised sewing bags etc

-face mask(s)

-Personalised bookmark for when she's reading

-new book release

-necklace to match the earrings

-bath bomb(s)

-candle(s)

-Mini wine gift set (Tesco have a Prosecco set with chocolate for like £5)

-Some materials for the crafts she enjoys, whatever they may be

-cosy socks

-little jewellery minder for bedside table

-does she enjoy games? There a some boardgames that are small and within price range on amazon

-a nice pen

Just some ideas!

rhnireland · 28/11/2022 14:52

If she's into crafting she will always need nice scissors or little tape measures. No matter how many you buy she will always need more

eosmum · 28/11/2022 15:15

What kinds of crafts? I knit and crochet and have a list a mile long of books and bits I would love.

IloveStrawberrylaces · 28/11/2022 15:17

Why 10?

Bog · 28/11/2022 15:22

Hobbycraft haul? Or a selection of craft magazines?

cookiesbeforepookies · 28/11/2022 15:32

Weighted eye mask.

fancyacuppatea · 28/11/2022 15:50

Diary and/or calendar?

EricNorthmanYesPlease · 28/11/2022 18:19

CulturePigeon · 28/11/2022 11:47

I absolutely LOVE bits of stationery from W H Smith - or I suppose, John Lewis if you're minted.

It must be a hangover from school days, but I lust after the rubbers, pens, coloured pencils, glue, tape, pencil sharpeners etc. How about a selection of these? Always useful even if they don't cause major excitement.

Keyrings? Nice diary? Small handbag hairbrush? Little purse to put in your handbag for lippy, tissues, mints, paracetemol etc?

I love a £10 challenge - SO much more interesting than an unlimited budget.

You are basically me! When paperchase has a sale i get ao excited. Great ideas thank you x

OP posts:
EricNorthmanYesPlease · 28/11/2022 18:23

Ok to answer a few questions. The reason for 10 is because they are doing and advent calendar for the month and he already has 14. So they cant be as big as a book as it wont fit in, but a reading torch would.

She doesnt need things, but i think she does these 'challenges'to test him. Bless him he gets so stressed about something thats meant to be fun.

Thanks for all of your help so far, ill send them to him and most likely end up buying them for him too lol

OP posts:
EricNorthmanYesPlease · 28/11/2022 18:27

BarbaraofSeville · 28/11/2022 12:56

Why does he need all these things?

If your DM is difficult to buy for, that suggests that she has all she needs and doesn't want 'things'.

He could buy her craft things, but unless she's very specific, it's likely that she'd prefer to choose her own as she identifies a need for XYZ.

Likewise books, chances that unless she has big lists up in the house of 'books I've read' and 'books I'd like to read' then the likelihood of getting it right is low.

On the off chance that he wants to pursue this mission, what about something like a puzzle book, jigsaw, nice tonics or other mixers if she likes a G&T etc, cheese truckles - you can get a variety of nice waxed ones at Christmas in different flavours.

But I still despair at the determination some people have for buying stuff for people who don't want or need it. There are other ways to show love and thought.

Trust me he would prefer not too. She doesn't drink, has an attic full of books, has a kindle he bought her last year (she doeant like it). Shes in a wheelchair so doesnt garden, doeant have baths and isnt particularly into any food.
She is mainly into knitting, crochet and patchwork.

OP posts:
Testina · 28/11/2022 18:28

“She doesnt need things, but i think she does these 'challenges'to test him. Bless him he gets so stressed about something thats meant to be fun.”

No way would I be enabling that shit from her by giving him ideas then.
No more present for her, but if you’re looking for a present yourself for him, maybe a voucher for a counsellor?

bridgetreilly · 29/11/2022 03:10

For patchwork he can get her some fat quarters of fabric which would be suitably small and fairly cheap.

fallfallfall · 29/11/2022 03:24

could she use new knitting needles (some of the double ended ones in lovely metalic color)
besides the fat quarters some nice pricey threads
special quilting pins

Silencia · 29/11/2022 04:21
  • mini crochet hook keyring (for fixing dropped stitches)
  • thread/yarn cutter pendant
  • pretty stitch markers
sashh · 29/11/2022 05:06

For someone into crafts what about some craft scissors? Maybe with some nice craft paper, so you can cut fancy edges around things.

www.hobbycraft.co.uk/craft-scissor-set-10-pack/6565871000.html

Or a class in a new craft, although that might fit into the voucher category.

findacraft.co.uk/craft-courses/

My dad is quite difficult to get for but some of the hits for him were a mini tool kit that looks like a book, it has the right things in it to repair his glasses and it lives on his book shelves.

A pen with a spy camera in it.

A notebook and pen that you photograph your notes with your phone and then microwave the book to wipe the page.

Other possibilities

A wind up torch.

IWOOT have quite a few things that could work in an advent calendar, from a thumb massager to a 'cork playset' so after you have opened your wine you can customize the cork.

www.iwantoneofthose.com/gifts/christmas/stocking-fillers.list?pageNumber=2

www.iwantoneofthose.com/offers/3-for-25.list

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