Presents for in-laws....any ideas?!

[walkingonair]

Every year I have the same dilemma....what to buy the in-laws?.

Firstly there's my mother in law, she's not at all fashion conscious, doesn?t wear jewellery, has no hobbies, doesn?t drink, dislikes chocolate, doesn?t listen to music or watch very much TV or films.

My father in law is pretty much the same, though likes a drop of port and a jigsaw puzzle, however there is only so many times you can buy these!

Previous years I have wracked my brains for ideas and managed to come up with some lovely gifts, i.e. framed photos of the grandchildren, customised mouse-mats, L'ocitaine gift set, Chanel perfume, silk scarf, red letter day for theatre and meal, home-made food hamper, a made to order jigsaw puzzle of their home on a map!

Trouble is they always seem underwhelmed with whatever we get them and I get frustrated with myself for spending so much time and money on gifts that aren?t really appreciated!

They on the other hand give us money in a card as our main present (which I think is a little thoughtless), and then a bag of small stocking fillers. Last year we had a square yellow sponge to wash the car with, a large pack of extra strong mints and a snow globe?!

I?ve tried asking but to no avail?.... any ideas or suggestion? I?m sure i?m not alone with this common dilemma!

Are you me? Hoping this thread comes up with a few ideas for my hard-to-buy for inlaws too.
It drives me crazy trying to think of presents that MIL won't dismiss out of hand. One year I gave her framed photos of the DC - she took out the photos and handed me back the frames. Like you, I have resorted to photobooks, photomugs, theatre vouchers, maps. Have not ventured near clothing since she sneered at a lovely scarf SIL got her one year. Once, in despair, I did Oxfam goats that went down like a lead balloon.
Their present-giving habits are also similar:
last year I got a bar of soap (Bronnley) and DH got some gardening gloves. But no cash

LadyGlencoraPalliser - Ha, I knew i wasnt alone!

Today I actually asked MIL if there is anything she?d like and she told me a Boots voucher would be fine. Well, that?s simple enough, all that stressing for nothing! but there is a catch...

They always give us bags of smaller gifts to go with the mandatory 'cheque in a card'. I always feel a bit stingy just handing them one present to open, so over the years I too have began to subsidise the main gift with a few 'stocking fillers' . In fact come to think of it, I use a safety in numbers approach; buy them several items, surely one will strike a chord?!

So Boots voucher simple enough, but what about the 'little gifts'? AND I still have FIL to buy for, not to mention DH's nasty sister (won't even go there!), brother, aunts, uncles, nephews etc etc....

I must point out that my DH?s side of the family are possibly the most vicious tounged people i?ve ever met and they?re quick to point out my failings as a present buyer. I practice my ?oh how lovely? speech when opening their gifts, only to be shot down by their reaction when opening ours.

Blimey, i?ve just re-read what I?ve written and it appears i?m mad.
Feck it, i?m off to poundland in the morning. Snow globes all round then.

My parents are over-generous - a cheque, plus other gifts like pyjamas, socks, toiletries, chocolates.

They're also exceptionally hard to buy for: aren't foodies, don't compute/theatre/hobby/DVD's, don't use candles. Like many here, we've done the photo frames, scarves, perfumes etc. Nowadays like MaryZ, my mum tells me a book my dad wants, and she always asks for Oil of Olay stuff the same every year. But it always feels not enough: I also try to supplement it with sweets, and photos, or something like a car chamois for my dad.

If they are regular church goers I would consider a gift along the lines that Scuttlebutter suggests. If nothing else it will be hard for them to be rude about it

Alternatively I might go for a really nice potplant or bouquet of flowers.

My ILs, fortunately, are quite easy to buy for, especially MiL - but my parents, now . Luckily being lovely people they will be grateful whatever they are given and not care if it is minimal, but still, it would be nice to find something good!

JUst got the keyrings through and they are brilliant - going to keep one for myself and order some more. Would think the cuff links would work really well too. Very well made and look robust.