Oh my buggering father, he does this every year! New gift idea needed.

[JacqueslePeacock]

So my DF has been telling me he wants a dark red scarf for Christmas, every single time I've phoned him for the last 6 weeks. I bought a lovely expensive cashmere-blend scarf in a beautiful dark red and wrapped it up nicely for him. Today of course he announces he's seen one in the sale and got it for 75%-off for himself. It won't be as nice as the one I've bought him, but he's so hugely chuffed with himself for getting it cheap. He does this every damned year!!! He always buys himself the thing he tells me he wants just a couple of weeks before Christmas, inevitably in a charity shop or in a sale. Why am I even surprised?!

So now I need some new gift inspiration. What can I buy a 76-yr-old man who lives a bit like a tramp and won't buy anything at full price? He is supremely difficult to buy for as he's been known to take gifts back if he feels they weren't good value for (my) money (and keep the money, of course). Aaaarrgghh.

OK, rant over. Anyone have any actual suggestions?!

Gloves that go with the scarf?

I've got my turning-76-4-days-after-christmas-day dad the horrible histories books, he's just discovered the programmes on tv and thinks they're the best thing ever! For his birthday we've renewed the subscription for one of his steam train magazines that we do every year.

Can you take the scarf back for a credit note for the shop, so that dad can buy himself something in the sales?

Give him the scarf, then if one gets wet or he drops it and it gets dirty, he has another while it's in the wash.

Radio Times subscription or some other magazine?

Gloves/hat to match the scarf?

booze, always goes down well with my dad

lol, he sounds a character. If he's a bit (cough) tight, what about a hamper? One made yourself? Or an experience day?

Wow, thanks for all the helpful responses! Matching gloves...why didn't I think of that? I will look into it.

A subscription is also a great idea but I did it last year. Sadly vouchers are no good at all as he will hoard them until they're past their expiry date .

Lisaro, a character? What on earth makes you think that?

i would have a look at the fortnum and mason's website. they do some terrific looking giant chocolate biscuits. they are not cheap (compared to tesco's basics)but he might appreciate some really luxurious biscuits (i get my dad the marmalade, which is an eye watering £7 a jar, he says it is very nice, because he would never spend £7 on a jar of marmalade but he does like it).

If he liked the magazine you could renew the subscription and never have to think of a christmas gift again

I like your thinking, MrsMuddyPuddles, but he didn't like the magazine ENOUGH - he took me to one side in about March and told me that it probably wasn't worth me wasting my money on. Of course, I'd paid for a year by that point.

greygirl, I think if I bought my dad marmalade that cost £7 he would disown me! He nearly had a heart attack when I took him to the John Lewis cafe...

Hmm what about membership to RSPB, National Trust, or something?

Sounds like he could do with a few vouchers for poundland or tkmaxx then. And a jar of tesco/etc value basic marmalade! :o

Oh and how about one of the moneysavingexpert books? And a groupon voucher if he uses the Internet then he'll be able to choose his own bargain!

Agree wholeheartedly with lisaro - my Dad was quite frugal but we used to make up a hamper with a selection of small items that we knew would add a bit of a twinkle to life; miniatures of single malt scotch; preserves; pate; posh jams; dressed crab; shortbread; liqueur chocs - you can buy in small quantities and it means they can have a regular "indulgent" treat for quite a while after Xmas. Individual items too small to get refunds on! Or buy him a handheld GPS for 40 quid and get him interested in Geocaching; if he gets hooked you'll never hear the end of it!