Secret Santa ideas - budget is £15 and the recipient is a lady in her mid-40's :-)

[ceebeegeebies]

I am not that dissimilar to her in age so it should technically be easy but we are completely different people (I am very girly and 'young' in my head ) so what I would want is not what my recipient would want.

Any ideas would be gratefully received

I hate Secret Santas! I always end up having to buy for someone I hardly know, and always seem to get a crap present in return.
I'd stick with chocolate or something smelly.

Amazon voucher?Book token? Cinema voucher? ...but
I am a boring middle aged lady too who hates Secret Santas!

The last secret santa I bought for was pretty successful - I went to a deli and bought some lovely absinthe cake.

It was really well received!

Lunatic's idea is good though...

or or or

how about the orla keily scarf that has been rocking the bargainous Christmas threads? That's 10 quid plus 3 postage and is really very beautful.

Thanks for the ideas. She is a 'scarf' person so the scarf may be a winner...have you a link??

here you go

It looks like the ones I bought about 3 weeks ago have sold out, but there are 3 choices left.

I'm mid 40s
I don't drink, so gin would be no good for me.

I bought an M&S scarf (purple with silver heart charms to make it a scarf/jewelery ) IIRC about £15/£16

Last year - £10 limit - I bought a Cath Kidston mug in a lovely box, which went down well with the recipient. Got ot from our garden centre, which seems to sell most things these days!

Jo Malone do lovely bars of soap for 12 pounds. I have bought these for my Aunties. They wrap them so nicely there too.I think it is a nice gift-as when would you ever spend it on yourself?

Again thanks for the suggestions. She never spends any money on herself so something luxurious would be a great idea :-)

Hate to admit it but Im in
the age range but like you am still v young in my head. I think you have to be careful with smellies and candles unless you know its something she would use or like.
Cant stand gin but a really nice wine and expensive chocs would please me no end. Can you ask a friend what she likes or if you are in everyday contact do a subtle conversation about these types if things, its quite easy at this time of year.
Hope you get someone as thoughtful buying for you, theres probably another thread about some daft young fortyish girl in the office and OP has no idea what to buy her

Nice leather gloves from M&S
Really good hand cream
Cookery book
Posh chocolates
Jo Malone soap would make me happy.

Personalised Calendars are £14.99 here www.gettingpersonal.co.uk/personalised-calendars/personalised-calendar-for-you.htm

... especially if you know she likes golf, or gardening or tennis etc and can get one of the specific ones.

Look at the monsoon gift range, very very lovely!
this for example

Scarves are tricky I think. I would stick with something edible. Wine or chocolates. Boring I know but if she doesn't like them they are easily re-gifted

at one of my colleagues thinking 'god, what do I buy someone who is in their late 30's but thinks she is in her early 20's'

Wine and chocolates would be a good present but I suppose I am looking for something a bit less predictable. The Monsoon stuff looks good

OP apologies for thinking you could be as old as myself . If you've not got anything yet I asked some of my similarly aged friends -
if she likes her nails done, a voucher for local manicure type thing.
Wine and chocs I meant something you wouldnt buy yourself, like Artisan chocs if you were ordering for others the delivery wouldn't seem so much (fiver!)
Wine that cost more than a fiver, this from girl who drinks Lambrini
Laura Ashley had some nice scarves in their sale too with free delivery I think.
Debenhams have a lot of 70% off stuff that is nice, I got a friend lovely leather purse yesterday with an additional 20% code from MSE it was £14
I once got Coty L'Aimant gift set with a lace hankie when I was about 25, you should have seen my face!