Hamper for the woman who has everything

[secondhoneymoon]

Ok so this is for a friend's significant birthday soonish, not Christmas, but thought I'd get more traffic here and might be useful for others for Christmas..Budget is £50, friend has very expensive tastes so would struggle with a regular gift for that price. Was thinking about a hamper, but also struggling. She doesn't cook herself so can't make a themed ingredient hamper which I have done for other friends. I did a Prosecco themed hamper for same friend as a thank you for something earlier this year. She doesn't garden. She wouldn't thank me for 'cheap' toiletries. Maybe a hamper's a non-starter but know how creative you lot are! Any ideas welcome x

I'd always appreciate cashmere socks (£35 from The White Company) and a small bag of Godiva chocolates.

Not sure but I have a very rich friend I often need to buy presents for and have bought her a book I read and enjoyed that I thought she would and also a personalised Not on the high street thing. Both went down well as they showed thought.

I make a 'hamper' up (sturdy box from Lidl and cover with nice paper and 'straw' tissue - though last Christmas got a lovely fortnum's large shopping bag) and filled with bits (including homemade jams and chutneys etc)?

I've been a similar predicament. I got a favourite teen movie on DVD, and got lots of old fashioned sweets from our childhood & some really nice local treats (chutneys & cheeses, crackers from a local farm shop). I also put in a board game (again a blast from the past). It went down so well, I've done it every year since - starting to run out of movies now! Hampers are great when you make them yourself.

Is she intellectual, I love the website present indicative for unusual gifts for intellects. I made up a cheese board using the protractor cheese board from there. They have maths and science based gifts.

There's also a literary version, scribbilicious, I've purchased from them too and I love some of the gifts there.

Don't do the hamper, spend the money on a little luxury. For instance, I like expensive things and have an OK amount of disposable income but there are things I would not buy for myself. One of my favourite gifts from my sister was designer hair bobbles (£30), DP bought me an expensive keyring & Kate Spade notebooks. One year I had some Hermes playing cards in my Xmas box. Depends on whether she is rich rich or just a bit affluent. I could not justify 30 quid on hair ties so got a real kick out of them

What about something from Ted Baker
Beach bag and flip flops
www.tedbaker.com/uk/Womens/Sale/Accessories/Gifts/JULIAS-Marina-Mosaic-shopper-bag-and-flip-flop-set-Navy/p/137229-NAVY

Movie Tickets; A Goat or similar from Oxfam; Chocolate, always chocolate, Beautiful box for jewellery/trinkets; Expensive scarf...

Second the candle idea - Diptique or Jo Malone. Might not seem much, but if she has expensive taste she will apprecuat the value.
I'd do that plus some charbonnet et walker truffles.

Plus Jo Malone will come in a beautiful box with ribbon 🎀

£50 is a lot! Very kind of you.

Thanks for all the suggestions, tho more confused now about what to do. I think I'll discuss with a mutual friend, as she knows her well enough to appreciate my dilemma. Complicated character, can't easily explain on here!

Lovely ideas karate
Op one really lovely thing for £50 will be appreciated a lot more than a hamper full of bits. If you want to make it special take her for a lovely homemade afternoon tea picnic or something.

I agree about the candle idea too.

Thanks for all the ideas and advice everyone. Much appreciated

1. I can't remember the name of it but you can buy a book that's already wrapped - a bit like a lucky dip - you choose according to genre e.g. thriller, romance etc - and they send you what they think will suit.

1. Jar of cherries in kirsch (waitrose)

1. Organic top notch choc

1. erm ...

A book from Persephone books? They are so beautiful.

Not for a hamper... but I like lillybelle for personalised items e.g. Make up bags/ purses with a wee inscription disc. Often have good sales. Just in case that helps....

A voucher for a massage session

Take her out for 'high tea' somewhere posh... not sure how much that would cost though?

Or an experience, think

• Balloon Flight
• Sailing
• Whale Watching

Thank you for more great suggestions - many not 'right' for this friend but might help others looking for ideas

Is your friend Kim Kardashian?

There are some gorgeous suggestions on this thread - if absolutely none of them are right for your friend, then tbh, she sounds a first-class princess!

Would she not be appreciative of a gift because you had bought it and put thought into it?

Chanel Mirror

Jo Malone candle/bath oil & book her in with yourself if there is a store near you for the free arm /scent massage thing that you can do for your birthday & enjoy the fizz.

NEOM do a intensive treatment candle where you burn candle & then the wax your pour on your skin & massage in - is fab if you like that sort of thing

I know you said she doesn't garden but does she have a garden & like trees/plants ? - could buy her a tree or standard rose to mark the significant birthday.

Depending where you liv membership to something eg RA , Gallery or NT

Fountain pen & lovely inks - bureau direct have great selections

There are some really lovely suggestions on here, but whilst friends has expensive tastes in perfumes, toiletries, jewellery, cosmetics etc she wouldn't appreciate some of the suggestions because they're not 'her' thing. Hence thinking about making up some kind of hamper, hence the OP but I've been talked out of that! Afternoon tea is something she does with her Mum fairly regularly and she has regular beauty treatments so either of those things (which I have done for other friends) wouldn't be so special. I think I will bake her a really nice cake, and buy a bottle of decent champagne

Sounds like a lovely gift second

A Jo Malone candle. My mil was bought one of these and it was the best thing ever. V expensive, but everyone she told 'ooohed' so im guessing it is something desire.