So. Really good presents for men that are NOT...

[monkeymamma]

Hip flasks (why do magazines think men want endless hip flasks?)
Books about gin (look, gin is all very well, but who wants to READ about it?!!)
Scarves, gloves, hats (as I've done these items many times over)
Toiletry sets they won't use
Novelty games, puzzles etc.

I have some very lovely men in my life (BILs, boyfriends of much-loved nieces) and I don't want to burden them with stuff they don't need or want, but I don't know them well enough to say, choose a book for them.

What presents in the £15-20 range can you get for men that are genuinely useful and not gimmicky or purely decorative (as I don't know many men who genuinely want decorative stuff...)?

All ideas received with interest and thanks!

Cinema vouchers
Meal vouchers
I've brought Dh tickets for us see a comedian he likes in new year
I think experience gifts are fab too

Also lots of lovely personalised bits on not on the high street

Things ive bought

I got a nice Fossil wallet for £35, lots of colour choices
A nice watch from fossil for £50, both from outlet
Firetrap jacket down to £20 from their site
Firetrap 3 in 1 bag for £11 from their site
Wireless ear phones
Aftershave in large size, one of his favs

For cyclists: swarfega hand cleaner, a chain cleaner, bike lights, cycling socks for winter or summer
For foodies - posh olive oil, vinegar, microplane grater, BBQ stuff
For geeks - latest science books

Best gift ever for men with specs - wooden nose specs holder.

And I definitely agree if in doubt get their favourite tipple or favourite chocolates.

My recent favourite - David Sockney socks for arty types.

For

for posters who grew up in the 80's these T-shirts made me laugh

FORMcards are great. I got them for everyone last year - blokes and my DD. They are coloured re-usable, malleable cards - fun and practical. at about a fiver a small pack, it was affordable, too. I put them in a funky card.

www.kickstarter.com/projects/formcard/formcard-melt-mould-make-mend

OH used one to fix a dodgy wing mirror in place one day in a bit of an emergency.

I'm going to sound like a right old Grinch now....

I think it is very childish buying for adults at Christmas to be very honest. I am not tight or stingy by any stretch, it is just ridiculous, and time consuming, and so very stressful!

Our family came to an agreement years ago that we would only buy for under 18s. Perfect world now.

Over 18s do not have to buy tat to put in a bag to reciprocate, and under 18s don't care about buying gifts. Win win.

When will people wake up and realise that it is not about the gifts (that often get recycled into the Charity Shop after Boxing Day), but it is about being with each other and enjoying the company of our families and friends that is so important.

But hey, if you must buy don't get stressed about it. Choose the same gift for every man and you will never be accused of favouritism! Nice bottle of wine in a lovely wine bag always goes down well. If they are non drinkers, get them a book/gift voucher.

No one really cares what you get them. It is all just a handover of elegantly wrapped gifts on the day. So do it all at once and get everyone the same thing, or don't do it at all anymore!

I cannot imagine adults getting multiple gifts from multiple people, and having to return the favour and worrying about it. It is ridiculous!

But each to their own. It is expected, and tradition I suppose.

DH used a form card as a screwdriver for an awkwardly worn screw. They were indeed excellent.

This is an excellent thread! I am mostly bookmarking...especially for my dad as he is nearly impossible to buy for.

Fucky My boyfriend will love that stuff, thanks!

I’m a massive nerd and the men I know are massive nerds so last exit to nowhere T shirts go down well.

Membership of local cinema is good if in budget.

Last year my OH bought me a battery charger (for my camera batteries), which I think is a good present.

I see what you mean about buying for adults Reed1 but I’m the only one of my 4 siblings that have kids- so I ask them all to buy for my kids and don’t get them anything? Doesn’t seem quite right.

Facebook has reminded me of Nanoblocks: like Lego but smaller.

I have to agree with pp that exchanging gifts with adults is slightly absurd. But that's why "genuinely useful" and "nicer version of everyday consumables" are a good thing to aim for if you are still in a gift-exchanging dynamic, and assessing who actually needs a gift and who could have a nice card and a smile instead is a good plan all round!

Josieannathe2nd

You are not "asking" anyone to buy for your children. It is done voluntarily.

That is a perfect example of how it works in our family. We buy for children, that is what Christmas is all about, we don't care about anyone buying anything back, the deal is under 18s only. I have no children and I don't even think of anything like you mentioned. Not at all.

it has worked brilliantly.

We just enjoy all being together for one day a year when many have to travel long distances. That's what it is all about to me anyway.

Ooh, love the form cards. Thanks!

I need to start another thread for older women who definitely don't want anti-wrinkle cream, chocolate, perfume etc

Do it, Whirlwind!

I'll never forget the thread from the woman who'd had a crappy period or two, and her husband offered to pay for her to have a privately-done hysterectomy for Christmas. He thought she'd be thrilled.

Excellent thread.

I always do dp a hamper along the 'beer and pork scratchings' line. It always has beer/pork scratchings of several types / mustard (one jar of posh-ish and one of Colemans / chutney / some sort of chilli or barbecue sauce etc. Sometimes instead of a box, I wrap the stuff up in a 'thing' such as a new backpack or a cake tin.

And yes to things like an updated version of his favourite jumper etc.

Wine and cheese or a big pie always go down well too!

Voucher to local art house cinema?
Amazon or Waterstones voucher?

These deliberations are the precise reason we've decided (the whole family) this year that presents are for under 18's only. We were all spending ages deciding what to buy each other when really we can all buy anything we actually want.

Sorry OP I know that's not helpful to you but it's liberating!

A hysterectomy?!?

Oh my.

I bet that was quite the Christmas morning.

Isn't the point that you could but don't?

An iPad is "if I wanted it I'd buy it". Posh hand cream is the kind of thing you like but wouldn't splash out on, hence ideal gift.

I've actually asked OH for that blur anti-wrinkle cream. He's bemused.

But I do want to try it.

Plus, it'll have the comedy value of my opening it in front of his teenagers and them thinking he's fucked up in the league of the biggest Christmas fuck ups of all time (I'm a few years older than him!), and I can just smile sweetly and say thank you my love that's perfect.

Fab thread. I may just be getting one of those aeropress coffee things, for dh who,loves his coffee.

Saying that, he’s just bought a teapot with an inbuilt tea strainer in it from Costco, and consequently has discovered loose leaf tea, so I may be buying him a loose leaf tea selection.

Teapot

Similar to this

I know you said purely decorative isn't what you're after. But. My DH isn't a knick-knacky person, and last year I got him a die-cast model of his favourite car, for like £9 off eBay. I got it as a bit of a random add on but it was his absolute favourite thing and he's still talking about it almost a year later. So I'd recommend that sort of thing for petrol-heads.

Exactly MrsHathaway. I've bought my mum a jacket she tried on and looked fab in but didn't buy because she didn't feel she should spend the money on herself. She could, my parents have plenty of money but are generous to everyone else, just not themselves. Yes, they'll buy me something and in some ways it's just an exchange of money but my mum would never have bought the jacket but will absolutely love it. I'm cool with that.

If people can't afford the gifts that's obviously a different matter. Your point, Reed, is why I don't like mini hampers etc. I've never had one I liked. A 15 quid bottle of wine is likely to be something I'd enjoy by myself or would enjoy bringing out to have with friends. A mini bottle of wine and a small box of thorntons, not so much. So it becomes a complete waste.