I have £50 to spend on, quite possibly, the most materialistic woman alive

[PumpkinPatchMum]

My mum.

Under 60yo.

Has no hobbies (other than shopping).

Buys herself whatever she wants whenever she pleases. So never has a wishlist.

Only likes designer labels which are way out of my price range.

Things we've previously tried which have failed:

• sentimental gifts like a photo book or professional prints of DC ("I can't hang it up, it doesn't really fit with my decor")

• gift vouchers ("It's quite impersonal. It's just like handing me money. What's the point?")

• taking her out for a meal or an afternoon tea (where she will only sip on a cup of tea as she is permanently on a diet)

• theatre tickets (she has already bought herself tickets for the same show with better seats, or has another show booked for that day)

I have no idea what to get her. Every year it stresses me out. She'll receive the gift with a smile then will give it over to my sister a few weeks later.

She spends £££ on me and DC each year and I always feel silly buying her something so small in comparison.

Whenever I ask her what she'd like, she just says "Surprise me!"

I need to get her something she doesn't know she will like (as she will have already bought herself it)

I need to get her something not clothes, jewellery, accessories, homeware, makeup/perfume-related as she only likes designer stuff

She's not one for homemade gifts or sentimental things like photo cushions or photo books.

She doesn't eat or drink much at all so no fancy foods or hampers.

Total nightmare!

My siblings are a bit better off than me and can afford to buy her the makeup she likes etc. My mum never places any pressure on us to do so but I hate seeing her change in expression after seeing her opening my sister's expensive purse or perfume set next to my Primark onesie i bought for her!

I need to go for something wacky and wonderful.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

I know you said no makeup, but if you know which brand she likes you could get a lipstick and say eyeliner for around £50

Does she like perfume? Order something from one of the French perfume sites (which I think you don’t often see in shops in the UK) e.g. Fragonard. Lovely perfume, not expensive and she may think it is something ‘exclusive ‘.

Fragonard is lovely but M&S sell it so might seem less exclusive.

Does she travel at all? The New York Times have lovely travel books which are a go to for me - the 36 Hours books make me dream of the decadent trips I’ll take when the kids are older. www.taschen.com/pages/en/search/the-new-york-times-36-hours

If she likes interior design and home decoration, their Home book looks beautiful.

If she loves candles go with that, as a candle fanatic myself you can't have enough. QVC gets American candles that aren't as easy to get hold of in the shops. There's a brand called Sandy Bay that do great luxury candles.

Does she drink red wine? A bottle of Italian Amarone would be lovely.

Or second White Company candle or other gifts, usually have 20% off around Black Friday.

What about a set of silk pillow cases? MIL has been raving about how great they are for preventing ageing.

Other than that - I'd probably buy her an Oxfam goat or make a charitable donation.

I never knew M and S sold Fragonard 😱. There are brands though 😁. Or the Italian L’Ebolario, very similar and lovely perfumes. Unless M and S sell that as well mow😁

Other brands that should be, and now not mow. Should I blame the beer or the phone?

Does she drink red wine? A bottle of Italian Amarone would be lovely

I love Amarone! The Wine Society do fantastic booze based Christmas gifts but it take a wee while to become a member.

I'm a similar age to your Mother and rather difficult to buy for. I have a whole draw full of Jo Malone candles and a cabinet stuffed with Emma Bridgewater crockery that II have been given For birthdays and Christmases. For my birthday this year DD1 bought me a pair of quite beautiful leather gloves from Liberty. I absolutely love them.

How about a Ukelele or a classical guitar

Ahem

Drawer

#pedant

Tbh I’d not get her anything, she’s an adult, she buys what she wants anyway

My mum and I bought each other lunch at the River Cafe for our birthdays this year. Had low cal food and wine. Bliss

Designer sunglasses.

Drawer.

Shameless placemark. This thread has helped with DM& DMIL’s present, thanks!

Now if you could all help with DF & DFIL that’s be great...

A bottle of English sparkling wine or growers champagne is more interesting and probably better value than a mass market name champagne.

Or a nice gin if she will struggle to drink a bottle of champagne in one go.

Or twin her toilet if you can stretch to £60 and you get a framed photo/certificate for her to hang in her bathroom. And if she has more than one toilet in her house, you can get it again next year.

All these candle recommendations - if I was your MIL (probably around the same age, I am 53), sorry, but I would think it was the laziest, most “I must get MIL something pricey but I can’t be arsed to find something she would really like’ type of present. Obviously if she loves candles it would be different. You might not be bothered Pumpkin, and I don’t blame you if you aren’t, but if you are, unless MIL loves candles stay away from them.

www.neomorganics.com/real-luxury-intensive-skin-treatment-candle.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI_azt4o2O3gIVV5nVCh0qWwWKEAQYCyABEgLoq_D_BwE

So the above ..u burn for 30 mins & massage oil into skin ..supposed to be amazing

What about www.goodgifts.org lots of options to choose from