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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

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

245 replies

PumpkinPatchMum · 15/09/2018 08:42

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!

OP posts:
BIWI · 15/09/2018 18:07

@SoyDora they are expensive and are well known 'good' names for someone who, as the OP has said, doesn't drink much!

ProseccoPoppy · 15/09/2018 20:08

Yay! Pleased the link for the lovely gloves has come in handy!

Fstar · 15/09/2018 20:38

Molton Brown candle from an outlet, travel planner, really nice diary, nice reusable shopping bag like ted baker or radley,

LeMesmer · 15/09/2018 21:12

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 ‘.

Or just take her at her word and get a card!

StarShapedWindow · 15/09/2018 21:23

This thread is fantastic! I’ve found presents for almost everyone I need to buy for and bought myself a book.

ChishandFips33 · 16/09/2018 07:10

I also think it would be nice if she said "use my £50 budget and treat yourself to something"

This way you get the treat and not your sister Grin

Shampooeeee · 16/09/2018 07:37

I would buy a large Neom candle. £45 and much nicer than those nasty Yankee things.
If she likes it, you can just buy another scent every year (pro tip- they have a sale every January).
I’m a bit similar to your mum. I have expensive tastes and I would much prefer to receive one small quality item than a pile of stuff. I just moved house and sent huge bags full of polyester scarves and pyjamas to the charity shop. I’ve never worn them but kept them for years out of guilt. I do like food though so foodie gifts are always a winner!
PP’s idea of quality olive oil and balsamic was a brilliant suggestion.

candlefloozy · 16/09/2018 07:59

Magazine subscription?

lexer · 16/09/2018 08:10

Yankee are not quality! Agree with @Shampooeeee re Neom.

mycheapshoes · 16/09/2018 08:26

This thread has sorted my Christmas and birthday wish lists for the next 10 years!
I would definitely prefer one decent item to 3 cheaper things both in terms of quality and ‘stuff’. I wouldn’t say that made me materialistic.

SoyDora · 16/09/2018 08:30

Grin I now want some cashmere gloves, some Isle of Harris gin and a Neom candle!

womanintrousers · 16/09/2018 08:34

I get all my rich brothers a single item from Fortum and Mason, delivered on 23 Dec to their home all wrapped up. They love it.

AnotherEmma · 16/09/2018 08:39

I agree with BearBehind. For someone who prefers quality over quantity, I’m not surprised she wasn’t thrilled with a pile of presents costing £50 in total including cheap PJs and “cheapish perfume”. For £50 you could get nice PJs (just about) or a small bottle of quality perfume. But it would be safer to get one of the things suggested by PPs.

SciFiFan2015 · 16/09/2018 08:45

I came onto say silk pillowcase. Great for skin and hair. I bought a pack of two from amazon for £16 (it's only silk on one side but I just make sure that's the side I sleep on. It doesn't need to match my bed set because I hide it as the bottom pillow when bed is made. I asked and asked for silk pillowcases but no one ever gave me them, so I bought it for myself.

Other idea is solid perfume.

BangingOn · 16/09/2018 08:47

Definitely go for one quality item over a ‘pile’. There does seem to be a bit of a Mumsnet obsession with ‘making the pile’ bigger which I struggle to understand. A single indulgence that will be loved is much less wasteful than a stack of cheaper gifts.

rhubarbfool · 16/09/2018 08:51

Agree with everyone else -you need one small thing that's ridiculously expensive. Tom Ford lipstick or Teuscher champagne truffles.

saffyBoo · 16/09/2018 08:53

Don't get her anything!!!!

saffyBoo · 16/09/2018 08:55

Or one of the UNICEF or Oxfam gifts where you buy a goat or buy 100 vaccines for kids etc.... She can't say she doesn't like that!!

BigBlueBubble · 16/09/2018 08:59

Breakfast set? Nice mug, plate and bowl.

CottonSock · 16/09/2018 09:03

I was going to say Jo Malone, because I read mumsnet and that seems to be what other people like (waste their money on ;).

Posh chocolates?
A gift that benefits charity? National Trust online shop has some nice prints. Oxfam online also.
Spa day?
Champagne

BangingOn · 16/09/2018 09:03

Going back to the candle theme, The White Company do a lovely wick trimmer and candle snuffer which would be useful if she lights candles regularly.

CottonSock · 16/09/2018 09:13

Another gift I buy people is handmade chocolate brownies delivered in a lovely box. Gower brownies.

We also sponsor a child abroad. You could club together with siblings and do as a family thing.

My dad is impossible, last year he got a firework display in our garden.

OrdinarySnowflake · 16/09/2018 09:50

I agree with the "less, but better quality" approach, one nice thing.

For adults who don't have money issues, they can afford to buy the cheap things themselves, so rather than wanting a pile of gifts, a couple of excellent treats is better.

WhitefriarsDillyDuck · 16/09/2018 11:07

For Christmas Consider George Jensen Christmas decorations Stylish beautiful and not something many others will have. Likely to fit in with most decor too.

I was going suggest those. or alessi, I get both each year. JG ones are very small and if you didn't know what they were you might be underwhelmed.

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