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Christmas

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

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Original poster

Present ideas for in laws and parents in their 60s...

25 replies

ja9r · 15/10/2018 17:29

In recent years

Gardening centre vouchers
Restaurant vouchers
National Trust membership
B&Q vouchers
Dressing gowns
Ladies - handbags or overnight bag

Looking for some new inspiration...

OP posts:

Iwantplaits · 15/10/2018 17:35

A night away at a lovely place in the countryside or seaside?

Magazine subscription

Theatre tickets

reluctantbrit · 15/10/2018 18:19

Things we got in the past

Books
Jigsaws
Scarves, especially thin ones for my mum to wear with tops
Jewellery
Calendar
Pocket diary and pen
Hats
Gloves
Concert tickets
Perfume
Bath and body items, my mum loves them but never treats herself

Practical items (we knew they wanted)
Kitchenette
Kettle
Computer accessories like mouse and small web cam
Spice grinder
Tea and coffee set
Wine and glasses

TheWiseWomansFear · 15/10/2018 18:26

We got MiL some nice chocolates, some very pretty coasters to replace her dodgy lot and a new sewing set. DP received booze.

TheWiseWomansFear · 15/10/2018 18:26

They're impossible though, very very wealthy and we're skint so they just buy anything they particularly want and we can't afford very nice luxuries

TruelyTruelyScrumptious · 15/10/2018 19:01

They're impossible though, very very wealthy and we're skint so they just buy anything they particularly want and we can't afford very nice luxuries

Then be honest, tell them and dont give anything

I don't let my dc give me anything as I can buy anything I want whenever I want it. I don't want them to waste their money.

Alanamackree · 15/10/2018 19:42

Bit of an odd one perhaps but a four zone dual controlled electric blanket went down very well. it was something they had never thought of getting themselves despite decades of bickering about the temperature of the bed.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 15/10/2018 19:47

For my dad a few years ago I had a really nice photo of him with the DC, put it in a frame, sorted.

For my mum, usually novels that she might not have thought to buy for herself (she complains that nobody else buys her books).

How about afternoon tea voucher?

Sadik · 15/10/2018 20:19

My parents are older, but cream tea on a steam train was a big hit, and I think they'd have enjoyed it when early retired too. (Teenage DD & I also went as transport was part of the gift and we both liked it!)

goose1964 · 15/10/2018 20:23

I'm getting my dad a garden journal, he's a keen gardner, the only idea I've had for my in-laws is a diffuser,

CaseStudyResearch · 15/10/2018 20:27

Got them matching skyline portraits of the towns they grew up in and framed them.

Alexa plus Philips Hue to control the lights.

Tree for the garden and personalised plant pots.

Wrought iron bird bath.

Cooking lessons or food tour of a local city.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/10/2018 20:41

I've followed the same model for my parents for the last couple of years:

a book each - something I've enjoyed during the year, that I don't think they'll have come across before

a bottle of whiskey (dad)

a bottle of 'good' Cava (mum)

'posh' chocolates to share, that they wouldn't buy for themselves

Ragwort · 15/10/2018 20:51

Ask them ! I would hate to think of my adult children struggling to buy me presents. But I hate this idea that over 60s are considered a special category of elderly people who might want an electric blanket or jigsaw. I am 60 & my mum (85) & I had a fab night away at a city break with a spa day to celebrate our birthdays. My parents frequently tell me 'not to waste my money on them' - I am comfortably off but they genuinely don't want any more stuff in their lives.

Fruitloopcowabunga · 15/10/2018 20:56

We did this for rather older (less tech-savvy) DM - digital photo frame pre-loaded with loads of old family pix. She likes to watch the whole loop before bed every night.
Also ready planted bowls of hyacinths, amaryllis etc

PurpleWithRed · 15/10/2018 20:56

I’m 60 (apparently). Get them an experience of some sort, not a thing. Nice day out with the family, theatre tickets, nice massages, whatever. But not stuff. Please.

reluctantbrit · 15/10/2018 21:03

Ragwort — my mum is jigsaw mad. I cannot remember a single year of my childhood where the dining room table wasn’t covered for weeks on end with one jigsaw after the other.

1000 pieces at least.

Ewock · 15/10/2018 22:45

CaseStudyResearch where did you buy the skyline prints from? Sorry I don't know how to link someones name.

CaseStudyResearch · 16/10/2018 11:40

@Ewock I got them from ArtPause on Etsy - one city was on there, but the other wasn’t, so emailed them to ask if they could do one for that specific town, and they were great at sending over a design idea for me to look at before I paid.

DontCallMeCharlotte · 16/10/2018 11:48

We got MiL some nice chocolates, some very pretty coasters to replace her dodgy lot

As a stocking filler, we gave my MIL (86) some coasters last year (again to replace her nasty ones). In the New Year she asked me if I'd like them as "someone gave them to me for Christmas and I'll never use them". I didn't think before I said "yes that was me!". We had a laugh over it.

I think she's doing the Swedish Death Clean as she's giving away loads of stuff and really doesn't want anything so I think this year I'm going to get her a subscription to People's Friend or Woman's Weekly or similar. She can then pass them on to her best friend.

Ewock · 16/10/2018 13:55

That's fantastic thanks casestudyResearch

BertrandRussell · 16/10/2018 13:58

What would you give them if they were 30? That.

SoVeryOuting · 16/10/2018 14:06

You say they are in their sixties, but how old are they in their heads?

DH and I are in our sixties and would like Go Ape tickets for Christmas, have already mentioned it to our kids, who asked us last month.

Having said that, we don't like 'stuff' either, we usually buy what we like when we like. On my laminated list, I have good chocolate, good wine and champagne, and a nice malt whisky.

Sadik · 16/10/2018 16:39

"What would you give them if they were 30? That."

Not sure a bottle of whisky plus a book for my mum & a record for my dad would go down that well - neither of my parents now drink due to ill health, dad's hearing has deteriorated to the point he doesn't listen to music any more (mum does online streaming, and both mainly read on Kindle where you can't give specific books!

Sadik · 16/10/2018 16:40

(TBF they are considerably older than 60)

Original poster

ja9r · 16/10/2018 17:07

Funny , I stated their age to show not old! Rather than they are old! That must be because I don't think of myself as old!

In laws don't drink... and we've done theatre tickets etc in past. Like the idea of afternoon tea on steam train so will look into that.

I do ask them.. sometimes they have ideas... sometimes not...

OP posts:

Alanamackree · 16/10/2018 17:14

I hate this idea that over 60s are considered a special category of elderly people who might want an electric blanket

I gave mine the electric blanket because we got a gift of one and found it bloody brilliant. But I have a fondness for useful gifts so that probably makes me a special category too

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