Just sitting and writing my list of who I buy for...

[CakeNinja]

And I’m stuck on pretty much everyone!
Can anyone help me out by telling me what they are buying parents, grandparents, and in-laws please?! Yes I know it’s a lazy cop out but I have a nice low spend month coming up and so I want to start once I’ve been paid.

Join the bargains thread in Christmas. I've bought some great stuff using discounts, all online.
General things that go down well: books, slippers, booze, art, posh candles, leather belts, photo books of DCs. It depends on the person's interests though of course.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/Christmas/3703405-Thread-5-The-Mumsnet-bargain-thread-spreading-the-squeaky-clean-ethical-love

Gonna cop out with you and follow for ideas!!! X

In the past I've given my parents a national Trust membership, and a cafe rouge afternoon tea voucher. Buyagift.com is good for those and Spa days etc.

I don’t know my DB’s partner very well and he’s impossible to buy for so I’ve ordered them a hamper from aldi for them to share as they can’t come for Christmas due to work (nhs). Hope they like it!

National trust membership is something we did for the in-laws a couple of years ago and they loved it. Other hits were V&A membership and those DNA ancestry testing kits!!
They are retired, like walking (have bought various walking route maps etc over the years), pub lunches, sight seeing, politics, the usual retired hobbies I guess
Slippers snd art are a bit personal to choose on behalf of someone else I think? Candles are always a good fallback option though.
I’m always torn between wanting to choose things for people as a surprise as we can all afford to buy our own stuff so if you ask for what they want it feels a bit transactional.
And my other feeling is that I don’t want to buy for anyone else as we both have enormous families and friends that buy for our dc (we buy them something back from the dc) but no one else is ever on board with my suggestion!!!

We're just buying for the kids this year due to the expense of getting married last month lol. Usually get my mum a scarf and smelly sets/candle sets as she loves these. Dad gets a bottle of whiskey. Sister vodka or Malibu, brother in law spiced rum. DGoddaughter and DGodson would get about twenty to thirty quid worth of toys.

We would spend between 150 -200 each on DSD and DS. With DSD her mum would get her to write a list and she would send it to me. We both agree on one big present from it and just send each other what we have got as we went along so not duplicates. Plus clothes and books and sweets in her stocking. DS was toys, clothes and books. We usually send some money for DSD's older half brothers.

Before we went NC with them (Whole other thread) we'd buy MIL what she asked for. BIL used to get a gift card or vodka. DNeice got money/makeup.

Still sending DNeice a presnetbthis year, as it's not her fault her brother and grandmother are total fuck ups.

Sorry type. Should have said father*

Mum - I was thinking pjs, a puzzle and some toiletry/ pamper stuff

Step dad- wine and choc from hotel chocolat

Sister- not sure yet as she is hard to buy for, she will probably end up giving me ideas. I was tempted to get her a primer/setting spray either by too faced or urban decay as I have used both and they're amazing.

I'll probably end up getting a wine for my boyfriend's parents but I said to him id rather just buy for his nephew and son, i wouldnt expect him to get stuff for my family.

Budgeting yo

No advice on presents (I was here to steal ideas!) but wanted to say

@Whiskeylover45 - how lovely that you and your DSD Mum have such a good relationship that you work together to make things nice for her as opposed to so many people where there is conflict and oneupmanship between parents and step parents.

@mancaronicheese thank you :) I agree, it shouldn't be like that. The childrens wellbeing needs to come first, and it is beyond sad that sometimes it doesnt. We've never really had a problem, and always been on the same page re. DSD, and shes happy which is the main thing. Wouldn't say we were friends exactly, as I dont know her on a personal level but we work together well with her DH and my DH and have a mutual respect for each others place in DSDs life. By that (just incase anyone misnterprets) mean as me as a step mum and responsible adult in her life, and her as her mum. But thank you all the same :) I do appreciate it :)

My female go to gifts this year are going to be silk pillow cases. An extravagance to buy for yourself but a lovely treat I think x

I usually get my grandmother a hamper but last year I got her an apron with her name on it as she's an avid Baker.
Clueless what to get my dad.
I'm getting my mother a salt rock lamp and and an aroma diffuser humidifier.
MIL is getting some body shop goodies
FIL no clue!

Should have added in the OP, I don’t do hampers and stockings are for my 3 children only!!
Silk pillowcases are a good idea for my mum. She was complaining about pillow creases on her face the other day. That and maybe the Clarins double serum after I let her try mine and she liked it.
I’m leaning more towards consumables and useables and things that don’t clutter up people’s houses (or at least not for long).
Thanks for the input so far, food for thought.

I wouldn't want a pillowcase. We have sets of bedding, so I wouldn't use a non-matching case. Something to think about (though maybe I'm weird!).

Yeah I wondered about the silk pillowcases too- don’t people tend to match their pillowcases to their bedding?

I’ve bought some eco friendly stuff for some people this year- bees wax wraps and reusable sandwich bags. Plus edibles like chutney and locally produced biscuits etc as well to try to be more local-shopping etc.

Activities or experiences are always good- any shows or exhibitions coming up they’d like? Or can you buy an open rail ticket somewhere for a day out? Or a meal voucher for a nice restaurant?
I got several vouchers for my
Parents for a local cafe- an afternoon tea for two then two £5 vouchers and two £10 ones so they could have a few wee random trips there over the year for just a cuppa and scone or a lunch etc.
Gardening centre vouchers or a new bird table went down well one year for my mum and MIL too- well MIL got a fancy bird feeder thing.

Agree that would be strange for many but they seem to come predominantly in white and I only use pure plain white bedding so it wouldn’t look too out of place ( that is obviously just if I were to buy one for myself and when I made the bed would put that one underneath my other pillow so you wouldn’t even see it).