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Christmas

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

Original poster

Help needed! Impossible to buy for FiL

27 replies

Pippapotomus · 15/10/2019 12:50

FiL is in his 60s. Will only use Dove branded toiletries, which we have done to death with their giftsets. He doesn't like having clothes bought for him as he likes to choose himself. Dislikes shopping vouchers as he thinks people are telling him where to shop. Experience and trips are a no no as he doesn't like being told where he's going. (huge drama when sil gave mil concert tickets one year)

OP posts:
buckeejit · 15/10/2019 12:52

Hamper.

My go to cheap pressie this year is a photo printed on glasses cloth so useful & cute.

Does he garden? You could get him some seeds or lovely trowel/hoe. I bought some copper ones recently & they are great

OldEvilOwl · 15/10/2019 12:54

Wine? Beer? Slippers? Or a voucher for a meal out?

AuntieMarys · 15/10/2019 12:55

He sounds old before his time

Original poster
Pippapotomus · 15/10/2019 12:56

He is a complete Victor Meldrew.

OP posts:
aweedropofsancerre · 15/10/2019 12:58

I have a tricky FIL too. My DH buys for him. Usually a book and chocolates. Did get him a nice scarf one year which he did actually use . My BIL buys him expensive stuff like a camera and it gets put in a drawer

coffeeaddiction · 15/10/2019 12:58

But together a little hamper ? Nice biscuits , little bottle of drink , posh crackers , chocolate ,maybe some fancy chutneys

Original poster
Pippapotomus · 15/10/2019 13:06

He doesn't garden. Doesn't really have any hobbies. He owns a small business and gets gifted huge amounts of alcohol and food hampers from customers and other companies they work with. We're still eating through last years.

OP posts:
roundaboutnow · 15/10/2019 13:16

You say he doesn't like gift cards as he doesn't like being told where to shop but would a gift card for a variety of shops work?

If you have an Intu Shopping Centre near you, they do gift cards for all the shops there.

ColdRainAgain · 15/10/2019 13:21

Do you have kids? Because something made by the kids, or with a picture of them on would be my suggestion!

SingaporeSlinky · 15/10/2019 16:58

Have you tried asking if there’s anything he’d like? Or is he one of those that will say “nothing”?
Puzzle board and puzzles, leather gloves, lap tray, handkerchiefs, magazine subscription?

moreismore · 15/10/2019 17:00

Photobook of grandkids?

wibdib · 15/10/2019 17:04

Box set of Victor Meldrew? (can't remember the name of the series!)

Can highly recommend the glasses cleaning cloth - I've given them out for the last few years and they have always been well received (even if it's the same person - granny likes to have an updated picture with her of the dc so it's a win:win for an easy present!)

Get him something that will truly horrify him - a unicycle/fire juggling set/etc - and use it to threaten him for years to come that if he doesn't give you any ideas then he will have another unicycle etc.

A now tv subscription or chromecast or netflix or similar system?

SingaporeSlinky · 15/10/2019 17:05

On second thoughts, as it’s FIL, I’d probably stop wasting my time trying to please him and ultimately feeling like you’ve got it wrong again. Ask MIL for ideas, or leave it to DH to deal with. He should probably tell his dad that you always feel you’ve got it wrong, so he needs to come up with ideas.

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 15/10/2019 17:47

If he wears glasses, a spectacle holder like this? Would go with the cloth mentioned up thread

Help needed! Impossible to buy for FiL
Throughabushbackwards · 15/10/2019 17:55

I agree with Singapore. Stop trying to please him and pass the present buying duties to your DH.

I stopped doing cards and gifts for my DHs family a few years ago because I felt I never got it right. DH now does his side of the family (or not, if he fucks it up!) and I do mine.

Doubleraspberry · 15/10/2019 17:58

Big hits for a similar FiL have been Ancestry DNA test kit, photos, and a Firestick.

aweedropofsancerre · 15/10/2019 18:45

RockingMyFiftiesNot I got the glasses holder for my DH as he is difficult to buy for too. Cheapest present and he loved it.

aweedropofsancerre · 15/10/2019 18:46

We did get FIL a hitler gnome for his garden once too as we were at a loss and my DH thought it would be funny 😂

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 15/10/2019 19:56

Don't overthink it. A picture or photograph either of or by the grandchildren, something to eat and something to drink.

NetballHoop · 15/10/2019 20:01

I bought my FiL a subscription to Private Eye for his birthday and another to The Oldie for Christmas. He loved them both and I never had to think of another present. Win win.

Puddinchops1 · 15/10/2019 20:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at poster's request.

Barbarara · 15/10/2019 21:01

This armchair remote control holder went down very well one year.

Last year these thin optics went down very well. They’re ultra thin reading glasses in a case that sticks onto the back of a phone. He loves that he’s never without reading glasses.

A battery tester was another hit. Actually this might have been the best gift ever.

DreamingofSunshine · 16/10/2019 07:44

He sounds quite miserable, or someone who genuinely doesn't want gifts (DH is like this).

I'd be tempted to adopt an animal or make a donation to charity in his name.

Doubleraspberry · 16/10/2019 07:52

My FiL doesn’t ‘enjoy’ food, has given up drinking, doesn’t like leaving the house, doesn’t read or listen to music, has every bit of tech he might want (and money to buy what he thinks of) and spends his entire life online on social media and Facebook games. I genuinely don’t think he would give a shit if we didn’t buy him a present but we can’t bring ourselves to do that. Photos it is other than occasional flashes of inspiration over the years.

They already have a remote control holder.

TheClitterati · 16/10/2019 08:02

Get you DH to buy a gift for him. He's plenty of time.