If you're in your 50's and financially comfortable...

[marezeedotes]

What would be a nice £30ish gift to receive from your daughter that loves you very much and is fed up of giving you marmalade and biscuits that you very graciously pretend to to love?

Bonus points for gift ideas for your slightly churlish older husband who's retired and has no hobbies other than the Masons.

Something where £30 means it’s a really nice one - the hand cream was a good idea.

I am this age and all these present ideas sound like they are for old women.

I know chronologically I am an old woman but I don’t do any of the stuff people are suggesting.

I want a new pair of running shoes for Christmas. Going to fight the pain and go jogging

I don’t drink, I am allergic to dairy and wheat so afternoon tea, chocolates and gin wouldn’t even feature on my list.

I shower so bath oils are redundant
I hate gardening, cooking, jewellery and reading.

For my birthday my dc got my phone screen repaired.

Best thing they could have got me.

I'm 44 but I like:

A pot of my favourite moisturiser, toner or cleanser. (Liz Earle)

A magazine subscription

An activity like afternoon tea together

Not a voucher. M&S do some lovely leather gloves in funky colours. A hardback book with a nice box of chocs and maybe a posh tin of tea or coffee? My favourite presents from my DD involve time spent together so something like a handwritten card inviting me to a day out together would be the best gift I could have.
Husband is harder - my DH loves a Viz annual but also likes other books too. Debbie Harry’s autobiography is out now. TK Max have some nice things.

^ a trip to the theatre would suit me very well

For £30, it would cost closer to £80 for 2 people even in a provincial theatre.^

Not our local one, and 'stage to screen' tickets would be well within budget.

I've not RTFT and know it's been suggested, but I'd like some flavoured gin - I've never tried any, DD has. Not vast quantities, enough for DH and I to sample a few.

Our local theatre is very reasonable.

A few suggestions

www.thewhitecompany.com/uk/Verveine-Hand-and-Nail-Gift-Set/p/VRDHS?swatch=No+Colour

www.tkmaxx.com/women/accessories/handbags/tan-leather-mini-backpack/p/11403973?rrec=true

www.tkmaxx.com/women/accessories/handbags/navy-leather-mini-backpack/p/11375418

www.notonthehighstreet.com/studiohop/product/gun-metal-pearl-cashmere-shawl

I am this age and all these present ideas sound like they are for old women.

No-one has mentioned anything tech until you.

I would like a lightweight portable charger that still does 4 full charges. I left mine in the USA earlier this year and the replacement anker I bought is really heavy. Someone needs to go to a shop and pick them all up to see the weight- that would be a great gift.

I am about the same age as your Mum , However I would not be happy with Marmalade !(like Shortbread tins though!) .My own DD took me out and I chose a present from Accessorise and some nice lush soaps to go with it .Everyone is different ,but I would be thrilled at some 9ct gold knot studs (On Christmas list to DH!),a nice soft blue jumper ,M and S Merino wool (£29.50 currently), some perfume ,again M and S (about £26.50 ).Anything to do with dogs (have Dalmatian hence user name!) .some nice slippers ,PJS , Hand cream , facial stuff , a pretty torch .As far as DF goes no clues really ,(DH nightmare to buy for TBH)!

I am of the age of the mother. My dds would get me :
Leather gloves
Nice gin
Jo Malone or Luz Earle smellies
Lunch out with them

To be fair, they actually bought me a mulberry bag for my birthday!!!

My wonderful step mother is a runner, so I’d get her some running leggings from Tikiboo

I'd love to go for afternoon tea as I never have!

It would be more about spending time together for me tbh.

Cooking Christmas lunch would be appreciated!

I am this age and all these present ideas sound like they are for old women

Absolute bollocks. I'd have liked alcohol, make up, skincare, leather gloves, book tokens, theatre trips etc etc in my 20s. The OP asked for ideas under £30 which rules out things like decent running shoes and most tech

Marmelade & bisquits? What are you going to give your dps when 80 .

Perfumes, hobby items, books, lotions, a wicker basket (i love baskets), giant jar with sweets or whatever she likes.

Magazines, a Readly prescription.

There is a thread running with suggestions for dh gifts, perhaps something on that for your df.

But essentially your dm would probably like the same as you as a personal gift.

Do 50 yo women really go for expensive ‘afternoon tea
They do in the bigger cities where upmarket hotels and independent cafes do some amazing afternoon teas, usually with an alcohol element. I think this has filtered down from the amount of travel to places like Dubal and Singapore that do great brunches and afternoon tea. People want that sort of thing in their own city. So certainly in mine it's something people of all ages do. There's some great children's ones out there as well. Dd is 8 and has been to a couple with friends. When I was younger Afternoon tea was for 80 year olds and Betty's tea rooms 😂 but those days are long gone.

I am in this age bracket - good presents recently have been an Escape Room experience (a joint present as expensive), a fancy iPad case, luxury loose tea, and a particular teapot I had admired. I would like an Afternoon Tea but around here you are looking at £65 pp for a champagne tea.

For the DH - would be like a National Geographic subscription?

They do in the bigger cities where upmarket hotels and independent cafes do some amazing afternoon teas, usually with an alcohol element.

But lots of the vouchers sold via groupon or red letter days etc are for your local 3 star hotel sitting in the lobby with dried up sandwiches and a glass of warm £5 a bottle prosecco

I would like new secateurs, maybe a trowel, the thinner ones, are a lot better.
Maybe a gilet for the DH, my dh has loads of those !

I love a nice winter scarf and it’s always a joy to get a super soft one. I got a nice coffee travel mug last year that is still going strong and is perfect for work.

Surely the OP knows the type of hotel etc her mum would like for afternoon tea. I'm under 40 and love a posh afternoon tea, based in Glasgow but not too pricy and mostly under 60's!

South east here and afternoon tea would cost the best part of £100 for two (I'm assuming pps aren't suggesting the op sends her dm on her own?)

I’m in my 50s and id be very disappointed if either of my adult dc thought I wanted marmalade . My ds generally goes and buys out the L’Occitane shop for me and dd ( has CFS and can’t work) makes me a calendar with photos of my dog . For £30 ish I’d like nice soap or a gift voucher for a riding lesson at the riding school I use ,

Something from Neom organic...I got a fabulous skin treatment candle from my daughter for Christmas last year...it's amazing, smells beautiful and then you use the oil as a skin treatment
www.neomorganics.com/products/real-luxury-intensive-skin-treatment-candle

Soft suede gloves in an impractical pink, magenta or lavender colour I'd talk myself out of. Sparkly anything from Swarovski earring range or Clarins hand and nail treatment cream. Joules socks (they are bloody lovely). Get grumpy a spider knife small but very nice.

I'm 50, some of these ideas make me shudder! Fortunately DM (70s) and I maintain Amazon wish lists, so we buy each other books from that. Less of a 'surprise' but always something wanted.