Mid-50s parents - Christmas hamper ideas help!

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Between myself and siblings so budget is a couple of hundred, maybe a smidge more (they have good incomes and no kids ). We’d usually book them a weekend away or buy one “big ticket” item between us but they have everything and obviously getting away for a weekend or booking tickets for an event carries too much uncertainty at the moment. So instead I was thinking a hamper of assorted gifts. We’ve done it before but I feel a bit devoid of ideas this year. I have a handful already - books, nice socks, posh chocolates, some earrings for DM and thermals for DDad as he works a lot outdoors. Perhaps some booze?

If you were a recipient of such a gift, what would you love to find inside?! They are both very easy-going but don’t really have any hobbies or specific interests to speak of.

@Serin

I'm 51. I would say I didnt want anything at all and for you to keep your money. However, if you insisted, I'd be secretly gutted at a hamper and be thrilled with a weekend away. You can still buy vouchers or maybe give them euros?

I’d feel a bit weird giving them cash. We do have family abroad that they are missing so flight vouchers might be an option still, but I need to look at the expiry dates - if it’s longer than a year it would be worth doing (I’m clearly more covid-pessimistic than I realised).

OMG, I'm that age have I really reached an age where hampers are suitable present?

I'm getting there, only another 2-3 years. I have already taught ds(16) never ever to get me a hamper.

Those who are aghast at a hamper - are you envisioning the prepackaged ones wrapped in cellophane? Or is it literally any gift in wicker that gives you the horrors?

Wicker hampers are such a waste and IMO look dreadful anyway. My mum passed away last month and we have been going in a rota over to her house to clear it and there were at least 8 of the monstrosities in her loft, now in landfill (charities wouldn't even take them).

If you have made her a hamper in the past at least ask if she still has the basket to refill.

Noted! I’ll try to think of something more attractive/practical/sustainable for presentation purposes!

I’m 45. I have a young DD but she’s never going to be able to buy me a gift 😰.
But, if I could get gifts of the type you are describing to be completely honest, I wouldn’t want the wicker .. but the contents - definitely!
I live in the UK and miss some shit food stuffs from my home country. One of my favourite gifts ever was a cardboard box with crisps, sauces etc from home.
But, I digress.
I’d always like hand cream (expensive!), books, champagne, definitely flower subscription (!) or a book subscription (I also had that as a gift one year), because I prefer thought over expensive items usually I had a gift once I loved a (quirky cushion a friend got me from a charity shop), old (odd) books (I once saw one with famous last words for instance, or ... a local history or utterly daft book (eg the beautiful poetry of Donald Trump). I suppose it depends on knowing your parents well.
Gifts I’ve given for parents that were small enough for stocking/hamper or a bit different were things like a lovely linens bag from Cologne and Cotton (I love C&C!), luxury throw, small crystal candle holders, garden implements, a rose bush from David Austin, a deckchair with images of London (ok that wouldn’t fit in a hamper!), great cheese, an odd drink (I can’t remember the name of the honey liquor from the Czech Rep), funky gin/champagne glasses, Jo Malone candle, vintage pendant, Christmas items as an extra like the Sarah Miller coasters I’ve just bought).
I think any gift is a good one! And I used to be a picky twat

Sorry for the dreadful grammar. I’ve had a few beers!

All hampers are not created equal though. A cheap prepackaged supermarket one is very different from what the OP is describing - thoughtfully chosen individual things, just wrapped in a container together. Some of the people saying “no hamper” then go on to suggest exactly the type of things OP has said she is thinking of getting. OP I have no specific suggestions but would be very happy to receive a hamper with the kind of thoughtfully chosen contents you describe.

I'm that age and last year ds got me Netflix and a ring doorbell. Both of which I love. If I want smellies or choc or wine, I honestly want to choose it myself. I haven't got to my 50s without knowing what I like.

Yes it’s the “hamper” part that causes the problem. It has connotations of either:

Age - I’m late 40s, and I remember my parents buying hampers for my grandmother. I think for a lot of us “you buy hampers for old people when you don’t know what to get them”.

Generic - hampers are the kind of thing you might like to get from your work, where several hundred people are all getting the same thing. That’s fine when you are just one of many, but not otherwise. I know you are buying individual gifts and just presenting it that way, but it has a certain connotation.

I wouldn’t buy wine if your mum already gets given a lot, particularly if she normally gives some of it to you.

Is there a reason it needs to be something between them? Couldn’t you get them a gift each that is individual to them?

Couldn’t you get them a gift each that is individual to them?

It would be a bit of both - some things that are to share (the Ring doorbell was on my maybe list janetmendoza so it’s good to hear you liked yours!) and some things that are personal to their interests eg I found a book written in the 20s about a topic my dad is into which I was planning to get for him. It’s just so they can open something together which forces DM to sit down for five minutes on Christmas morning and enjoy herself instead of running around after everyone else, though it could just as easily be wrapped up as separate gifts.

The wine she is gifted isn’t usually high end, so I think if I splurged on a really good bottle it would still be appreciated. If I can keep DH’s paws off it.

Loads of ideas to be getting on with, thank you all. And I’ve learned something about inter-generational approaches to hampers

A nice wall calendar. Nice pyjamas. What about a food subscription. Pork pies, cheese, flowers etc. For food subscription look on yumbles. Just slip the voucher on the basket. Perhaps a magazine subscription.

I wouldn't want a hamper because I don't see the point. I imagine a hamper to be food, possibly from Fortnum and Mason, with crazy condiments and overpriced cheese. Lobbing a pack of face sheets and a Wankee Candle into a picnic basket and calling it a present to me just makes it an already packaged charity donation.
You know what your parents would like, I have no idea what that may be. If you were buying me a present, I would like the Very Kerry Wildflower kimono or a silver bangle from Emily Nixon.

Wankee candle

😆😆

Ok, when I replied above saying that I would love a hamper, I didn't mean a pre packed wicker basket of food that's shoved to the back of the cupboard. I made my father a "hamper" for his 90th, but it was a cardboard box with selected items like a book on the life of Bach, German sausages (he was German), sheet music because he still played the piano, mustard he liked, Gentleman's relish etc. He really liked it because a lot of thought had gone into it.

wankee candle
I would still go for a restaurant voucher to use after lockdown. I know we can't guarantee a trip further afield but restaurants will open again.
Is there any piece of furniture they might like or decent mirror etc?

lobster that’s the kind of thing I’m going for too. Obviously posters here don’t know my parents but hearing what other people like is still useful - I never would have heard of those dine at home options if I hadn’t started the thread, for example, and that’s definitely something I think they’d enjoy

Cookery book
M&S snow globe gin
Bottle of champagne
Selection of cheeses
Selection of crackers for cheese
A new board game

These are things I would love to get in a hamper - I’m 52.

Snow globe gin? I might explore that one for myself!

Hamper does sound quite octogenarian.
What about a wine club subscription along with a subscription to The Oldie for your father and a flower subscription and Country Life or another magazine for your mother? Magazine choice obviously depending on their interests.

You could also do a book a month subscription for each - usually related to books they might enjoy with first one delivered for opening at Christmas.

Years ago I made up a hamper for my gruff old grandfather. Each item was separately wrapped. He opened each one carefully and either thumped it down on the table by his armchair without a word or passed it back, saying in broad Yorkshire accent "You can take that back". We still laugh about it now. He wasn't being rude, just didn't like waste. So, fill this hamper with things you like too and it's win-win
FWIW I too like the idea of a gift subscription for flowers/chocolates/wine, voucher for a treaty food delivery, champagne. Also voucher to posh garden centre went down v well with older relative here. Yes to posh hand cream e.g. Aesop. Are they readers? Copy of the Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman? Made me chuckle anyway.
You sound very thoughtful indeed 😊

(p.s. I'm doing a hamper for DFIL, worried now 😖 😂)

I'm in my 50s and definitely don't want a hamper as in a wicker basket or some sort of non-disposable container. If you're going to do that get a banana box from the supermarket and cover it in recyclable wrapping paper. I prefer normal chocs to posh ones so a big box of Maltesers, bag of Minstrels etc. Wine - we do drink it but both are quite picky about it. Gin - yes but not any of the flavoured ones. I keep an updated wish list of books on Amazon. A ring doorbell plus installation would be good for us too. No thanks to smellies, but a pump of handcream for my desk at work would be useful (I am getting through more of it since Covid with all the extra handwashing).

What we'd also like would be restaurant or experience vouchers (in my case for cooking or crafting courses, for DH related to other interests). Not hot air ballooning! Also book or garden centre gift cards.

That's what I call an ExpensivelyDecorated banana box.

I think an avocado crate would be better, just saying.