What to buy my parents who dislike everything you ever buy them

[whatisthepointofatoering]

Just that, both 70, no real hobbies, they do like drinking wine, but that just seems a cope out unless something amazing and I know nothing about wine, they drink red. I have previously bought them a grape vine.

They always complain about gifts or give them away. But I will see them Xmas day I need something

Last year I did a winter plant hamper, with some chocolates and wine, they didn't crack a smile. I can't bare wasting my money on them 😬

Too be honest if they won't appreciate it either way I wouldn't make the effort, bottle of red on special from asda in a gift bag job done!

@Chottie that is their worst nightmare! They are total snobs, anti charity and you must not mention toilets. I know they sound like total ** but you can't choose your family.

I'd get them a charity toilet - remind them that you are never so grand that you never take a dump.

Really, what exactly are they like as people and present givers? They sound like a pair of joysuckers. Perhaps the best present you can give them is nothing so that they have that to complain about.

Toilet twinning!

For Christmas I am going to pay to twin my patents toilet with one in Africa.

My parents have everything they need, there is nothing I can give them they don't already have, so I'm giving them the gift of being able to brag to their friends about being good, charitable people for a year.

Oh sorry, I'm too slow. In that case give them a bottle of supermarket plonk and tell them to be grateful.

Wine Society is great but they may already have a membership. Perhaps a gift subscription to Decanter magazine?

Gift voucher for local independent wine shop? They can pick their own then and at the very least you will be helping a local business?

Make your own wine kit?

I want to know what they get YOU, OP.

I think you should come down with a cough a couple of days before you are due to see them. They sound very difficult.

I would be tempted to get a big bag of assorted sex toys and lube from LoveHoney. At least their moaning would be amusing to watch.

I mean their complaining! Not the other moaning!

Sorry but they sound awful. I would bring a bunch of flowers or pot of bulbs and a Christmas cake or whatever your favourite dessert is, suggest you open it after dinner and share.

If they like red then maybe chateaunuef de pape (sorry prob spelt wrong) top shelf in the red wine aisles comes in a fancy embossed looking bootle as well.

Great book suggestion reckless. I though you were going to suggest something like this book

What they get me, I've had a whole thread about that before (under another name) but they ask me what I want and then don't get it 😖They do the same for anything I suggest for the kids if they ask, they get something different. It's not a cost thing, they have a reasonable amount of money, I'd say they are wealthy. I don't ask for anything expensive anyway or anything too cheap either. It's some weird control issue I think. They give my brother money and so in a roundabout way he gets what he wants. They won't give me money.

Last year they got me an expensive fruit bowl. I think I asked for some specific slippers ( which cost less than the fruit bowl, I researched it after Xmas) The fruit bowl is fine it's ok, nothing special really for the cost, but handy enough. I think basically they are old fashioned and you shouldn't ask for specific things for Christmas even though they ask me what I want.

I do have a friend who would LOVE to have their toilet twinned so thanks, I'll do this for them for their big birthday coming up !

I was going to suggest toilet twinning but I see that I've been beaten to it not that they would like it anyway what about planting a tree for them or a plaque on a bench if they like walking around their local area?

Good luck , they do sound hard work

@oldstudentmum yes they like that one. I suppose I should get them what they would like, just seems a bit boring, a bottle of wine.

Honestly, stop trying! They will never be the parents you deserve, they’re miserable people and treat you and your brother differently

Just say you’re staying at home this year and that you’ll organise an outing together sometime in spring

Oh, please buy them loo roll, if they as much a comment, tell them you haven't complained about the fruit bowl/slippers thing .

When they ask next what you'd like, say you'd like wine, then give them that bottle back the next year.

A nice decanter? A really good bottle opener? These ones are good https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-partners-sommelier-gift-set-3-piece/p231359753?sku=231359753&sppc=2dx92700055674812551&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItpWy5PGq7QIVwtPtCh3UhQ7CEAQYASABEgKnaaDBwE&gclsrc=aw.dss_

How about some Reidel stemless wine glasses? We have these as our everyday wine glasses (not literally everyday...) https://www.johnlewis.com/riedel-%27o%27-stemless-pinot-noir-nebbiolo-red-wine-glasses-690ml-set-of-2/p231022321?sku=231022321&ss_ppc=2dx92700057150069549&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIkcGphPKq7QIVWvhRCh0f3wifEAQYASABEgKLsDDBwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Just pick up a nice bottle of wine and don’t give it any more thought. They sound like joy sponges and you sound fun.
I’d also think about self isolation as an alternative to spending Christmas with them!

Quite honestly if someone was so very rude about my gifts they wouldn't be getting anything.

How about a photo made into a jigsaw puzzle?

Or a wildlife camera for their garden?

Or an Amazon Echo?

Fuck all.