Pensioners who don’t drink or eat sweets or go out?

[CamillaRose]

Absolutely stumped for gifts. Both on medication and diabetic so they don’t want sweets or alcohol. They’re still staying home because of Covid so don’t want memberships or tickets. I’ve tried books and magazines in the past but they don’t read. DVDs have been left unwatched. They like being cosy, watching Netflix and gardening in their tiny back yard. But they already have blankets and gardening tools. Help!

How paying their Netflix subscription or similar for a year.

Bought pil an extending magnetic pick up pole thing, and a set to help opening jars etc. Boring, but useful! And garden centre vouchers for anywhere - they actually visited garden centres in lockdown as felt safer outside. Think they use their vouchers in the cafe too.

Fancy hot choc, food hamper, indoor plant, vase; jigsaw, electric photo album

Netflix or Asda gift cards? Boring but better than buying something they never use I guess!

I totally agree with Finally (& yes, I've also found lots of gifts when clearing out after a loved one has died ).

Many people - and I include myself, I am early 60s, just don't want any more stuff in our lives. My DM is late 80s and she almost dreads birthdays and Christmas because she is given stuff she doesn't want or need but is so polite she feels she has to use things, put them on display etc etc.

Often we give presents to appease our conscience, or because we think we 'ought' to buy something rather than really think about the recipient and if they really want something.

Have an honest chat, I know my own DM much prefers my company and maybe going out for a nice meal than any 'gift' I could buy her.

User my DM was given one of those electronic photo frames once - she was absolutely horrified .

I won ‘favourite grandchild’ last year when I had a blanket printed with her wedding day photo. Grandad died 30 odd years ago. She’s always been pretty vain and she loves it! My mum says she always shows any visitors and has it on bed.
I usually go with plants for her conservatory/garden as that’s what she enjoys looking at. Not sure this year, might do a window box with bulbs but I can’t remember her window size.

If they're diabetic really dark chocolate is OK, no need to get special diabetic stuff. Stute do make suitable for diabetics. They're not made with sugar which means they're slightly runnier than usual but you can't taste th differnce. I love the blackcurrant one best.

Jams fgs

I sometimes pick out stuff I know they like from M&S and get the odd to decorate a box to put it in.

For a vegan animal fan I have put together a little hamper of green household cleaning products. Strangely successful.

An rspb membership was good basically a donation in return for a magazine for them.

The kids decorate a box. Not sure who the odd is

Kitchenwares? Tea towels, pan grabbers, ovengloves etc. Or mugs?

We tend to buy gardening books to be honest, plus have bought nice soaps eg national trust shop ones etc. My parents aren't as tricky as they go out - I'll buy them theatre tickets this year.

Dp's disabled dd is tricky too as she doesn't understand money (the fallback for young adults) and has everything she needs and too much stuff really, getting rid of things isn't an option as she does notice. She doesn't understand tickets or gift experiences and size of the box is everything so primark or charity shop buys are a go to for quantity in clothes.

Tbh i either get them a voucher for the local supermarket or my granny gets so excited with hampers of things she uses
Pasta, tea, coffee, toilet rolls, washing up liquid, washing powder, softener ettc6qq

She is very practical and only wants things she can use

My grandma is potentially older than who you are buying for ... in many senses ... doesn't use the internet etc.

Last year I bought her a jigsaw as she loves them. I also got a photo of her and her dad on her wedding day from 70 odd years ago. Framed it and gave it to her. She loves it.

A nice outdoor plant pot. Always useful

How about something like this to go on the arm of their chair armrest table I was gifted one last year and am amazed at how much I use it!

Goodness, how old are they? Me and DH are supposedly oldies, but we don't feel it. My wish list includes DM socks to go with my boots, DM rucksack, painting overall, art equipment, a tattoo voucher, tops, jumpers and cardigans (not old fogie looking), makeup, Netflix voucher, new Kindle. DH is a lot older than me as he'll be 80 soon. He wants a dash cam, anything gardening orientated, expensive chocolates, posh biscuits, jumpers and tops. If people gave us slankets, remote control holders, slippers etc., we'd be polite, but horrified.

www.cosyfeet.com/socks/diabetic-friendly?gclid=CjwKCAjwhuCKBhADEiwA1HegOYFrRzkwaT9eETkDqkjTS4DDL4EVIWmGdzY8kzUlDkCpyK8nHahJ-xoC_L4QAvD_BwE

Cheese board
Bubble bath or similar
Nice new note book or address book

If they like Netflix maybe a subscription to other tv services? Amazon prime video, Apple TV etc?

Radio times subscription

I had a frank discussion with my elderly relatives about gifts as they were the same and they replied “ we have everything we need we just want some of your time” so we just spend Xmas eve, Xmas day and Boxing Day with them and they love just being with us (we obviously see them throughout the year) but we maybe only saw them a few hours over the festive period now we see them from whatever time they want picking up to dropping off and they are content and happy spending time with all of us rather us giving them gifts they don’t want! We buy in food they like too and look after them and fuss over them so they feel appreciated and they always seem to enjoy it (obviously we couldn’t see them last year but we’re back doing it this year)