£20 present needed ASAP for female

[jocktamsonsbairn]

DM has just landed me with a request! She forgot she's seeing her friend (pretend aunt) and her daughter on Thursday and has a present for my aunt. However she forgot about needing a present for her daughter who is lovely abd who has helped both her mum cans mine out during covid. She's 56, likes reading, eating and drinking but quite fussy apparently. Quite well off and likes quality over tat. Not into make up, scarves etc. No idea of her likes/dislikes other than this (and that she likes going on lovely villa holidays and city breaks) as I've not seen her since we were kids!
So oh wise shoppers of Mumsnet, any ideas?!! DM can't use internet and can't get to shops till Thursday!

Budget £15 - £20. TIA

^book 😄

I mean the new Nigel Slater, by the way.

@HelloDulling

The Nigel Slater book is gorgeous. As is the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Handcream or Clarins hand and nail treatment cream. Both are more than ‘just’ hand cream.

Someone buys me this every Christmas. I also have seven tube of l’octainne hand cream.

I really should donate it. It’s in a box upstairs.

Unless you know someone well don’t buy them cosmetics or toiletries. I use Nivea. Love them smell and doesn’t make me itch. This stuff all makes me itch, tiny itchy bumps on my fingers.

Cosmetics are so personal.

Flowers or a box of brownies or a cake or something. Afternoon tea by post?

If your DM doesn't want to give a voucher she presumably doesn't want the value of gift to be known. So a book is out of the question as you must give her the receipt in case she already has a copy
Have you considered a whiskey tasting set (or similar) - have it sent to your mum's house if she can'[t use the internet

I always want several of the Wellcome Book Prize Shortlist, but that’s suspended for the moment.

This is excellent:

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.list.co.uk/article/125006-all-the-major-book-awards-2021/amp/

• though already slightly out of date!

@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia

Hmm …

I am, oddly enough, quite close - descriptively - to the intended recipient. I wish I were well off, but the rest applies. I can tell you honestly I would much prefer a single, well chosen, new this year, volume - from say the Forward Prize shortlist (poetry) or the Baillie Gifford shortlist (non-fiction), to a random selection box including tea bags or face packs - neither of which are likely to be what I use. Because I’m fussy. Even if the book is not exactly the one she would have chosen she will be flattered by the thought. Trust me on this.

Same here! Agree with everything you've said @EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia

Also OP given that she doesn't like 'tat' I wouldn't advise buying a bookmark either or any 'stuff'.
Buy a consumable.
£20 isn't a big budget but she won't think badly of you for buying something generic as you don't really know her well - all the traits you've listed seem like a generic tinder profile

Box of Hotel Chocolate

all the traits you've listed seem like a generic tinder profile

So the OP’s mother is pretending she’s going to meet friends, but is secretly going on a date??

Excellent!

@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia

Hmm …

I am, oddly enough, quite close - descriptively - to the intended recipient. I wish I were well off, but the rest applies. I can tell you honestly I would much prefer a single, well chosen, new this year, volume - from say the Forward Prize shortlist (poetry) or the Baillie Gifford shortlist (non-fiction), to a random selection box including tea bags or face packs - neither of which are likely to be what I use. Because I’m fussy. Even if the book is not exactly the one she would have chosen she will be flattered by the thought. Trust me on this.

Hahaha I'm a book lover and quite the opposite - everyone knows that I'm a reader so they all get me books.. and I've often already read them

@Iwonder08

Box of Hotel Chocolate

Oooh I love these so smooth and creamt and lovely flavours, seconded

My go-to for this audience is a ceramic wardrobe hanger which can be scented with the owner's own perfume. Looks smart, feels luxe, they choose their own scent, and no one buys one for themselves

@HeyMicky

My go-to for this audience is a ceramic wardrobe hanger which can be scented with the owner's own perfume. Looks smart, feels luxe, they choose their own scent, and no one buys one for themselves

this is the gift I didn;t know i needed

What about something from the cloth bound classics?

shop.penguin.co.uk/collections/book-bundles-clothbound-classics?&utm_source=Penguin.co.uk&utm_medium=Linked_text&utm_campaign=Menu_-most_viewed-_clothbound_classics_23_07

Then it wont matter if she has read it or already has it (unless she already has the clothbound version I suppose).

For the ultimate inoffensive but nice to receive gift I go for bottle of champagne, wrapped exquisitely (watch you tube) with a Christmas decoration round the neck with a label.

It's as nice to look at as flowers and you can always find a Christmas decoration that suits.

@EdmontinaDancesWithOphelia

all the traits you've listed seem like a generic tinder profile

So the OP’s mother is pretending she’s going to meet friends, but is secretly going on a date??

Excellent!

Haha!! Love the thought of a pair of pensioners sneaking out on a secret tinder date!! 😂 Not sure how she's been managing to navigate online dating when she can barely cope with sending texts right enough! 😂 Thank you for all suggestions - I have passed them all on and she's decided on a book voucher for £10 and a bottle of wine and some chocolates so she has a present rather than just an envelope/voucher to give! She'll get the voucher in town on Thursday.

She is meeting her friend and her daughter for afternoon tea for those who asked, and has got her friend a Radley umbrella as she needed a new one.

Lots of the cloth bound ones available on Amazon for delivery early next week.

A personalised diary from Papier? I ordered one on Tuesday night and it arrived Friday so should come in time. If you use my referral code here it makes most of them about £16

Cross post, just seen she’s already decided, a voucher sounds good!

As she's fond of books, and you don't know her actual tastes, I'd go for a book token.

I second book from Waterstones with gift receipt.

@DentalWorries

A personalised diary from Papier? I ordered one on Tuesday night and it arrived Friday so should come in time. If you use my referral code here it makes most of them about £16

Oooh that sounds lovely - I might get one for dd!! DM would be worried it might not arrive on time for original recipient!

Now thinking I might order an Amazon voucher as she might have a kindle! DDad reminded me that I use my kindle all the time rather than actual books so she might be the same, especially as she loves travelling! Thanks so much! I thought we'd done all her shopping so wasn't expecting this tonight!

Just to say thanks for the tip re the Oliver Bonas sale @Michellexxx - just got Dsis some extra little gifts from there, there's an extra 20% off all sale stuff until midnight as well - had nearly £100 of bits for just over £40.

Posh soap
But I like bar soap
Have a look in TK Maxx , they always have a good selection