Gift ideas for impossible to buy for 60+ year olds

[Niffler92]

There always seems to be loads of people looking ideas for relatives who have it all, please share any ideas here.

I've bought DDad a gardening book from the RHS, and a biography of humboldt. I found a cashmere and cotton jumper in a charity shop for DH.

I think I'm an impossible to buy for 60+ yo! I never want bath products/scents, scented candles, books, jewellery, or food or clothes of any description. A bowl of hyacinths is fine - but I know some people find the scent too strong.

So this isn't very helpful, but if someone says they really don't want a present, just believe them. I try to have "no gift" pacts with as many of the adults I know as possible, and just buy for the children.

This year my mil asked for a bunch of flowers, no plants, ornaments or clothing. She has too much stuff and has no where to put anything anymore.
We will get her the flowers plus a mini hamper of goodies she can consume and not have to find homes for.
My suggestion is to ask people what they want within your budget.

Oxfam goat or other charitable gift?
Depending on their interests you could make this quite special?

Otherwise I think experiences are better than items. Theatre tickets, manicures, cinema trip, Costa coffee card. Doesn’t need to be spendy.

This year I'm sponsoring a hearing dog for my parents. My mum would love a dog but us too ill to look after it so I think she'll appreciate this.

I’m over 60. A bottle of champagne or gin please. No goats.

DM loved bird feeder that stuck to the the outside of the window. They are cheap in The Range but lots of different ones available.
Have bought DF a Storm Glass from Waterstones this year. I think it’s an ace present, we shall see!

I'm over 60.
This year if anyone asks I would like lounge/leisurewear, but not old lady stuff thank you.
No perfume as I already have plenty
If they really want to please me they can all club together and buy me that pair of Docs I am coveting
No gardening gloves..ffs

I'm not over 60 yet but well on the way.
One of my favourite gifts last year was a Christmas planter gifted a couple of weeks before Christmas, a bit like the one in the picture. For a smaller budget I'd also appreciate a Poinsettia in early December.

Otherwise I'd appreciate gin or wine: a cookery book (although you'd have to know what I've already got which is a lot! )
I know a lot of people don't like receiving toiletries, but I love them. I can appreciate the Dove gift sets as much as way more expensive brands.
I'd also be very happy with a charitable donation been made on my behalf, maybe pictures of a shopping basket with some seasonal goodies being bought for a food bank.

Ooh, flowers or hyacinths..... Lovely. No alcohol - I will have bought my own. Anything but candles, please!

So this isn't very helpful, but if someone says they really don't want a present, just believe them. I try to have "no gift" pacts with as many of the adults I know as possible, and just buy for the children

This. Most people will appreciate this far more than candles/smellies/endless chocolates/alcohol that might not be to their taste.

If they have it all, they don't want anything else. If they did want it, they'd have bought it already. Plus many people are forever trying to declutter and consume less, not more.

I agree about no gift if someone says they don't want any, too. Maybe you could plan a nice meal for them instead or get a delivery from a place they like?

If there are any particular interests and you're 100% sure the gift will go down well then go for it, though (could be books by their favorite authors, magazine subscriptions, hand care products for those who do lots of gardening, etc). My grandma is a avid traveller and three years ago we got her a slideshow making program (here is a list of those if your relatives might be interested) as she enjoyed doing videos with photos she took while travelling but I know for sure she wouldn't appreciate stuff like perfume or scented candles.

I’m getting my MIL one of those silk pillowcases plus a thingy that massages shampoo into your head when you wash it. She has very long quite frizzy hair and i think she’ll like those.

Last year I got her a posh water bottle - Swell I think. She loves it. I also got a photo calendar with pics of all of us and the DC and dogs etc and she loves that. I get this for my parents most years too.

Christmas bouquet, flavoured vodka (or gin), theatre vouchers, meal gift certificate.

One year we brought my dad (who is incredibly hard to buy for) a subscription to a monthly box where you get snacks from around the world. Can't remember exactly what it was called but something like 'yum box'. It's an American company but they ship to UK. There are different lengths and we did 3 months as we weren't sure how successful it would be. Very surprised when he asked for it again for his birthday!

I’m over 60. Maofteens nailed it - bouquet, fancy spirits, vouchers.

Please no more bottles of champagne - not the single person’s drink of choice! Cheap chocs and all toiletry sets go straight to the charity shop,

Agree with all the pp about respecting no gift if that is what they want. Am also a big fan of asking what they want - this can be really specific but it also works in more general terms so you still get that “surprise” element. So we exchange general ideas of what we do - and just as importantly - don’t want so I know friend A actually wants toiletries this year, especially shower gel or hand cream and that friend B would like gloves or a hat but really doesn’t want any more candles.

I got last year a sock subscription from sock in a box - I did the 12 month one for MIL and for my Dad. They seem to wear them and say thanks each months.They are quite bright and funky, not thick but a good summer/ or trouser/ jeans shoe type sock. I'm sure there are other companies that do them too... so they send one pair each month for the subscription in a box that fits through the letter box. They are running discount codes for black Friday 🧦

https://www.socksinabox.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29n6jrmk9AIVB-tCh1m3AANEAAYASAAEgI-qqDBwE

I got last year a sock subscription from sock in a box - I did the 12 month one for MIL and for my Dad. They seem to wear them and say thanks each months.They are quite bright and funky, not thick but a good summer/ or trouser/ jeans shoe type sock. I'm sure there are other companies that do them too... so they send one pair each month for the subscription in a box that fits through the letter box. They are running discount codes for black Friday 🧦

https://www.socksinabox.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29n6jrmk9AIVB-tCh1m3AANEAAYASAAEgI-qqDBwE

@mehface

I got last year a sock subscription from sock in a box - I did the 12 month one for MIL and for my Dad. They seem to wear them and say thanks each months.They are quite bright and funky, not thick but a good summer/ or trouser/ jeans shoe type sock. I'm sure there are other companies that do them too... so they send one pair each month for the subscription in a box that fits through the letter box. They are running discount codes for black Friday 🧦

https://www.socksinabox.com/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI29n6jrmk9AIVB-tCh1m3AANEAAYASAAEgI-qqDBwE

Ohh my sister would love that. She is only in her 30's but she loves socks!

I'm over 60 I like things I wouldn't buy for myself eg
Luxury bath stuff
Perfume
Books or vouchers
Luxury food gifts
Vouchers for meals in nice restaurants
Spa vouchers

Subscriptions are also really nice my son once bought me a cake a month through the post. It was lovely looking forward to it. my friend also 60+ had a magazine subscription gift again very welcome

I am over 60 and I really, really don't want or need any more 'stuff' in my life. Personally I appreciate a charity 'goat' type gift (preferably for the Charity I work for ) but I know they aren't always popular.

I do love a bowl of hyacinths as well.

@BarbaraofSeville

So this isn't very helpful, but if someone says they really don't want a present, just believe them. I try to have "no gift" pacts with as many of the adults I know as possible, and just buy for the children

This. Most people will appreciate this far more than candles/smellies/endless chocolates/alcohol that might not be to their taste.

If they have it all, they don't want anything else. If they did want it, they'd have bought it already. Plus many people are forever trying to declutter and consume less, not more.

Card and a meal