Does anyone have a decent idea for their parents?

[Gearedtoyou]

If I had a really good idea (almost) the sky's the limit re cost but I (and they) hate spending money on stuff no one wants. So, I could spend a lot or a little, it doesn't really matter.

Late 70s, active, love their garden but in a very utilitarian WW2 way, they don't want any "luxuries" for it. Dad is quuite interested in the family history, but I've done the DNA thing previously.

I need either a token "something" either between them or separately or a really good idea(s). Please? 🙂

[TheDaydreamBelievers]

Foraging or cooking course?

[LittleGungHo]

I have started giving cash with obligations. So far example I gave my Dad £40 for brunch, he could use if for one blow out brunch with my mum or get ingredients and do it at home. I also researched and gave him ideas of where to go if he wanted to walk, cycle or drive and a recipe.

Worst case he has £40 cash that would get spent.

This book. Get him to complete in over the winter months. Something lovely for you to treasure. My parents have never given the one I bought my back...
www.google.co.uk/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwj1ucqu7tL0AhXCnXcKHacBAsUYABAKGgJlZg&ae=2&sig=AOD64_2iZXKcI3zp1GKgszDpN0RHbkEZcw&ctype=5&q=&ved=2ahUKEwiursGu7tL0AhXISfEDHbCiCe0Qwg96BAgBEBA&adurl=

A cookery course? A family photoshoot 😬?

[AliveAndSleeping]

@Gearedtoyou

Oh dear I can go through all the ideas and say why they'd hate them.

• They have English Heritage. Very anti NT on ethical grounds (I'm not entirely clear what they are but I know there is quite a movement against some NT dealings)
• Bought puddings? That would never do.
• Why would you want to pay £££ for dinner when we can have better in more comfort at home?
• My sister does photo calendar every year and my dad finds it egotistical.
• Dad also objects to "charity" and do gooders on the basis that (he thinks) most are corrupt.
• I've done experiences in the past and they don't use the vouchers

They are actually good people, but they genuinely don't want anything.

Hi Sis. Good to see you here.

[WouldBeGood]

Now I’ve properly read your thread, I’d give them some homemade sweets or biscuits and a nice card.

[Couchbettato]

Seed bombs? For when they want to go full guerilla on their neighbour Doris' unsightly and colourless garden 😁

[Taytocrisps]

Blanket or heated throws?

[YouGotThisKeepGoing]

MIl is similar. FIL was a bit less so.

Mostly I can share method rather than items but there are some items interspersed in here.

Gel kneeling pads for gardening. Preferably ones that make a donation to some approved charitable organisation.

She has one Jaffa cake a day as they are really low fat, so finding similarly low fat chocolate orange things has worked out well e.g. dried orange slices half dipped in chocolate or chocolate orange marshmallows They are obviously individual to her, but the process is understand and accept one of their niches, understand the reasoning and criteria behind it and extend that reasoning into finding something else that also fits the bill. Doesn’t matter if it’s inexpensive, just that it shows understanding and acceptance and ideally that is is tricky to find.

Organic fine gauge merino wool thermal underwear.

Think about important life events that have happened recently and also about people that hey live; particularly people they miss. So a cashmere cardigan (bought in the sale of course) reminded her of her dear but departed sister who worked in a cashmere mill as a seamstress. Similarly a cushion from Etsy of a cat’s face that looked like the cat they had when the kids were little. Obviously you have to tread carefully with this.

Find out what their dominant senses are. So taste, touch, hearing, vision, smell. You may know this just from being round them over the years but in case you don’t the words people use often give clues. So if people say things “You see what I mean” a lot that’s sight, “I need to get a feel for it” that touch etc/ pick something for each that appeals to that sense. So for touch it might be a plushy cushion, for scent it might be an essential oils vapouriser or a non-showy but fragrant plant, for visual it might be a picture of a favourite place or noticing the colours they gravitate towards and getting something in that tone (it’s a particular shade of lilac in MILs case), for taste it might be a very niche food item like gentleman’s relish or rose petal jam, for sound it could be a recording of a favourite musical piece or performer. This is good if you are going the separate presents for each route.

If either drink spirits then a sample set from Master or Malt (you can build your own and individually select each item) plus a handwritten “voucher” that when all have been sampled and a favourite selected, a full size bottle will be provided in January. And if they aren’t grabbed by any then they can go on the site and pick their next set of samples which you will get for them to keep the ball rolling.

Chocolate Oliver’s went down a treat with FIL. He remembered the story about John Lennon asking to be paid in those when the highest rate of tax was huge. So think of either a contemporary or a historical figure that is admired and get something connected with them, and specially if it’s a bit of a tangent rather than e.g. a book about their life.

Rose mouthwash from Floris.

[Wiredforsound]

The gifts my dad liked the best have been:
M&S socks and pants
Good slippers
A navy v neck jumper from Crew that he never has off him

My mum has liked:
Flowers and plants
A nice garden bench
Jewellery

In spite of being sceptical they have both loved the air fryer and have got a lot of use from it.

[MrsLargeEmbodied]

a goat
some sort of charitable donation on their behalf

[whisperingangie]

I did a fantastic online gardening course in the summer with In Bloom.
I know they also do floristry courses too (which is on my Xmas list from hubs !!) How about something like that ?

inbloomandco.com/school

Or a nice bird feeder? Bird book and binoculars ?

[Livandme]

Garden Centre voucher.
Hamper of Little treats.

[HeartvsBrain]

You don't actually want or expect any good ideas do you OP? Do you at least want our sympathy?

One day you will be able to give them what I give mine - flowers for their graves.

[updownroundandround]

If they like wildlife, either a National Geographic subscription or a birdfeeder ?

A wellie stand ? Or umbrella stand ? (Truly 'utilitarians' often quite like this sort of thing apparently ? i.e It serves a purpose ?)

Vouchers for stately homes/ wildlife walks etc ?

A heater/light for the tool shed/garage (If they are always in there sharpening and oiling tools etc)

[Pigsears]

Wireless headphones

Get existing tools sharpened / overhauled (eg axe, spade)

[FearlessSwiftie]

Maybe an Ancestry subscription or a software to restore old photos like Photoglory or something from this list- ams-photo-software.com/photo/best-photo-restoration-software.php ? Could also be a genealogy magazine subscription www.thoughtco.com/top-genealogy-magazines-for-family-history-1422150

Also think if some of their gardening tools need renewal and maybe get them an upgrade.

[Mammma91]

I got my mum a personalised chopping board from etsy, it was £20. It has ‘gran’s kitchen, grandchildren always welcome and everything handmade with love’ and it is absolutely beautiful. I know she will love it!
My dad asked for a pair of jeans and a hoodie. So that’s what he got. Neither are materialistic and don’t like having a lot of money spent on them.

[Schhhteeevie]

@HeartvsBrain oh, come on! It’s going to be a long day if you need to comment something similar on any PIL or parental thread

OP what about a good quality personalised pocket diary each or a desk diary for both?

[PatriotCanes]

HeartvsBrain I would love the OP to come back and shoot down each and every idea. It would be like having my mother and MIL back in the same room. It's not proper Christmas without one or both of them pointing out how X got her a nicer/more expensive/more thoughtful gift, or one that is actually useful/doesn't kill dolphins/might actually grow in the garden, and perhaps I shouldn't have bothered

[HeartvsBrain]

[quote Schhhteeevie]@HeartvsBrain oh, come on! It’s going to be a long day if you need to comment something similar on any PIL or parental thread

OP what about a good quality personalised pocket diary each or a desk diary for both?[/quote]
@Schhhteeevie, oh dear, do I do that? I don't mean to be a miserable grump, so I give my apologies to the OP if she is upset by my comment, and to you, and anyone else that it has upset or annoyed.

[StrangerThanSpring]

@PatriotCanes

HeartvsBrain I would love the OP to come back and shoot down each and every idea. It would be like having my mother and MIL back in the same room. It's not proper Christmas without one or both of them pointing out how X got her a nicer/more expensive/more thoughtful gift, or one that is actually useful/doesn't kill dolphins/might actually grow in the garden, and perhaps I shouldn't have bothered

That's funny!

I think if they genuinely don't want anything then it is fine not to get them anything. Then they'll probably moan that you didn't get them anything. But, it's better not to worry about it. Some people won't be happy no matter what you do.

[Pennythoughts28]

Im sending mines away for the night and made a hamper with gin gin glasses snacks ect

[Lyricallie]

We got gardens world subscription for my MiL that went down well last year and we bought the December copy to stick a print out of the subscription into it. www.gardenersworld.com/subscribe/

[LolaBaby75]

My suggestions are:

• an almanac for 2022 to make gardening notes
  

• a gardening kneeling mat (which they will already have) but one with that has sides to hold onto to get up again
  
• scarfs, gloves and umbrellas (as these are easily lost and are useful)
  
• greeting card organiser book/folder
  
• heated throw
  
• specialist bird food subscription
  
• locally made produce
  
• turtle mat, draft excluder
  
• fornum and mason hamper
  
• cast iron welly boot remover
  
• personalised wooden welly holder
  
• welly socks

[Alfixn]

To the pp's who suggested garden centre vouchers: thank you!!! Finally a gift that my MIL will actually want. Can't believe I never thought of it.

To the OP: my parents just want time with us. So usually we bring them out for a posh dinner somewhere and spend a nice evening with them. They love it

[Couchbettato]

What about cleaning service vouchers?

To give them more time to relax or if they already have a cleaner, take some of the financial burden off?