Gifts for women in your life late 40 to late 50

[lifewithme]

What is everyone thinking of getting there women in there life. Have a couple of people to buy for in mid 50s. Around £75.

Agree with others - it's too vague and for your mum and step mum, I'd hope that you know them a bit.

Eg, for my mum, with that budget, I'd probably get luxury things - cashmere scarf, heated blanket etc. Right up her street. She also loves experiences so a theatre ticket would be nice but I'd want to get two and the budget might not stretch to that so perhaps something like afternoon tea somewhere. Or a well established indoor plant.

MIL on the other hand would hate all of that. She loves Clarins products so might get that but she buys them for herself. However, unlike my mum, she loves good quality costume jewellery that makes a statement so I'd probably look for something that I think she'd like. Our most successful gift for her a few years ago was an antique perfume bottle which is elaborate and ridiculous and she keeps on her dressing table!

I'm in my late 40s. As are many of my friends. Our interests and preferences vary massively. For what it's worth - I love beautiful, colourful kitchenware and people often pick me up serving dishes/platters or (in SIL's case) increase my collection of daily plates and bowls. My sister is the same except she's all about elegant whites/greys.

Anything in silk or cashmere is always a win for me and all my close friends and family know that so I regularly get new pieces, all of which I love (I am also ALWAYS cold so it's had not to keep me happy on this).

The chances of someone finding something that I didnt know I wanted, not just once but at Christmas and Birthday every year are vanishingly small.

Oh, I can always find tiny things like newly published books or a replacement pepper grinder that are modest enough to include on a wish list if someone in my family asks me. That isn’t a great problem.

But apart from the generic ‘50+, get her something nice in a safe colour’ thing, these threads are always tricky because what counts as luxury for one mature person is another’s disappointingly everyday, or even just pointless tat. I remember how blood-spattered a past thread became when ‘mug with a (single) posh teabag’ was suggested …

I’d bloody hate a Pandora bracelet. Yack. You can get something so much nicer and less ubiquitous for the same price elsewhere. Such a lazy gift.

I dont care what age you are (unless the gifter is a very small child) a single tea bag is just bloody tight and a shite gift lol.

I mean why no go all out and on top of the tea bag add one of those hotel mini cartons of milk and a single sugar lump - of course with a mug, bottle of water and dont forget a candle to warm the water... IKEA version of a cuppa lol.

Well … the point was that either the OP or the poster was thinking within a very tight budget. It was hard for people to know how to respond.

These kind of threads both amuse me and irritate me in equal measure because we are all different - yes, even women of 'a certain age'. Admittedly, when I was a teenager anyone in their 20s seemed far more mature and sophisticated, while I couldn't relate to the age group specified here whatsoever because they seemed ancient and a whole other species with whom I couldn't possibly have anything in common.

Now I'm mid-late 50s myself I know differently of course. In my head I feel much the same as I did thirty years ago and certainly don't consider myself past it or middle aged though I know that many would (just as I foolishly did when I was younger). Most of all, I consider myself to be an individual, as I'm sure most others of a similar age do too, with varied interests and indulgences. I have always been disappointed by 'generic' gifts because they smack to me of 'that'll do' rather than some thought being given to what I'd like. They're even worse as you get older because they often include a nod to your age, as if that's all that defines you.

For heaven's sake, if you need ideas, just ask - either directly, or indirectly e.g. by leading the conversation around to hobbies and treats, or by checking an Amazon wishlist for example.

Right now, if I was asked for gift suggestions I'd love books (from my wishlist, which includes social history, trashy zombie fiction and biographies), a hairdressing voucher, a voucher for a microdermal piercing (my previous attempts have been rejected but I'd like one last go), perfume - Molecule 01, a Drop by Issey Miyake, a couple of roses (but specific ones), a Warehouse voucher, an illuminated make up mirror, specific platform trainers, specific Tatty Devine necklaces or a specific cat bed I've seen (okay that's not so much a present for me).

I'd hate to receive a 'safe' accessory in a 'safe' shade or a selection of toiletries I hadn't specifically requested - though I would be gracious about it. But inside I'd probably be feeling very upset that I'd reached an age where I was seen as homogeneous to all other women in their 50s.

I didn’t read past the first couple of pages because I’m not sure how anyone can suggest generic safe present ideas for women in this age group . All I know is that I would rather my grown children bought me a voucher for us to do something together, rather than a “thing” . Meal out , day tickets to an exhibition, theatre , even a film , my favourite presents in the last 12 months have definitely been things like that .

For that price I d like an Xbox game and some books

Ask them.

I turn 50 this year and already told DH that I will send him details for new high end baking tins. I may ask for another baking book if I find something I am interested in.

I do love gloves, especially the deemed so awful Turtle Dove cashmere ones. But I already have two pairs and hate scarves.

Nice bottle of decent sparkling wine (lots of English vineyards who do great ones) and really good chocolates.

Amazon voucher to get more kindle books.

Switch the whisky for gin and I can't help wondering whether you're me!