What're you all buying your mums for Christmas?

[christmasprep]

Mine is 63. Young at heart. Into fitness. Loves her grandchildren. Not a foodie, now a gardener. Don't want to go down the experience route. No idea!! What are you doing?

No idea for this year but my mum is also a gardener who loves elephants so a couple of years ago I got her a large elephant plant pot from Next which she loved.

RHS membership?

Tickets to a show always go down well with mine.

My mum loves a new Christmas tree decoration, so the kids will be choosing one each for her. She quite likes my pineapple plant so I may get her one of those too.

My mum has asked for a Oodie so will get her one of those. I've also bought her a bracelet and booked a champagne afternoon tea for her and her sister in a local hotel.

Mine is 87. She asked for a new handbag with fewer pockets and zips as she gets muddled up so have got that plus a lovely piece of fused glass artwork. I know other family members are getting her a lovely furry jacket/blanket thingy to keep her cosy, and maybe a nestbox cam as she loves watching the birds. She will also get books,pjs,garden vouchers,bird feeders etc

My mum
Is a keen gardener too.
I've got her a couple of lovely big planters for the garden (eg a wheelbarrow shaped one and a terracotta one) and i'll fill it with posh gardening gloves, some hand cream, maybe some gardening tools and a few packets of bulbs

i'm also going to get the kids to make a sign that says Nannie's Garden and paint it using their finger prints

My mum's iPad is on its last legs, so the three of us are clubbing together to buy her a new iPad.

Mines 67, now on just state pension, and lives rurallt in a village with mot much happening. However, her and her friends have booked a week away in the UK in spring (not expensive, do about £200 each for accommodation), so she has asked for some spending money. And she used to live agatha Christie, so have got her the book "marple" - 12 short stories by current authors. And a few other little treats to open. Doesn't really need stuff as over the last couple of years have bought her heated airer, air fryer, fake oodie, fleecy blankets etc (to try and help with energy costs).
Mil likes her garden, and also doesn't need stuff. Used to get her theatre vouchers, but she is not keen on going to theatre since covid (and she is 77 now, do more cautious). She is happy with garden centre vouchers - birthday in March too, so goes on a splurge at the garden centre.

I haven't fully decided yet but some ideas I have

Slippers (ordered from next)
Marzipan fruits (bought already)
Hawthorn felt craft kit
Yoshi handbag
Earrings from buttonsy on Etsy
M&S voucher
A paperback book

What about a hamper of nice gym kit, plant etc. You can’t beat a new pair of running socks!!

As a gardener I always appreciate decent gardening tools, such as Felco secateurs, Harrods Horticulture do lovely obelisks for roses and climbers. Also things like stone planters and bird baths along with good gardening gloves and hand cream!
If she grows vegetables then a selection of unusual seeds.

@christmasprep should that have said NOT a gardener or NOW a gardener?

Tickets to see Swan Lake with me and my DD.
For her birthday I generally pay for her National Trust for the year so she has somewhere to visit. Try to avoid stuff for her.

Lol!! Yes!! NOT a gardener. I wondered why people were mentioning their plants when I'd said not a gardener 🤣🤣

We've bought mum:

an oodie dupe, The ONY from John lewis (it's thick, but shorter in length so she doesn't trip)
Next signature suede slipper boots (sale bargain £22 were £65
Bath honey
Thermal leggings
White company candles(she's always had copies and wanted to spoil her this year)
Hotel chocolat box

Previous hits have been kindles, heated throws and gift cards for the sales (my mum loves a good post Christmas sale)
We've bought everyone oodies/kuddlys/onys and suede slipper boots this year except for mil/fil who were the only ones who didn't have heated throws so that's what we've bought them.

Mine (79) likes a particular brand of skincare so she's getting one of their gift sets and also some hand cream. If I can motivate myself to get started I'm also knitting her some mittens.

If she's not a gardener, maybe she'd appreciate a big pot with a plant anyway? Doesn't take much looking after and brightens up the garden.

I'm a similar age to your Mum. I don't really want any more 'stuff' and prefer things I can use up or wear.
I'd appreciate a more expensive bottle of gin than I usually buy; a new top or jumper (can't have too many); costume jewellery; more expensive shower gel/body lotion than I usually use; good quality skin care; voucher for a meal out (not sure if this counts as an experience, sorry if so).

We took out National Trust Membership a few years ago and have really enjoyed it Would she use something like that?

I've got mine -

A bottle of her favourite perfume
A cardigan
Some Sanctuary toiletries
A M&S candle which lights (that sounds daft as all candles light up when lit but it's like LED or something) up when lit. It's really pretty
A magazine subscription
Chocolate Brazil nuts.

Plants fall into the pet gift catagory for me... It is never ok to buy someone a living thing they have to then care for and keep alive (in the case of plants forever) that they have expressed no interest in even wanting.

What your gifting is a chore.

I'm 60. If like a large bottle of my favourite perfume, an oodie, a Lego set from the botanicals range, bone conduction ear phones, gluten free treats, waterproof running jacket, teddy duvet set, salted pistachios, tretinoin, gin liqueur. Not sure presents are age related, more personality related

Presents that have gone down well with my mum are:

Books. She likes crime/thriller novels so I often get a few from the charity shop and wrap them up in a big ribbon. She reads all the time so I don't want to risk buying new in case she's read it before and getting secondhand means I can get a big selection.

Nice bottles of gin from smaller, UK distilleries. Something she perhaps hasn't tried or wouldn't buy herself.

Scented candles.

Bubble bath. She likes the Sanctuary stuff.

I bought her a weekend bag and matching travel wash bag a few years ago and she uses both now a lot.

Cookbooks.

Emma Bridgewater mugs.

Mum's 78, probably a magazine subscription. She doesn't want more 'stuff' for the house, can't buy clothes as weight is a bit erratic at the mo (illness) and she has enough scarves!
Plus, I then get to read the mag after her!

I'm toying with the idea of a 'try not to be a cunt it's Christmas' tea towel.

I'm 63.
Firstly, I'd be insulted to be described as " young at heart", wtaf does that even mean? That she trades Pokemon cards and goes clubbing? Or that she can still walk and hold a conversation?
She is your Mum, you know what her interests are!
Personally I would like history books relating to the period that I am particularly interested in, current novels, decent coffee, nice scent maybe with matching body lotion, clothing from one of my favourite shops. Other friends of the same age would like plants/ornaments/nice stuff for their new house, tickets to a show, a meal out somewhere new, something to improve the experience on long walks eg boot socks, handwarmer, hip flask; a night away in a bijou hotel; magazine/coffee/flower/chocolate/Pret subscription; alchohol, paints, craft stuff, new tech.