Token gift ideas needed for DM and DF

[Londono]

My financial situation has changed hugely in the last few years (unfortunately for the worse) and it is known by all I'm close to. I am only planning to buy presents for the DC for Christmas but DM and DF are hosting us for Christmas lunch so l don't feel I can turn up empty handed as I suppose I now don't have the cost of providing food to budget for.

DM is very difficult about presents and used to request no 'stuff' and for years I did theatre tickets etc but that is completely out of reach now. She does know this and whilst she isn't materialistic she would be put out not to receive anything.

What small, relatively inexpensive item/items could I get for them so that the DC have something to hand over? She has already said photos of the DC in a frame aren't a gift so you can see what I'm up against.

a calendar of DC photos? Or is that too similar to framed photos? My parents wouldn't thank you for framed pictures as they just don't have them around the house but they always use a kitchen calendar.

I think that would unfortunately be considered too similar but thank you. All the token gifts I would always enjoy - a candle, a nice mug, a posh tin of biscuits etc would not be welcomed so I'm drawing a blank.

Does she read? Could you get her a book light: www.waterstones.com/category/stationery-gifts/book-accessories/book-lights-and-lamps

For him - would this be suitable: uk.loccitane.com/cap-cedrat-cracker,83,1,93887,1752124.htm#s=78701

For her would this be suitable? uk.loccitane.com/festive-beauty-cracker,83,1,30274,1752653.htm#s=78702
or maybe this one:
uk.loccitane.com/must-have-hand-cream-trio,83,1,93887,1746476.htm#s=78702

A nice plant?

Decent jam and teabags?

Grandma bauble?

A nice plant. Tesco are selling Christmas cactus plants in pots for £5 at the moment. I imagine other shops are selling similar plants too.

i think an original Christmas bauble is a lovely idea. i love getting them from my adult kids. they mean i remember our times together the year before.

Why not play scripts for a play or two they’ve either enjoyed or wanted to see, but missed? Amazon …

Nice hand wash and moisturiser for their loo. Wine, a selections of cheeses, a subscription- magazine, Nat Trust, flowers. Karchi window mop. Christie towels...

Would tickets to a cinema screening of a National Theatre Live performance be in budget and an alternative to theatre tickets? I have got my dm tickets to The Crucible in January. I think the tickets were £13 each.

I'd also suggest photo calendar, maybe not only of DC photos but the whole family. There are programs that let you create your own thing and highlight important days (anniversaries, birthdays, etc) or add motivational quotes, etc

Something like in here ams-photo-software.com/design/best-calendar-making-software.php or www.shutterfly.com/calendars would be good for that.

A box of chocolates. Honestly, it sounds like there's some kind of game where they have you dancing around trying to get the perfect gift. They'll pull a face at whatever you get so save your money and mental energy.

As you are going there for your Christmas meal, I'd give something related to that. Perhaps a bottle of port and a jar of Stilton for Dad, and fancy chocolates or Turkish delight for Mum.
Another thought is a bottle of Prosecco and some smoked salmon for their Boxing Day breakfast.

Actually, your Mum sounds like hard work, with all the things you've mentioned that would not be "acceptable"!
In circumstances like that, I'd be tempted to stop striving for her approval, which you are unlikely to ever fully achieve, and just give her any old tat.
Do you think she's behaving like that to prove to herself that she's still in control?

Flowers? Would she be OK with something second hand?

Thanks all and yes, she is a tricky person to please more generally. I would tell my DC absolutely no gifts if they were in the financial situation I'm in. Anyway, I've decided to get them a jar of local jam and marmalade each - thank you for the suggestions everyone, lots of lovely ideas but I feel they will get used and whilst won't pass muster they won't be deemed as 'stuff'.

@AlliwantforChristmasisgu I get flowers for her birthday/mother's day as I can get them fairly cheaply. She would be ok with something secondhand I suppose but she really does get rid of a lot of things so I don't want to traipse around the charity shops looking for something that she then drops back off again.