Presents that can be 'used' and not more 'stuff'

[OMGitsnotgood]

I’ve a few gifts I need to buy that I am out of ideas on: one for a couple for Christmas; one December birthday and a thank you gift. All adults.

Requirements are similar, keeping it brief:

No vouchers, candles, toiletries, confectionery, cakes, biscuits
No alcohol for 2 of them.
Nothing that will add ‘clutter’ as they are all of an age where they have all the stuff they need.
They aren’t ‘posh jams and chutney’ sort of people.
I wouldn’t know what books/cookery books they have so want to avoid, ditto games.

I sometimes, but not always, buy similar gifts for the person with a December birthday and the couple I need a Christmas present for, as I would say they have similar tastes (and they don’t know each other!)

In the past I have gifted outdoor plants; indoor Christmas plant arrangements (given early for the couple for Christmas); a pasta, sauce, olive oil combo (suggestions along these lines particularly welcome); a decorated plate for serving cakes/sandwiches etc. (which I know is ‘stuff’ but they admired one of mine and said it was something they didn’t have); stationery items and probably many other things I can’t remember as been exchanging gifts for years. Not something we want to stop as we enjoy exchanging gifts, I enjoy thinking what to give, just this year I’ve drawn a blank. Apart from DH they are the last presents I need to think of and have a hectic few weeks ahead so would like this off my mind!!

I’d prefer something they can use up but am not coming up with anything I haven’t already given. The couple we buy for almost always buy us gin or decent wines, which is a perfect present for us and they can repeat that forever and we’d be happy. Alcohol out for two of the gifts, it's is my fall back plan for the other, but would prefer something more original

Budget c £30 each

I’ve a feeling a lot of people will be looking for similar ideas so hopefully this thread will help others as well as me

Thank you

The cherry chocolate ones are incredible, then you can keep spaghetti in the tin once they're finished.

I like to give away fancy paper napkins, with pretty patterns.
Beautiful paper napkins can be admired, and then used. It's a good present! Because they can be used for a dinner party, or for a single person.
It is a lovely consumable.

Not quite sure what that comment refers to but sounds interesting

Oh sorry, referring to the fortnum biscuit suggestion up thread.

I figure a gift should be something you would never purchase for yourself - to go down the quintessential christmas route, you can get an insanely fancy pair of socks for £30 that will not be clutter, and will be worn. I think perhaps better to blow the budget on a singular, luxury item than try and hit the target, and drive yourself mad in doing so, attempting to put together a selection of consumables they might just as easily, and likely, buy themselves or already have in the cupboard. I would also steer clear of tea, people have their preference when it comes to tea i find and they will have it in stock.

A dinner or overnight stay invitation at your house.

An offer to take them out for coffee/a picnic/a walk & pub snack after.

Pay for 2 hours clean/ironing/dog walking/decluttering etc

A can of £30 worth of petrol/diesel

Hire someone to go round and sing a carol outside their house

Pay for for short course - local colleges offer one day intros to sushi making/mindfulness/cake decorating etc

Or as others have suggested, a magazine subscription, cheese or olive oil or coffee/nice tea or seeds for the garden.

I bought two tins for the couple who looked after my dogs for me and they went down very well .

I always go to the local WI autumn sale for really spicy chutneys & pickles - far better than I can buy in the shops. Brilliant for cheering up cold meat on Boxing day.

A few years ago I bought someone a fig tree because they kept 'popping round' while mine was giving fruit.

Lovely wool throws for sofas, look great and useful on chilly evenings. Sheepskin gloves are about £25. Gardeners always appreciate new secateurs. Waterstones vouchers are good for almost anyone.

You could check their bathroom, see what stuff they use regularly and buy luxury versions. Cyril's Soap Shed soaps are out of this world for creamy gentleness, especially the Rose Geranium one.

I got my dad a small air fryer, it was a big hit, except he was scared to use it.

He has just visited me for a few days so I 'made' him cook using mine and sent him home with a steak ready to cook.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7452194?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=ixilqlirw&istBid=t

There is a vinyard not far from me, you could 'adopt' a vine for a year and receive a bottle of wine. No good for your non drinkers.

How about something super practical but not typically "gifty" - a power bank and good quality charging cable. Gets used every day in our house, so useful.

If they are coffee drinkers something from Wonky Coffee?

If they like cheese, some expensive crackers?? And quince paste or similar

Very good fudge https://www.fudgekitchen.co.uk/products/clotted-cream-fudge-loaf
very good chocolate which supports people with ASD
https://www.harryschocs.co.uk/collections/christmas-chocolate/products/luxury-chocolate-box-christmas-gift

These are great suggestions.

I got some lovely personalised snack bowls for my cousin & her partner last year from Not on the High Street.com

Buy experiences. I had a gift of axe throwing the other week 🤣. I prefer experiences rather than stuff now. Look for gift experiences that are suitable

We got given a gift from www.cornishseasalt.co.uk for a birthday this year, they have been thoroughly used and enjoyed. Not something I would ever have thought of being a gift, it was a good one for us though

I like to get people elevated versions of things that they probably wouldn't spend money on like good cookware, chopping boards, lovely high threadcount cotton bedding etc etc. The trick is to make sure they use it immediately and don't 'save it for good'. My mum was using hodgepodge mix of crockery- bits of sets that had been broken etc, so I got her lovely new ones & cleared all the old stuff out for her.

Sous chef is a great website. They do Gianduja in a toothpaste tube and it’s quite hard not just to squirt it into your mouth 😁

I hate ‘stuff’ but would be delighted with -

A well made umbrella (pref Musto/LR)
Cashmere socks
A garden ornament (pref a rain chain)
A new hot water bottle with cover
A bright throw/blanket
Good quality shower gell (sanctuary)

If you have a tk maxx or homesense near you …. You can have lots of fun browsing the food section as it is all luxurious but well priced and often beautifully packaged. They even sell boxes and hampers so that you could make up a bespoke one for each person.

I'm not sure if this fits your brief as you've ruled out lots of sweet treats but those lovely platters of dried fruit and nuts you can buy for Christmas make a nice gift. One of those kits to make your own salami / sausages / Sushi etc.

Other ideas of small but useful items. Gloves (leather driving gloves are a nice treat) a hat, scarf or slippers because all these things wear out or get tatty fairly quickly. Welly warmers - fleecy liners for wellies if they wear them. A book of walks if they do any walking? A nice pen and notebook.

My tip - I’m adding lots of these as ideas on my gift tracking app so I don’t forget.

Definitely recommend using one. I use Santa’s Bag but there are lots of similar app. I can carry ideas forward each year and also know what I bought last year.

Also handy as I often buy things throughout the year and forget but this keeps track and I can see how much I’ve spent/ planning to spend.

Great thread for ideas - thank you.

Google and find a good deli. They will often have lovely food and related items, and not run of the mill brands, lovely packaging etc

The village fete didn’t happen this year and I normally stick up on a years with of jams, marmalades and chutneys! So disappointing

Great thread OP and I really like the ‘all suggestions welcome’ vibe.

One year I had the local newsagent deliver a daily newspaper to my Dad.

Radio times subscription? They do six month ones which may come in within budget.

I think outdoor plants especially are great, even if you’ve done this before, as who doesn’t have space for a basket or pot of cyclamen? M&S did some in pot that was shaped like a pair of wellies last year. Really bright and I can’t imagine anyone not liking them