If you are a woman between 50-60 please give me feedback on these gifts!

[GotMooMilk]

MIL is the HARDEST person ever to buy for. She doesn't really have any hobbies, doesn't like food presents (have given her a hamper of home made food and drink last year and no one has looked less impressed at anything...!) and has an incredibly minimalist house so doesn't like home gifts. She doesn't like going places she hasn't been so a restaurant/theatre voucher wouldn't be used.
Every Christmas or birthday she kills me! Anyway I have got her:

• Fluffy slippers
• Gel eye mask that can be kept in fridge or warmed
• Small box of chocolates
• Make up bag

Does this sound ok?

And before people say it's a DH problem he is very unwell this year and undergoing treatment which is why I have taken it on!

53 and would be happy with those gifts x

56 and would think that was a boring present - but your MiL sounds dull too so it's perfect 😉

I'd like all of those except the eye mask

Gardening gloves
Bath pillow
Hand cream

I'm not in that age group but my mum is, and she'd hate all that apart from maybe the chocolates. But if the chocolates are from Hotel Chocolat then she would hate those too.

It’s all ok but I’m not personally keen on slippers and I wouldn’t use a gel eye mask. The chocolates would be acceptable (I don’t like all chocolate though) and a make-up bag would be ok but not needed. Sorry I sound really fussy.

I would personally like maybe a book and nice smellies for the bath. I read a secret Santa thread on here and lots of people had very different tastes eg some people liked a candle and lots didn’t.

I'm in that age bracket and would find them pointless gifts.

I know they’re incredibly boring and generic gifts 😵‍💫 if it kills me.
Ive given her lots of candles in the past, vases etc. She doesn’t read books really I’d have no idea what to get her!

I'd prefer a voucher 🤣

Hmm. Well i agree that she sounds very tricky to buy for, but she also doesn’t sound like an eye mask and fluffy slippers type.
I would like - Some sort of lovely bath stuff , eg REN Maroccan Rose. Winter socks eg wool ones from Toast. Gloves. A rose for the garden.
I wouldn’t like an eye mask, what is it for ? And I am really fussy about house shoes. I might like a makeup bag, depending on what it looks like.
Does she drink coffee ? I find good coffee beans are always welcome. Jewellery of some sort ?

Is there nothing that's a bit more luxurious that she likes? Perfume, bath oil, skincare, earrings, fancy candle or stationery? A nice bathrobe, silk scarf or pillowcase, posh pjs? Does she like reading or going to the cinema? Costa/Starbucks? Wine? Gin? A flower subscription?

@SirVixofVixHall she does drink coffee but prefers instant.
She isn’t really into clothes at all. I’ve bought jewellery in the past but she’s never worn it.

Late 50s and wouldn’t be impressed with those sorry, but we are all different with different tastes and you are bound to get various answers. You know her far better than us.
I would like colourful gloves to go with different outfits, in natural fibres. impressed with the turtle doves.
Proper hot chocolate (chocolate drops)
Nice socks
wooly tights
Now I’m older I also like a tub of toffees or raspberry ruffles to dip in to now and again.
probably like useful things as if I don’t already own it, then I probably wouldn’t want it.

Interesting lots saying nice socks maybe I’ll add some socks? I thought they were even more boring than slippers 😂

Try asking her?

i have also asked her x 10 for ideas and she just says ‘I’ll have a think’ so it’s not through want of trying!

Just read your updates.

To be honest, maybe it's best to just give her money or a gift voucher for a decent amount and her favourite chocolates or bottle, then.

@bilbodog she doesn’t tell me

Does she have a garden OP?

Why buy anything? People struggling to buy presents for people who don't want anything needs knocking on the head as far as I'm concerned. If you feel you have to do something, then how about giving some money to a charity she supports? If you don't know of any, then maybe people and/or animals effected by the two wars that are going on at the moment.

She sounds a PITA!

By the way, I hope your DH's treatment goes well OP and 2024 is a healthy one for you

Slippers, yes, fluffy slippers no
eye mask-what’s the point of them?
chocs, yes
make up bag, yes

Id rather have a bottle of Baileys though 😂

Can you not get her a voucher for somewhere she has been before? I feel your pain DM is also fussy & wouldn't like any of those gifts!

I wouldn't like those only because I don't wear slippers and those gel eye masks give me the heebie jeebies. make up bag and sweets are fine. I like pj's and wine I'm happy with that. however you said she's difficult to buy for does she wear makeup ? what about a boots voucher or maybe some a Christmassy bouquet of flowers she can use some of those vases you gave her.

I'm 51 and think they're generic and dull but - as you say - I'm not sure what else you can do! My MIL is similar and is in her 80s now. I've just accepted that she'll hate anything we get her, I think she enjoys moaning about it Now I just buy whatever's convenient for us, don't think about it too much, she opens the present and screws her face up while I concentrate on keeping mine in a fixed smile.