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?

I agree that different people want different things, rather than age related. The nice, red wine sounds a good shout.

I'm early 50s and like a lot of others, I already have quite a bit of stuff and usually only want to replace as necessary eg sheepskin slippers that I have chosen. Toiletries are very personal, too.

I would be HORRIFIED by a subscription to the bloody Radio Times.

Does she have a Christmas tree? How about a couple of really lovely decorations?

Don't get vouchers unless she actually wants them.

I'm 58 and none of those would appeal to me, but that doesn't mean she wouldn't like them. Maybe she doesn't actually want anything. Some people genuinely don't. Ask her.

I'm nearly 51 and I like fluffy slippers as the floor of my house is freezing and I literally wear them all the time. They wear out eventually so can never have too many.

I also like earrings as long as they are proper silver or gold otherwise I'm allergic to them. And books, but appreciate that can be difficult unless you know her reading habits and what she's read. But I honestly don't really mind what people buy me, I'm more focused on what the day is like for other people!

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I'm in the age range and I would much rather a bottle of red to the amount the person would have spent on me. It would be something I wouldn't buy myself but would always want to try.
Does she like cheese and crackers, if so maybe a good piece of cheese and some nice crackers, not run of the mill cream crackers.

Yeah me too. I’m 60.

I never watch tv

I’m easy to buy for but if I was your MiL and watched a lot of TV why not get her DVDs? I love having the actual hard copies! Are there any films she’s not seen that she’d like that are out on DVD? One of those plus nice chocs - great.

Some No. 7 stuff, like some moisturiser? It’s within your budget and I believe it’s on special offer at the moment.

Why are people so difficult?! It’s so deflating when you make an effort to find a good present and the recipient looks as if you’ve given them a clod of horse manure.

I am mid-late 50s, and a 'young' 50-something. I like things people 25-35 years younger like. I would hate to receive those gifts. Apart from the chocolates. Sorry @GotMooMilk .

I am easy to buy for as I have about 7 or 8 hobbies and interests, so my 2 DDs never have a problem getting anything for me. (DH is a different story however. He is very hard to buy for!)

Still not sure why you are responsible for your MIL's gifts though. Stop doing it. It's not fair on you! My son-in-laws don't do the gift shopping for me. No grown man would be gift shopping for his mother in law! So why should a grown woman be buying for HER mother in law? FGS.

Gym membership, gallery membership (eg Tate?), Activity voucher ( craft based, yoga, pilates, massage..) Spotify subscription. Kindle. Manicure / pedicure voucher.

As she is still working how about an insulated lunch bag or a travel mug?

She does sound an uptight PITA : how about some laxatives? I’m not that age bracket but when I am I hope I don’t sit round with eye masks on! And slippers can be useful but are a bit granny-ish The chocolates: yes! Boring but great. How about chocs and a space NK voucher?

I’d like all these. But they’re expensive.

I’m early 50s. They are really generic and I’m glad you’re taking the slippers back.

I am pretty good at buying gifts. I look at a person’s house, what they wear, their dress size, what animals they like etc. Over the years, I’ve bought women my age and older amongst other things:

A new handbag
A new item of clothing
Nice toiletries
Hand cream gift set (for someone, who loves hand cream)
Perfume gift sets
Face mask set
Porcelain mugs
Crystal glasses
A makeup bag with their favourite animal on it
A scarf with initials embroidered
Luxury makeup
Household items, such as a towel for the downstairs loo and a pretty cushion, which match a new colour scheme
An ornament
A table lamp

To make my money go further, I buy in the sales and keep them til Christmas. I’ve actually just bought a few bits from Next clearance, which is pretty good all year round.

Even if not many of these things appeal, I would as others have said try to buy just one thing with the whole budget.

Crikey she sounds like my mum, whose ‘can’t go wrong’ presents were a multi pack of tan tights and an eyebrow pencil 🙁every bloody year I bought them.

I can’t give you any ideas as I was never able to crack it myself.

I am slightly older and I think I sound quite different from your MIL. If you don’t know what to get I suggest a voucher then she can get something in the sales. There must be something she would like in John Lewis or Liberty.

Fluffy slippers - yuk, I wear Birkenstocks.
Chocolates - generic, fattening and everyone else will eat them.
Eye mask - I already have two, otherwise good.
I have more make up bags than I know what to do with even after taking some to the charity shop.

My MIL was similar, in her case she also didn't like expensive things as they were "a waste" so preferred to receive a few cheaper things or specific items like a jumper or a saucepan set etc. She would have hated one pair of cashmere socks when she could have had 15 pairs of primark ones for the same price.

For your £25 budget I would keep the slippers on your list (budget approx £10)
Get a big tub of celebrations or similar (£5)
A cheapish bottle of wine (£7) and then a pair of novelty festive socks (£3).

Family photo shoot ( for when hubby / son gets better).

I mean there is a reason chocolates and vouchers are a cliche: some people are just hard to buy for. Would she like flowers, a proper florist bunch?

Actually, second thoughts flowers probably beyond budget

@FreshWinterMorning -read the OP as in your haste to be a judgemental “feminist” you have embarrassed yourself.

The OP’s budget is £25, so gym memberships are out. Tate membership? The OP’s mil might live in Scunthorpe!!

Oxfam charity donation in her name? I am hard to buy for too but am always pleased with this from one relative who tends to do this for everyone in the family

I'm 59 and only the chocolates would appeal and would depend what they were. I'd like an Amazon gift card/credit so I could buy books for my Kindle or anything else that took my fancy!

I'm in tVoucher for a facial/treatment

They sound like presents for someone with a personality 😁