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Christmas

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Original poster

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

727 replies

GotMooMilk · 13/12/2023 15:15

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?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Frasers · 14/12/2023 10:44

ChlorrOfTheMask · 14/12/2023 10:33

I'd appreciate fluffy slippers and chocolates, I think that's a lovely present OP! but then I'm 35 and can't afford to buy myself things. Can't believe how many people on here are saying they'd be unimpressed with this or that present; the entitlement, ingratitude and snobbery. Most people are struggling financially; I can only afford my children's presents this year and school photos/school concert tickets for the grandparents, plus a wee token thing each (like a bauble shaped like a fish for my Dad who goes fishing) and cards homemade by the kids.. and I've left bills unpaid to afford this.. and that's with my Mum and my ex MIL both having put money into my account to help me afford Christmas time for the kids. I usually don't have anything to open from anyone on Christmas morning. Last year 2 of my friends gave me a basket with some fancy shampoo and body wash, body lotion, a pillow mist and a few other things like that.. and I felt so spoilt and loved. If someone gives you any present or even a card or a text, it shows they've thought about you and care about you.

I’m really sorry about your circumstances and that sounds very hard indeed. I hope things look up for you in 24.💐

yes many people are struggling, but obviously not most.and yes it can he hard to read if you are in your situation . But that doesn’t mean you get ri abuse people and call them snobs, entitled, ungrateful .

the op asked. People are responding on what would be suitable gifts. Simply saying any gift is fab and isn’t really what rhe op is looking for here.

again, I hope things improve for you next year.

Startingagainandagain · 14/12/2023 10:45

They are incredibly generic though.

Are you sure she does not have any hobbies/interests and could you buy something a bit more personal?

Does she like books? gardening?

I would find your gift really boring. Sorry.

flyingvisit · 14/12/2023 10:45

I literally have 4 years of unused Christmas candle sets (yankee candle, small samplers) sitting unused in my house. Someone gives these to me every year. I say thank you and am so grateful for their kindness but I really do wish they would just save their money and give me a small box of chocs or something as it is a waste.

MLP18 · 14/12/2023 10:48

I would just give her a nice card with a homemade voucher for a nice meal out with the family at a later date. Somewhere she has been or her choice. Just be honest and say you don't want to buy her pointless gifts she might not use so thought it would be nice to have a treat and spend some time together with the family.

OR, if you have children, make a photobook of them and gift that. Not in a frame so she can look through and then store and not have to display if she doesn't like housey gifts.

OhYeahOhYeah · 14/12/2023 10:53

GotMooMilk · 13/12/2023 15:27

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

Nice cashmere bed socks perhaps, socks in general, no!

Turtle Doves do some really lovely fingerless cashmere gloves (loads of colours) which are great

TruthThatsHardAsSteel · 14/12/2023 10:53

A voucher towards getting her hair done in her usual salon?

BackAgain2023 · 14/12/2023 10:57

I'm only 36 so not your target audience but Im not sure age matters, it's more personal preference.
I don't like most gifts people give me (although I pretend to love them and say thank you).
I hate when people give me tat (like slippers and make up bags) that I haven't chosen.
I know it sounds miserable and I promise I don't show it to gift givers.
my ideal gifts would be; a voucher for my nail / hair salon, perfume of my choice, candle or wax melts of my choice, olaplex hair treatments, make up or skincare of my choice.
no one ever asks what I want so I continue to get gifts that I don't like or use. I suppose because I'm so good at seeming happy with them haha. If someone asked me then I'd give them ideas though so your MIL is unreasonable to not tell you and then have a face on her.
I'd actually rather people didn't buy me presents tbh.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/12/2023 11:01

HR313 · 14/12/2023 10:25

I’m genuinely amazed at how ungrateful all you old ladies on here are. I pray for any of your own children or god forbid, grandchildren, buying you gifts which you will then dump off to charity shops or palm off to someone else.

old ladies😮😂

And they should be grateful for anything?!

Do you get perfect presents every year?

CharlotteBog · 14/12/2023 11:05

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/12/2023 11:01

old ladies😮😂

And they should be grateful for anything?!

Do you get perfect presents every year?

Show quote history

Is 53 an old lady?

BerfyTigot · 14/12/2023 11:06

@Palewildflower thanks, I might have a look for the programme.
In the meantime I'm going to try the one
@LastYearsChristmasStamps has suggested.
Thanks both of you😍

HardcoreLadyType · 14/12/2023 11:15

Old lady, here. (I’m 55.)

If someone gave me a load of tat per the OP, I would, of course, politely thank them before donating most of it to a charity shop. I would be pleased they had thought of me, and be pleased for the people who could buy the slippers that they needed from the charity shop, rather than paying full price.

If someone asks me, as the OP did, what I would like, I will tell them.

I’m struggling to see the ingratitude. 🫤

ChlorrOfTheMask · 14/12/2023 11:18

@Frasers Thanks.. I actually don't think my circumstances are that awful, I'm grateful I can make Christmas happen for my kids and that my Mum and ex MIL are kind enough to help me out every year. Your response has made me think about how I come across, because I definitely didn't mean to be abusive towards anyone and it's surprised me that you've seen my comment that way.

How I was feeling when I wrote it was sympathetic with the OP because she's trying so hard each year to think of something her MIL would like and every year her gifts are not considered good enough. I can relate to this, growing up I used to save up my pocket money for months to buy Christmas presents for my family and got them things I thought they'd like.. and every year my stepmum would roll her eyes and make sarcastic, "oh great, a candle".. "toiletries, right" type remarks and I'd feel crushed. Although OP is an adult, I think I'd still feel hurt in her shoes. I didn't expect so many of the commenters to share her MIL's hard to please attitude and it's shocked me, although all the ideas are obviously helpful.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 14/12/2023 11:20

Old lady here too.

I’d like some tickets for a gig. But old ladies don’t do things like that.

CluelessHamster · 14/12/2023 11:21

53 and they'd be straight down the chazzer in the new year (apart from the chocolates) BUT she's hard to buy for and really what is the point of presents for adults when we can just buy stuff we need ourselves? My adult children know I don't expect anything unless they happen to spot something they know I will genuinely like - eg silly things related to an animal I like or items for a collection I have. I certainly don't want them stressing over it - I've had enough years of that myself and want to break the cycle!

I would just give her what you've bought, or maybe swap for practical stuff like socks that she will actually get use out of.

Is she good at present buying for you?

Maybe ask her if there's anything she'd like?

ChlorrOfTheMask · 14/12/2023 11:30

@GotMooMilk
Meant to quote this comment and hit reply instead:
"Interesting lots saying nice socks maybe I’ll add some socks? I thought they were even more boring than slippers 😂"
Those Scandinavian style cosy knitted socks are beautiful, but I'd say they're an alternative to slippers and you've already got her slippers.. and it sounds like no matter what you get her she'll turn her nose up 😂so I wouldn't go buying again, but keep the idea for another year? x

Charlize43 · 14/12/2023 11:31

What about a nice bottle of gin?

A lot of women in that age group like to drink. I'm 57 and would hate to receive fluffy slippers, toiletries, slug pellets, etc, when I could have a really good bottle of Tequila!

DecoratingDiva · 14/12/2023 11:33

I’m 56 and this is the sort of thing I’d get for my mum who is 80 and would really rather someone didn’t bother if that was what they were going to get me.

However I’d like to think I’m not as boring as your MIL.

I’d guess that whatever you get will be treated with disdain, not because of her age but because that’s what she is like, personally I’d go down the route of getting something outrageous just to provoke a reaction.

Crikeyalmighty · 14/12/2023 11:37

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow you go gal! Me too x

Spidey66 · 14/12/2023 11:38

Maybe treat her to an experience/night out or away? Afternoon tea, cinema, theatre, nice meal, night away in a nice hotel? I know your husband is not well (I hope his treatment is going well), would he bo OK overnight if you went to a nice hotel for the night? There's a group of hotels called Cotswolds Inns and Hotels, I've been to a few, they're kind of mid price but lovely.

MorvernBlack · 14/12/2023 11:39

This is the thing I hate about Christmas, the buying of pointless gifts which the reciever may well not want. It's a waste of money and environmentally disastrous.
I'm also a bit traumatised that I am now in the age group which is supposed to like fluffy slippers and an eye mask 😅, I have a nice cosmetic bag and rarely wear make-up. Chocolate would be the least worst.
I'd rather people just asked, but then you have the whole embarrassing thing of needing to know their budget.
I like Lego, houseplants, specific art materials, candles but only of a certain natural brand (certainly not Yankee) and wool socks, but they have to be men's as I have hooves for feet.
Because my job is design based, I tend to get pens and pencil type gifts a lot, 99% of the time they aren't what I use and cute craft type supplies aren't professional quality.

Nonimai · 14/12/2023 11:39

A David Austin rose.

Spidey66 · 14/12/2023 11:41

https://www.cotswold-inns-hotels.co.uk/

Bookkeepermum · 14/12/2023 11:42

How about a voucher for her hairdressers?

Saggypants · 14/12/2023 11:43

GotMooMilk · 13/12/2023 15:15

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!

And yet in your subsequent posts you list all the things you've made and bought her over the years. It's always been on you hasn't it?

Catpuss66 · 14/12/2023 11:43

If it was me I am 57, molton brown shower gels discovery pack ( just nothing with heavenly gingerliliy in ) or a Marks & Spencer voucher.( cannot go wrong she can either buy food or clothes or makeup skincare)

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