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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:
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6
HCHQ · 14/12/2023 12:12

54 (closer to 55) and sorry, but your suggestions are making me sad.

That said, I appreciate it's difficult ... beauty products that I regularly use are always welcome, as is a Home Sense or John Lewis voucher that way I can "spoil" myself.

Curious to know your age GotMooMilk, as you appear to think women in this age bracket are rather Hyacinth Bouquet.

silverbubbles · 14/12/2023 12:12

flowers?

ArthurbellaScott · 14/12/2023 12:14

Generally, my MIL hands back whatever present she's given. (Either it 'gathers dust' or she won't use it, doesn't like it, etc).

So these days I get her something I will be happy to get back off her in about a month's time. 😁

Lifeomars · 14/12/2023 12:14

I would be happy with those gifts but I just appreciate that someone has thought about me, shopped for me and wrapped things up. I have actually asked for slippers this year as the ones I have are boot style ones and a real pain to put on so have sent family members photos of the style I want, did feel like a proper old person when I did this! She does sound a real challenge to buy for, would she like a delivery of fresh flowers,? guess that wouldn't work if she is spending Christmas with you.

Alondra · 14/12/2023 12:18

I'm 63 and I prefer money or gift cards as presents. They may be too practical but at my age, I don't care for fluffy slippers, gloves, scarves, clothes I don't like/won't fit or kitchen gadgets/garden gadgets I already have and don't need.

My DH gives me a yearly pass to my favourite massage place (the only thing he knows is a luxury treat) and my kids and friends give me gift cards to spend as I want.

When you get to my age, being practical is the way to go. At least for me.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 14/12/2023 12:23

Vaguely throwing money at the problem won't get you anywhere.

The only gift that means anything is some of your time and an open mind that she might actually be quite interesting, with wishes, preferences and hopes to share, given the chance.

I would go out somewhere nice, just the two of you, doesn't have to be somewhere completely new if that would make her uncomfortable, and give her some attention, show you are interested.

uncomfortablydumb53 · 14/12/2023 12:24

I think your latest ideas are much better
I'm a young 58 I have sheepskin mittens which I love when it's really cold
You're in a stressful situation with your DH, so don't overthink this

OnlyCorrect · 14/12/2023 12:26

Can't you just agree to not exchange pesents this year? If she's really as much of a bore as all that I can't imagine shopping for generic tat for you gives her any more joy than you torturing yourself over her. Especially as DH is unwell, good time to end the cycle.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/12/2023 12:28

If she’s really going to turn her nose up at just about everything, I’d stick to the small box of chocs, but I’d spend some more on a shop for the food bank, and give her the receipt, or list the items donated.

With a bit of luck that might give her something else to moan about - people only need food banks because they’re lazy/feckless/workshy and spend too much on booze and fags, etc. 😈

EggNoggin · 14/12/2023 12:33

Well I'd scoff the chocs (unless they are Thorntons) and the rest would go directly into the charity shop box.

Edit: Those presents make her sound like she's in her 150s, rather than 50s.

Crankyaboutfood · 14/12/2023 12:34

Does she have any interests? A cookbook? A pretty picture book of someplace she has enjoyed traveling?

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 14/12/2023 12:34

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 14/12/2023 12:28

If she’s really going to turn her nose up at just about everything, I’d stick to the small box of chocs, but I’d spend some more on a shop for the food bank, and give her the receipt, or list the items donated.

With a bit of luck that might give her something else to moan about - people only need food banks because they’re lazy/feckless/workshy and spend too much on booze and fags, etc. 😈

This is just horrible. The Op has said her MIL is nice, so why on earth would you assume she's an ignorant, moaning twat?

RADIOOFF · 14/12/2023 12:34

Ha! Old ladies … My mother’s 90 and absolutely loves tech - both as something to receive and as a gift to someone else. She’s been through two or three iPads …

But anyway, for £25, regardless of age, you want to be giving just one thing. And preferably one thing for which £25 would be the luxury (or at least not basic) version. So not gloves. Not a scarf.

Cook’s or drinking chocolate.
A hardback book.
A flowering shrub.
Tweezers.
Nail varnish
Notecards and envelopes
Body oil
EV olive oil
A set of art gallery postcards to be framed
Single issue of a luxury journal. Or a magazine sub.
Drink, as mentioned above …

Joeyhoarder · 14/12/2023 12:35

I wouldn’t worry about it- generic is fine- it’s still a gift. I personally hate buying gifts for the sake of buying gifts. She prob knows she is hard to buy for and if her son is unwell so will know your priorities probably lie elsewhere. I really wouldn’t give it that much thought 😂

FlatWhiteExtraHot · 14/12/2023 12:37

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.

I’m an old lady too (50). I’d like a slightly nicer bottle of vodka than Tesco value 😂.

Do you reckon that’s acceptable or should I just shut up and put my Damart vest on.

Hadjab · 14/12/2023 12:39

GotMooMilk · 14/12/2023 09:11

Ok so I’m going to swap the slippers for some gloves (these ones https://www.marksandspencer.com/faux-sheepskin-cuffed-gloves/p/clp60622563?intid=mobile_app_pdp_share) give the eye mask to my sister instead as she will like that and get some red wine. So wine, nice gloves and chocolate? It’s over budget but I just want her to actually like something and those seem to be the top choices amongst all your very helpful suggestions! She wouldn’t ‘get’ cashmere socks and would be horrified if I spent £20 odd on one pair (I would love them tbf!)

Is she into skincare and pampering herself? A silk pillowcase would be a great gift if she is:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018HYKYLK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B018HYKYLK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-christmas-4962460-if-you-are-a-woman-between-50-60-please-give-me-feedback-on-these-gifts

RADIOOFF · 14/12/2023 12:47

If you’re still reading, @GotMooMilk - ‘faux’ anything (like faux sheepskin gloves) would get this blatantly ungrateful face from me - Hmm.

(And that’s the drabbest pair of gloves I’ve ever seen.)

But I’m sorry you’re having to do this in such difficult circumstances.

adriftabroad · 14/12/2023 12:54

@GotMooMilk
I know you are going through a hard time.❤

Between 50 and 60 is not old.
Do remember that.

Notcontent · 14/12/2023 12:54

Seriously, this is such a ridiculous question and thread. You can’t make generalisations based on age!!

mushroom3 · 14/12/2023 13:00

A good folding umbrella (these all break after a while!)
A plant for the garden
A bottle of vintage port
A large coffee mug

Chewbecca · 14/12/2023 13:02

Cinema voucher is a good shout.

I would also love the tank driving but suspect it is out of budget.

I'm afraid I would pass the faux sheepskin gloves to charity as they are less nice than my current gloves, though they are better than the fluffy slippers and eye mask. I would eat the chocs and drink the wine.

There are many suggestions on here, the most resounding is for a single, quality item, whatever that may be, something that feels like a treat that we might not buy for ourselves willy-nilly.

The conclusion I would draw is that most of us 50 somethings have the stuff we need, have worked out what we really like and dislike and have a dislike of volumes of tat.

Crumpleton · 14/12/2023 13:03

I'm in my 60's, as odd as it sounds I asked for a Tesco voucher one Christmas purely because our Tesco sells some lovely homeware items I could buy in the sales after the day itself.

HippoStraw · 14/12/2023 13:07

I like stuff I can use often or use up. I don’t want clutter. I’m very happy with nice new socks and bubble bath or similar

Joeyhoarder · 14/12/2023 13:08

Absolutely! Would not give it a worry at all. Life is too short to stress about Xmas presents

Sharnalooj · 14/12/2023 13:09

Maybe go for a pamper voucher instead? Pedicure/ manicure or a hair salon to have her hair done?