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?

In fairness, my parents are 80, but do actually go to new places, like food gifts and have hobbies, so would be delighted with chocolates, hobby stuff or vouchers for a restaurant or theatre.

I am 58 and wouldn't like any of those I'm afraid. As @Hoogieflip suggests above I'd love a luxurious version of something I already have, particularly a pair of posh socks! Also agree with Turtledoves gloves.

I am in that range (ish) and I would think very dull indeed.
Although you have given it a lot of thought if you gave me that I would think you couldn't be bothered which makes it doubly bad because you did try.

What does she do all day?
Surely she likes or does something?

Cinema vouchers?

Do you have DC? a lovely framed picture?

Or one of those frames that you download pics to so you can send her pictures?
(very annoying I know but my mum has one and loves it)

get her flowers and chocolates honestly don't tie yourself in knots and spend money on things she won't use.

I wouldn’t like any of those.
Fluffy slippers - lethal on stairs, I wear a certain brand with hard sole only
eye mask - never worn
choc- not a fan of most. Would prefer a bar

The problem is with £25 your buying too many cheap items. To buy 4 items it’s only £5-6 an item which is pretty cheap quality. You’re better off buying just one item for £20-25.

One box of fancy chocolates
or
One indoor plant
or
One scarf

I Would get a small rose plant in planter. The type she can have indoors now, and move to garden later on

I'm 55

Fluffy slippers sound slippery & sweaty to me. Unless they are lovely (expensive) wool ones.

I'd always like a plant in a nice pot.

Chocolate ✅

You sound lovely. Fluffy slippers and makeup bag not v useful really as I’d already have stuff like that I use

for £25 I’d go with Uniqlo jumper and a receipt - maybe go for something like that next time that she can swap

I'm at the higher end of your age range and honestly, other than (ridiculously expensive chocolates), I wouldn't be too excited to receive any of those gifts. Just a suggestion though, could you get some of her favourite make-up and new make-up brushes to put in the bag? Or make her up a hamper with make-up, make-up bag, make-up remover and anything else she may use beauty wise. Doesn't have to be expensive, just stuff she would normally get herself.

I'm 53 and wouldn't use an eye mask and I'm quite fussy about slippers. I'd prefer a book token and a bunch of flowers or maybe a magazine sub as that's something I wouldn't buy for myself.

What about a heated blanket for when she's watching telly?

I wouldn't be keen on them and I know I'm hard to buy for. My DC grumble I'm hard to buy for every year. I like a huge bouquet of flowers though. My DC know I love flowers and so it looks like a florist on my birthday and at Xmas.

Oh and btw in laws are a right pain to buy for. So they just get a small photo of Ds in a frame each year and a Lindt chocolate Santa. They are happy, and we are happy with not buying something they don’t want

Socks from the white company - I'm 63 and bloody love a new sock but nice ones 🎅🏻

I agree with the pp, a rose in a pot.

I was going to witter on about being hard to buy for but I'm into gym, weightlifting & cycling, so maybe not quite like your mil.

I’m that age, although it doesn’t sound like I have much in common with your MIL otherwise. But I would actually use an eye mask, as might she, because lots of post menopausal women have trouble sleeping and blocking out the light helps (to those wondering what the point of them is).

I think a makeup bag is tricky, as either she won’t use one (like me) or probably has one. The other things are safe! Tough for you, though, she sounds very hard to please.

I’m in that age range and wouldn’t want any of those gifts, I don’t need more stuff especially things I haven’t picked myself.
I like to receive vouchers, M&S, Next, Costa and Cineworld I appreciate.

I’m in that age group and sorry they are rather dull. But she sounds dull and really unhelpful too. If she can’t come up with any helpful ideas I’d get a voucher for a shop she likes or Amazon, plus chocs or a bottle.

So what does she do, sit on her sofa and stare into space all day?

She must have a life going on.

I'd just get her a pile of nice socks. Can't go wrong with socks.

Maybe an Emma Bridgewater Radio Times mug to drink out of while watching TV

I'm in her age groupish and like hand made soap vanilla smell.

Oh bless you. She sounds tough. We're all different but Id prefer:

An I O U afternoon tea with you (could be at a garden centre to choose my own plant)
Indoor plant
Cinema voucher
A nice shirt
Pot of plants

Hope these might be useful ideas for future if not this year . . .

Does she read magazines, in which case perhaps a subscription to something? (I'm 53 but I like books and records and going out which doesn't help much)

53

Wouldn't use any of those, although I'd eat the chocolates but I have loads of hobbies and am completely unlike your MiL!

If I got that, I’d thank you profusely, eat the chocolates and donate the rest!

I have very specific tastes and spent ages picking out my make up bag so that it functions well for me, I have dodgy feet so like warm supportive slippers and wouldn’t use an eye mask.

I hate receiving gifts because I buy myself exactly what I want when I need it. However I am always gracious to the gift giver.

It could be an age thing, but I don’t like “stuff” and when I do need something, I’m very picky about how it looks and feels for me.

Thanks so much.

there’s a makers market near us this weekend so I’m going to have a look around there and if I can find something more inspiring I’ll take back the other things and replace it.

Thanks for taking the time to help I appreciate it.