What are you getting your parents?

[issantahereyet]

Just that, really!
Have the trickiest parents to gift, so just nosey curious what everyone else is getting theirs!

Sorry no idea they are so hard to buy for.

I may have to ask them to put a wish list together and select a couple of things from it, or just ask them what they actually want. But they don't always know themselves!!

Tickets to a show with weekend in a hotel.
Some fragrance/skincare bits for my mum.
Chocs and socks for my dad.
Some Le Crueset things as they moved this year so have a new kitchen to fill. I’ve got a spoon rest and 4 mugs already bought actually! Might buy 1 or 2 more things if I see them on offer.
Spa voucher and hairdresser voucher.
Nice tie.
New Alexa for the office.

Then I do a stocking for each of them 🙈 with chocs, sweets, funny/gag gifts.

RHS membership for my DM, and F1 exhibition tickets for my DF.

My parents are no longer alive. However, my Dad liked practical gifts that he would actually use. I would've preferred to treat him, but that wasn't what he wanted. Expensive aftershave/soap never left the box, jumpers went unworn, and he was never a drinker.

His favourite gift from me, was individual puddings from Georgie Porgie puddings. He liked that they kept for a while, didn't need to be refrigerated, and that I could make a custom order for him (he didn't like the flavours with alcohol in, except for cider/Christmas pud).

Speaking of the Christmas puddings, they are a firm family favourite. I've suggested making our own, but the kids say "No, it has to be Georgie's with Roddas". This sounds like an ad, but I assure you it's not.

Dad also liked that if he went to certain events, George the owner, would be there. The business originally started with the support of the Princes Trust, and he liked to think he was making a small contribution to helping another small business.

I usually get them tickets to a show.

The best Christmas present I was bought was from FIL. It was a set of Mermaid baking trays. Well worth the money.

MIL always bought me quirky gifts from museums etc. She knows me well 😀.

Her favourite thing from me was Corrymoor bedsocks, as she always has cold feet.

The new furry croc slippers

Definitely sounds like an ad 😂

Those puddings look perfect for my stepdad. Thanks!

Yes thanks for the pudding link they look perfect!thanks!

Probably theatre tickets, but I'm still thinking about their gift. Definitely accompanied by a family photo calendar as do one for them every year.

My DD is the most thoughtful present buyer you could possibly meet. Last year she bought her dad a modelling kit, it's a globe that lights up and rotates plus biscuits and other small things because he can never get enough biscuits. She got me 2 Lego sets because at the ripe old age of 66 I have got a bit obsessed.
I had a photo of all three kids sat on a picnic bench when they were about 4, 5 and 6 and she recreated it when they were all late twenties and framed them both together, that one made me cry and has pride of place in our living room.

Theatre vouchers and a meal

A bird table with a camera (like a ring doorbell)

I've done a Booths hamper for each of them (might be time to resurrect that one), my mum likes warm stuff like wool blankets, cashmere hand warmers, or I'm getting her a book of botany for gardeners this year.
My dad likes mysteries (he hadn't read the Richard Osman ones so I got him one of them a couple of years ago) and puzzles/crosswords.

DMum has asked for a matching suitcase to the flight bag we got her for her birthday, so that's nice and easy. Probably add in a mini Jo Malone scent and some small stocking filler type gifts.

In laws are so hard to buy for 🥴 everyone always gets a framed photo from DD's Christmas photoshoot and one of the M&S tins of sweets or biscuits that light up, which they always seem to be happy with. So will have to start from there!

Books and bodylotion/handcream.
A calendar where we will give her photos from DD every 4 months.

My mum went into a carehome last March and when we cleared out her flat we found tons of stuff we gave her over the years like scarves, gloves, expensive toileteries. Nearly all still unusued/in packaging.

I know she will go through books a lot and only reads them once, they go to a second-hand charity bookshop afterwards.

I'm taking DF for afternoon tea at the Ritz. He's getting a (homemade by my own fair hands) voucher for that, plus a new tie to wear there and some general bits - socks, book, photo in frame.

I only have one parent left and I've bought him a vintage bird book.

Probably some nice cheese and cake. At 85 and 78, they really don’t want any more “stuff”.

My mum (77) is so difficult to buy for because if she wants something she will have bought it herself. She doesn’t like being gifted candles, any food related presents, perfume, clothes, ornaments, any Knick-knacks or as she calls it ‘tacky clutter’
She also has a much much higher income than we do so I really struggle within our budget. But she’s lovely and we want to buy her something and obviously she would be so hurt if we didn’t buy her anything at all. She acknowledges she is tricky to buy for! lol

we have settled on taking her to the Panto with us and dc, a few paperback books second hand from Amazon that I hope she hasn’t read (and if she has they were only cheap and can go to the charity shop) and an air fryer (she’s been saying for ages she would quite like one, if she gets herself one between now and Christmas we will just keep it and go back to the drawing board) O and a voucher for her local fish and chip shop that she likes.

I'm shamelessly bookmarking this thread, because it's always a struggle.

DDad and DSM are in their late 80s, and REALLY don't need a lot of "stuff". I sometimes buy DDad interesting plants for the garden, a magazine subscription or a book. DSM likes posh makeup, or a nice nightie. The biggest hit recently was one of those heated throws. A couple of years ago we took DSM to tea at Claridges. I've also done hampers in the past (make them myself, with a basket, some shredded paper, and filled with things I know they like).

DMum is younger, and she likes clothes (she never finds time to buy anything fashionable for herself), silver jewellery, or things for the house. Or I book two places on a crafty course - have done felt-making and fused glass in the recent past.

DMum now has a boyfriend who has a famously sweet tooth, so I'm definitely going to look at Georgie Porgie puds, so thanks @NCembarassed !

I bought the Georgie Porgie lids for my dad a few years ago and they were a big hit!

For a few years, I have given DMama a subscription to Wine Spectator magazine. I also send her and her DH a 'basket' of jams and conserves. Often I'm a bit slow to sign up for these and they arrive in Jan or Feb but that's ok - the time-release aspect works well for them.
DPapa is a different entity. Closer to time, something more urgent/quotidien will emerge like a new hat or some socks or something else totally practical but essential like a refrigerator. In past years, I have organised a generous gift card to a local supermarket.
DFIL likes a bottle of whisky. DMIL likes a ticket to join us at the ballet. Both like a 'basket' of chutneys or coffees or teas. Usually DH had some more personal ideas but this will be our first Christmas without him ...