"Pot luck" present for middle aged woman

[redskydarknight]

A group of friends I meet up with regularly have decided to do a "pot luck" for Christmas presents i.e. like Secret Santa, but you are not given a specific person to buy for, you just need to buy a generic present that will be assigned at random.

I hate these things with a passion because I can never think of anything to get, while everyone else seems to manage to get well thought out unique gifts.

So hoping someone has some good suggestions for me?
The group consists of women from mid 40s - mid 60s; and budget is max of £10.

Mug
Gloves
Thick socks

I like the idea of a few good novels from the local charity shop with a note to say that's where they came from.

Or Cremant. Not prosecco, I don't know anyone who drinks it anymore.

Bulbs or something to plant in the garden.

buy something would want then hopefully they do that „stealing“ exchange and you can get it back

🤣

What about doing a whit elephant, so each subsequent person can either choose to unwrap a new random present or steal one that someone else has already opened. Might help everyone get something they want, if it’s all generic

Fluffy socks, sachet of hot chocolate and a nice mug.

Bottle of prosecco and a small pack of truffles.

H&M wrist warmers and a hand cream.

A nice reusable shopping bag and a nice scented hand sanitiser.

A nice photo frame or album.

A book. Wrong Place, Wrong Time by Gillian McAllolister really resonated with me as a middle aged woman asinine part it's about a middle aged woman going back in time to when she was younger and noticing things about her younger self. It's also a crime novel.

This insulated wine glass is £12 but you might be able to find it cheaper. So good for mulled wine or - heaven forbid the temperatures ever rise again - hot days. I definitely use mine for non-alcoholic drinks because I think they look nicer than insulated mugs

I'm always happy with wine or chocolate. Or socks.

As an aside I am being entertained by all the 'nice' on this thread.

A red cyclamen plant. They are very festive. Not everyone likes candles.

Bamboo Socks…so lush to wear. Powder and Wrendale make lovely ones, Fat Face also have some super funky socks at the moment. Make up to £10 with chocolate if need be. The sort of thing that is easy to regift as well.

I'm doing this in my coffee ladies group (ages 55-80)

I'm making a small Japanese knot bag as I love sewing. You can use it to store stuff in or as a small handbag to carry a phone and purse in it.

Me too, I know my money's going to a good company and I've never found an item in Lush that I don't love!

I've never crossed the threshold of Lush because the overpowering smells coming out of their shops are really unpleasant for me. I'd be really disappointed to get something from Lush as a present because I just don't like that kind of thing at all.

Also, the staff at least one branch of Lush a few years back took it upon themselves to advertise that they would be willing to accept delivery of breast binders which under-18s could collect from them, thus helping the under-18s to keep secret from their parents and guardians that they were using binders, which are known to be dangerous to health, especially for adolescents with pre-existing health issues like asthma, which Lush would have known nothing about. Shockingly bad. So desperate to get publicity for being pro LGBTQ+ causes that they utterly failed to inform themselves about the health and safeguarding issues here. I'd never buy from Lush for this reason alone.

100%. If anyone bought me anything from Lush it would go in the bin. They also forced their female staff to work naked for a publicity stunt.

I'm another who would just bin Lush and not even re-gift for the reasons stated above. They treat women very badly, and I've heard their staff are under a lot of pressure to sell. It was the chest binder issue that finished me off.
I used to buy their lovely solid shampoos but I have found a few good replacements.

Not much use to me as I don’t have a bath! I tend to go for reed diffusers or cosy slipper socks as generic small gifts for women.

For my Secret Santa where we don’t know who the gift is for and with a £10 limit, I have bought a pair of bright stripy socks ( one size) in unisex colours from Boots. I was buying several small gifts and got some really good deals in the 3 for 2 offer so technically the socks did not cost me anything!

Whittards hot chocolate

Thank you everyone for your suggestions - some great ones in here.

I think this thread demonstrates why I hate doing this though - it's impossible to please everyone and you end up trying yourself in knots to find something that is at least inoffensive.

Although I do like the idea of everyone just grabbing the present they like the look of most
or Gregg's balls. But there might be a fight over those :)

TKMaxx - A bottle of extra virgin olive oil or a bullet journal.

What on earth is that?!

The Lush shop at Victoria Station is next to a cheese shop.

Omg laughing at the vibrator suggestion

Perfect.

I am much older than some of your friends, and would really hate some of these gifts. A hot water bottle? A mug? Hot chocolate? Nooooo.
Granted, it's tricky though. I hate Lush and only have showers, and have loads of socks.
The best suggestion is the Japanese knot bag, or the Extra Virgin olive oil.