The hard to buy fors…

[GRCP]

Hello,
here are my hard to buy fors - please let me know any ideas and share your own for ideas!

parents - 79, enjoy gardening, mum is close to blind, don’t really go out anywhere new but enjoy a pub lunch, don’t drink or need any “stuff”, not big on chocolates or biscuits. Last years big hit for them was a pair of crocs each.

BiL - also has Christmas birthday. 50, lives coastal/rural, that’s all I’ve got lol
Could do joint gift with DSis for Xmas.

I love the fleece throw DH bought me last year as I am often cold on winter evenings and great to snuggle up in when watching TV.
If you see them regularly, keep an eye out for things that could be replaced or upgraded eg slippers, dressing gown, a new jumper, cardigan, gloves. I know they sound quite boring but better something useful than something they don’t need. Or the hot water bottles you heat in the microwave rather than fill with water.
For your Mum, a long necklace she can slip over her head so she doesn’t have to fiddle with a clasp.

Given where he lives, does your BIL enjoy walking? We’re keen walkers and I love the feel of new walking socks but not something I tend to by for myself, just make do with the old scratchy ones. That and a book of local walks would be a nice present.

An exotic, but temperate, extremely scented climbing plant for parents, so mum can smell it all summer - something like a jasmine but I am sure you can source something much more unique - climbing lily would be ideal (I don't know if they exist)

BIL - aerial view jigsaw of his town

@frozendaisy Good idea - I got an a-z map jigsaw of my area last year and chuffed with it. We’re coastal so half of it is plain blue.

These are gorgeous ideas, thank you!

Last year I got my parents a monthly cheese subscription, and for each of their birthdays since then I gave them fancy cheese biscuits, chutneys, pickles etc… to enjoy with their cheese! They’re enjoying trying out all kinds of new cheeses!

I'm getting elderly relatives, who cannot travel like they used to a gift hamper from The Cornish Company. The relatives used to love holidaying in Cornwall and miss authentic pasties and treats.

Also a heated throw

Voucher for theatre tickets

My husband bought me a heated blanket last year. It's one of the best things he ever bought me. I really feel the cold and always had a blanket on the sofa. My in-laws are hardest, they often end up with a gift card each. Grandma is no longer here but she was a nightmare, she asked for a matte red lipstick so i thought I'd treat her and bought her an expensive Mac lipstick, the same one I use, come April she gave it back. Best thing i ever got her was a tiny novelty Ted Baker stocking, it came with a lip gloss that I switched for nail polish.

Heated blankets could be a good shout - will see if they have them as I can’t remember.

i have. A lot of hard to buy for in my family!!

Mother - - 75, doesn't like togo out, mum is close to blind

father - 73, likes gardening

brother - 56, travels for work doesn't have any hobbies, recently stopped drinking

brother - 50, loves fishing and football and has all the stuff

Son - 18, loves football but already has all the stuff and been to the stadium.

Heated throws went down well with my hard to buys.
Also, nice butchers stuff, posh pork pie, some meat for the freezer etc
Another thing that went well was a posh jute bag from a farm shop filled with posh versions of stuff they already like

Some good practical things for techys:
Multi charger plug
Little usb gadgets like a car cup warmer
USB heated gloves
Hat with speakers in for running/walking

I also think a stocking always goes down well

My in laws enjoy the theatre tickets or meal/afternoon ticket vouchers we get.

my dad is my particularly hard one. He will buy what he wants or likes.

actually my 17 (18) at Christmas girl is hard. She doesn’t ask for anything. Just books but there’s only so many books she can have.

My Mum is almost blind and doesn’t go out. I’ve stopped buying a big present and do her a stocking which I fill with nice useful stuff as she doesn’t want things hanging around. I actually bought her a bigger tv last year instead of her usual stocking and she’s told me many times since that she missed opening her stocking presents.
I’ve included face creams, hand cream, cashmere fingerless gloves, fleece throw, pretty shower caps (TKMax do vintage ones), Pringles, perfume, folding walking stick, bag of mints, pack of brightly coloured knickers, bath or shower stuff, nice air freshener (Floris half price on Amazon), dry shampoo, jewellery, hair nets, nail files, talking watch, socks, preserves, brightly coloured thermal tops (M&S). Everyday stuff but a nice quality and things I know she will use.

My absolute favourite present is a stocking full of useful stuff. Bath puff, toiletries, fancy jam, salt, dried herbs and spices, flannel, tissues etc

Alexa and an Amazon music subscription for your mum?

My go-to used to be bath or shower stuff as everybody washes until my in-laws said that in their book being given that kind stuff is sending a message that you smell or need to wash more. My husband has always suffered with dry skin on his feet so early on in our relationship, me being a kind, nice girlfriend bought him a body shop foot care gift. I was so disappointed when the first thing he said was 'are you saying my feet smell?'

For those who have relatives that struggle with clasps - you can get magnet fasteners that you clip on to each bit of the clasp, then just use the magnets in future. https://www.piajewellery.com/pia-jewellery/jewellery-essentials/silvertone-magnetic-clasps/?srsltid=AfmBOoqTs7D3C3R1pzaaxRESLSh_82MFr9cFTkUDyubuX6GHNn6Womo0

You can get them elsewhere too. I've put them on necklaces for people before giving them to them.

Alpaca fleece for birds has gone down well with one set of GPs, who asked for more, and terrible with the other who gave it back. It's so hard!

A bon maman jam advent calendar was a hit with one older relative.

New duvet cover set has been a hit with a couple of relatives too, and a thousand stars bedspread. Oh and new nightdress and new new dress for mum (separately) simple designs to just pull over the head no buttons etc.

I’ve stopped buying g my parents anything specifically for Xmas and birthdays as they always say they don’t need or want anything, but then when I see them (I only see them 3 or 4 times a year) they always mention something they need or have been struggling find in the shops, which is when I hit the internet and go “that’s your Xmas present you didn’t need at the time!”
what’s your BIL into? ordnance survey custom maps with your home in the centre which are quite a good gift for anyone outdoorsy in a rural area. or dryrobe if he spends any amount of time at the beach?

An audible subscription and some nice headphones for your mum

Hori hori gardening knife for your dad

BiL is trickiest. I assume he has all the kit if he lives near the beach. A portable BBQ perhaps, or a game like Molkky or boules that can be played on the beach.

Mum - audible subscription and device she can use it on/headphones.

For elderly relatives who like gardening & are physically still able but less able than they were, can I recommend these long handled leaf grabbers https://www.screwfix.com/p/spear-jackson-garden-tidy-leaf-grabber/95262?tc=FC2
They are different ones available. I got some for me dad last year and he was a bit non-plussed at the time but has thanked me for them on a regular basis since as they save bending down. He also uses them for clearing windfalls from their fruit trees.

All grandparents got given a bendable neck light last year which, again, wasn’t met with enthusiasm but has been well used by 2 out of 3 of them.
Rechargeable heated cushions from Stoov were pricey but my parents like to go & sit at a local view point but rarely did so in the winter as it was too cold. They now take their cushions and a flask of tea and go on a regular basis all year round.
I’ve realised practical gifts which they weren’t aware of seem to be a good solution.

I had great difficulty getting my uncle something for his 90th. He was in bomber command so thought of a flight expérience. No the only true flying was gliding. Suggested that - nope- he set up a gliding school in post war Berlin. Desperate for an idea i got him a kindle with a keyboard. Set up an email address for him etc etc easy to remember password. Idiot proof instructions. Or so i thought. He only decided to read the instructions. Once he'd cottoned on to the fact that it was a radio device that could receive books je was away. Best présent I could've got him. He had many years of pleasure from it.