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.

@ChristmasMad1Crocs went down well with my parents last year.

Bendable neck light has been a massive hit with my elderly mum. And a bendable neck fan for the summer.

I bought my mum a pair of knee high wool/silk mix socks from John Lewis a couple of years ago. Absolutely loved them and only took them off for a quick wash through the winter so she got another pair last year. It’s enough of an extra layer to make a difference and much easier under trousers than thermal leggings.

Book subscription service where they either deliver books of the months to you or it uploads on your Kindle automatically
https://www.thewilloughbybookclub.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOopi5kBpO9_C-ITWVOKb-9AzhrIen0qRGMT5Z1Uft0OiMbMS5GA5
https://teatimebookshop.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOor_85vKI-5qpOijdzC3gcNc4lOxgOFdQ092_R4TUbjltuXq36OP

Could be something tech-related like good headphones or power banks. Maybe software subscriptions if that's something you know they'd use, like a slideshow maker or a photo editor for those that love photography, landscape planning tool for a garden lover, etc. Also if your parents like birds, you can get an automatic bird feeder with a camera https://www.birdfood.co.uk/bird-feeders/top-10-feeders

Updated versions of something they already use and like are always nice and it could be pretty much everything, from tools to skincare or fragrance. Can also be quite tricky, though, so maybe getting a gift card to a particular store would be a better option in some cases.

Tickets to events they'd be interested in or season passes to museums?

I bought DF an assortment of jams from a stall. I just asked him last week if he liked it. “They were fantastic”. Ok. That’s me sorted until he dies.

Items that I’ve found useful recently that I don’t think people would think to buy for themselves:

Electric foot file (get one with the internal vacuum for the dust)
Moisturising heel socks
Tactical car seat organiser (Molle system is a useful keyword)
Electric tyre inflator/car jump starter
Small Bluetooth keyboard for the phone (great for typing emails when waiting or in a cafe or whatever)

we got battery boxes - not this but this type of thing - https://www.therange.co.uk/technology-and-appliances/batteries/venom-battery-storage-case-with-battery-charge-tester#5366457 and filled them with batteries for hard to buy for relatives one year.

Very unexciting but actually a really good present if they don't want anything, really.

some great ideas here! Can you recommend a foot file with vacuum please?

just made the christmas cakes and was reminded of this - very niche and this one is very expensive (other similar ones can be found) but its a personalised mixing bowl with a family recipe/other message actually cast in the earthenware

www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1107604658/custom-medium-mixing-bowl-your-family