What are you buying for parents (in their 60’s/70’s)?.

[Moonlightfrog]

DM is almost 70, retired, lives with step dad. Both like gardening and their dog but no other real interests. I have done garden centre vouchers and plants to death, have done bird feeders and bug houses too (not sure they have even used them). Bought DM a nice jumper last year and haven’t seen her wear it. I am kind of out of ideas. My budget is small this year so ideally something around £30.

Also, is it ok to buy my dad (72) a Lego set? He loves making things and creating things but is now struggling with his usual big projects so I’m thinking he might enjoy an adult Lego set or something similar?

what are you buying your parents and/or other family/friends in their 60’s/70’s?

I am taking mum away for a weekend as combined Christmas and birthday. She is trying to declutter so won’t want “stuff”.

Is that within the OP’s £30 budget, @crumpet?

@Moonlightfrog I'm in this age bracket and I'm telling my kids not to buy me anything. If they must, a bottle of my fave shower wash is okay.

They've got a lot of outgoings with their houses, kids etc and I really don't want them buying me anything that I can buy myself.

When my own parents got to their 80s (and 90s) they insisted we didn't buy anything as there was nothing they needed.

Have you asked them what they want?

But in all honesty, I don't 'want' anything. We're comfortably off, I can buy myself pretty much what I want and as I get older I am becoming less interested in material possessions. What I do want and value is time with my family (who don't live on the doorstep.)

We are mid 60s:
Moleskin notebooks
Fab charger with cables for i-phone and Samsung
Charging block
Theatre vouchers
L'Occitane bubble bath/shower gel/soap/handcream
Nice cards for nice notes
DH likes sheet music - ask what he wants
Good gin
JL vouchers
Waterstones vouchers

Not:
Candles
Gift sets
Food hampers
Garden stuff
Afternoon tea
Clothes/accessories

Previous successes:
Knife sharpener
Sabatier knives
Pestle and mortar
Coffee subscription
Ear pods
Heavy duty shredder
Good quality travel mugs - we are tight bastards

We are not in our dotage

I once read a comment on here about how getting them an upgrade of things they already have. Or things that make their life easier. One of the things my dad liked the most was a head torch. He knew they existed but had somehow never made the connection that it would be a useful item. When gave it to him, he was a bit non plussed but I suggested a range of situations in which he might use it and he does and often comments that it has been very handy. The long handled leaf grabbers were ridiculously well received.
If your parents are at home & can’t go out much, presumably they are watching a fair amount of TV. If they don’t subscribe to all of the channels, what about paying for that for a few months. I got my 93yo largely housebound grandmother sky sports and it made her last winter much more enjoyable as she watched the cricket.

The OP asked (twice) what we’re getting our parents. Her budget is £30, but ours might not be.

Possibly not - didn’t see that part, but the concept of doing something rather than buying things will be.

I've got/am getting my Mum (65)
Duck themed bath stuff
A couple of books.
Gluten Free treats
"Nice" coffee
Some other various small things

Lego as a main present
(We have a new tradition where we buy 12 small/cheap things throughout the year and one main thing.

ETA: This is more than £30 in total, but i usually only spend about that on the lego. Now that my DC are adults with their own money we might club together for a bigger one.

We would appreciate a voucher for wine tasting at our local independent wine store.

(Cannot stand afternoon tea or anything smelly).

I think this thread demonstrates how varied our likes are and why its sometimes impossible to please everyone. I think time with your DM doing something away from the home and a token gift for your SD.

@ResusciAnnie The Jackie annual is going on my list 😂

I think presents are less about age and more about interests. Speaking as someone in her 60s. But I know that after years of gift giving you do run out of ideas. I try to take the pressure off myself by giving it some thought, deciding on something and then accepting that it might or might not work. It's just a gift at the end of the day. How much do you interrogate presents you get? Not a lot I'd bet. As an aside, these days I prefer consumables as I pretty much have everything I need. And I love food and drink. So expensive artisan food items go down a treat here .

Also, for every idea suggested on this thread, someone will come along and say they'd hate it. Only you know your parents.

Age is also relevant to the amount of "stuff" people want. My parents don't want more stuff now theyre older, they're trying to get rid of stuff!

I am mid 60s and want tickets to see my favourite band but I want the standing tickets

Yes, that's me!
Lots going to charity shops.

Definitely take your Mum out. It'll be lovely for you both and it sounds like she could do with a break from looking after SD.

Get him a posh tin of biscuits!

We're in your age bracket. DH would love Lego and jigsaws. I love fashionable clothes and my DDs are good at buying me stuff I'd actually wear. I'm a DM wearing, multi pierced 70+ person and still feel 30. I would be horrified to get anything National Trust. Just buy things you like, older mums still enjoy being up to date and don't want to be made to feel old or frumpy.

I'm early 60s and still want presents from my children. They don't have to be expensive (lunch or a trip out together or a pack of lovely coffee is fabulous) but it's very easy to say, "Ooh, don't worry about little old me!" We're important too.

As long as no-one gets me a musical water globe!

I'm 70 and a new widow.
I have asked for a sandwich toaster this year. But I like the idea of a hamper with treats .

Me too!
I don't need " stuff"...I've stopped getting presents apart from from dh and dd. I buy for no one else either.
I love cheese and gin , vouchers for nice hotels and massages, hardback books and vinyl.

I don't think the value of a gift equates to how important I am to my children.

I know that I am their mother and they will never have another - and that apparently they quite like me.

That makes me very very important.