Would really appreciate ideas for a couple please

[OMGitsnotgood]

Budget c. £30. ‘No present’ is not an option and I don’t want to give a voucher. They don’t drink alcohol. They don’t like coffee and just like ‘ordinary’ tea. They receive a photo calendar from family each year.

Past gifts have included candles; cookery books; plants & pots (indoor and outdoor); herb seeds and pots; vase; photo frames and albums; various food gifts; scarves and gloves. I’d rather avoid toiletries, as she has sensitive skin.

We usually get together between Christmas and New Year. Judging by the generous boxes of chocolates & biscuits they bring if they come to us / put out if we go to them, it would seem they receive a lot of those. They used to enjoy walking but one can’t walk too far now so anything related to that is out. Don’t really have hobbies other than reading and watching TV but would be a gamble buying books as I don’t know what they already have.

All suggestions appreciated. Thanks

What about a day out to a museum/show. £30 woild probably get you into the local playhouse.

Whats your relationship? A beautiful bauble for the tree from Liberty, a suncatcher or hand painted vase is always good for the more distant rels.

Sounds like they like nature, so as a person who likes that myself and thinking about what I would love:
Bird bath
Bird feeding station
Bird Feeders and a supply of food
Hedgehog house
Bone China Mugs (the lovely Dunoon or Royal Doulton ones with beautiful nature designs)
A decorative photo frame with a lovely photo of them in it
A soft warm throw
Afternoon tea voucher (l know you don't want to do a voucher but this is specific and something you could still wrap)

Good luck with sorting OP x

How about two nice mugs from le creuset? £32 so slightly over budget. I received these as a house warming gift and loved them!

www.johnlewis.com/le-creuset-stoneware-mugs-350ml-set-of-2/meringue/p3228799

What about an electric throw you can get one fir £30 in home bargains and amazon

Solar lights for the garden
Thermos mugs
Books about their birthplace or ‘local’ authors
Chocolate Brazil nuts/crystallised ginger/etc. in nice jars
Fancy cordials
Alpaca socks
Knitted hats

I think this is a great idea, I would be happy with cheese, biscuits, jams and chutneys every year!!! It's lovely you are putting so much thought in to it.

I'd go with;
Something for the garden (weather vane, nice thermometer type thing, bird feeder or bath)
A nice blanket maybe with something else like hot chocolates/mugs/slippers
A board game/puzzle/nice set of playing cards
A subscription to something (cheese, brownies, magazine, we've had olive oil which was nice but probably only for those who cook)
Hamper from a posh shop
Is there a cause they would appreciate, I've had a donkey adopted before that was quite thoughtful because I'm an equiney person!

Oh they sound tricky! A nice blanket to snuggle on the sofa under, when watching tv maybe.

Thank you for all the suggestions, I have managed to fix this gift problem thanks to this thread. Do keep the ideas coming as I am sure it will help others and I have noted other ideas ready for next year!
Thank you

This company has some lovely things - particularly for nature/garden lovers.
https://ablackbirdsang.com/collections

Cinema gift voucher is a great shout especially if you can do it for one of those fancy cinemas eg Everyman. I'd love that as its an indulgence I wouldn't ordinarily pay for myself when bog standard cinemas are so much cheaper, but I went to one the other day and it was a really nice experience.

Although you might need to stretch to £40 as each ticket is £20 iirc.

Bonsai tree kit

Just going through the lakeland Christmas catalogue and seen this.
Boska cheese baker
theres also 20% off vouchers knocking around the internet

I can only speak for myself but I really don't want any more gadgets that will take up cupboard or worktop space, especially if they're for making something I might have once or twice a year. That cheese baker would fall into that category for me.

Last year about Dec 1 a friend sent us a beautiful freshly made, festive Christmas wreath for our door. Her note said "I am sending gifts early!"

It was such a great present. We enjoyed it till at least the end of January, and then it was put at the back of the garden for birds to harvest for nesting materials, etc. No permanent gadget or knickknack to deal with, lots of sensory enjoyment of the scent, the greenery, etc. and then a low-effort upcycling.

I plan to do the same for others this year.

There are some lovely non alcoholic gins in that price range. If that is something they would enjoy.

Cream tea voucher, to be delivered to their home.

I suppose that these come under the headings of vouchers but when getting the Christmas presents for couples, instead of exchanging gifts like biscuits in return for chocolates, chocolates in return for wine etc endlessly, we each give to a charity. I tend to choose animal ones eg you can “buy” a bale of hay, bag of carrots for horse ones and get a certificate to gift. Dogs4Rescue send lovely videos on Christmas morning if you donate for a dinner for a dog, Christmas Eve treat or Boxing Day meal, we always enjoy watching the fun that the rescue dogs have. They add these to their online shop in November I think https://dogs4rescue.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage

Cinema voucher - loved getting one of those from a colleague when I left work!

Heated throw. I would be without mine

https://www.dunelm.com/product/printed-fleece-woodland-electric-throw-1000271238
This one is very on trend absolutely beautiful.
I hate receiving impractical gifts,just more " stuff"

Interesting cordials for soft drinks (I add to sparkling water), i always appreciate spices, do they cook? a mini spice grinder blender (mine was £20) plus a few spices?

Glad you’ve got it sorted for this year

I wouldn’t assume just because they bring and put out lots of biscuits and chocolates that they wouldn’t like more. They may do it because that’s what THEY like!! So posh biscuits and choccies might be much appreciated

The M&S hamper also a great idea. I was given one once and it was really good. Used everything in it which isn’t always the case with hampers I find.

A blanket / throw

If they have a pet, get a few photos of their pets and you can have them printed on mugs, coasters, cushions or throws.