Christmas presents that you actually loved to receive!

[boymamahere]

This year, I want to do quality over quantity and stop worrying about the amount of presents. I give someone but the actual thought behind it.

What were your favourite Christmas presents that you gave or received?

MIL is known for shite gifts. Primark onesie 3 sizes too small for me and a polyester balaclava for DH. No, we don't live in the Arctic and he can't wear synthetic fibres without sweating to death.

One year, she bought us a night away at a lovely spa hotel in the countryside. I was absolutely stunned because it was such a nice gift.

My favourite ever presents have always been homemade or incredibly sentimental. But if we are talking luxury and bought gifts, I always think the nicest of something is the way to go.
For example, I asked for a grey beanie hat and I got a beautiful soft floppy cashmere one. I haven't had the urge to ever buy another one as its so lovely.
Same goes for a really fancy candle like Diptyque. Biscuits/chocs but they are from Fortnums. That sort of thing. It makes me sound like a snob, but I'm not, I would just never buy them for myself.
Something I bought that went down well is a local bakery (independent) does a Christmas treats box , beautifully packed. I bought that for a couple of families and it went down a storm. Again, not something they'd get for themselves

I'm definitely an experiences girl. To give and receive. Tickets to things, a trip somewhere etc.

The older I get the less I want "stuff" (or I want the things that I wouldn't ask for because of the cost).

So, wine, book tokens and shower gel. Generally people don't make too much of a mess of those.

Least favourite was the gone off biscuits and toiletries I couldn't use from my bil and sil.

Favourites, loads as I am not hard to please, but dh got me the Lego Home Alone set once, which was a fun surprise. My parents got me binoculars to watch the wildlife in the forest we live near. Dd, when she was 4, picked me a small squishmallow that she thought I'd love and which I will treasure forever.

I love Aesop geranium shower gel - wouldn't treat myself as its pricey but I love to receive it.
Same with Neals yard geranium and Orange hand wash / shower gel

Massage vouchers with a decent practitioner are also good

I’d love a basket of beautiful things I like. From craft items, to yummy treats, perfume and bath goodies. Realistically everyone in my family doesn’t go to that kind of effort. DH gets the first thing that comes up on Amazon in the category I suggest. DM
asks me repeatedly and even if I tell her she doesn’t get it, despite me having months of taking her to shops or doing online orders for her to buy things for extended family.

I love tickets to plays and shows. I don’t really need “things”.

That said, the best present I have ever received was my AirPods that I wear every single day and dog walk. I’m definitely practicality over fluff when it comes to presents.

My husband and daughter did this last year. It was fab - right down to the fray bentos pie.

Greggs or coffee shop vouchers, I just love getting a ‘free’ coffee and cake even though I can easily afford to pay for one. Last year during January I went on a couple of coffee date with my best friend and it was great to use the voucher for both of us.

M&S chocolates in a big box and the chocolates were all different Christmassy designs. This was last year and my youngest adult DC bought them for me. I would never have bought them for myself and I loved scoffing them over Christmas.

The perfect small bag from Accessorise, apparently I gave my DH the biggest compliment and said this is actually better than something I would have picked myself.

TBH I think I’m easily pleased, I’m not fussy and I feel really proud of my boys when they pick something nice for me.

Tickets to shows or the ballet. Absolutely thr best!

People never believe me but I genuinely love a nice scented candle! Even more if it’s a slightly posher brand than I would normally get. Same goes for nice socks!

The best thing we ever did was a family secret Santa for the adults. We use Elfster and set a limit of £30. You can also add a wish list, so everyone gets something they genuinely want.

L'Occitane almond shower oil
Salcombe Gin
Leather gloves
Silver hoop earrings
Diamond earrings
Toms fur lined slippers
Doc Martens
Passenger coat
Waterproof OS map and walking poles
Hand made soap

DH made me a photobook of the year we became our family of 4 and it was genuinely lovely, with photos I hadn’t seen before and lots of happy memories. It made me cry on Xmas day I was so touched.

And yes, expensive things that I use but wouldn’t t buy for myself: bubble bath, body lotion, fancy umbrella. Etc

A hardback novel a small but luxury box of chocolates, one bottle of expensive bubble bath ( not a boots gift set with lots of things I don't use).
Edit to add- all these can be under £20

My daughter and her wife and the 3 kids make me an hamper with things she knows l love and nothing expensive.
Hand cream.
Fluffy socks.
Mint chocolate.
A candle.
I am more than happy.
It's wrapped beautiful with home made bows etc.
My ex husband once bought me a set of spark plugs for my old British motorbike.
Yes l needed them and we're hard to get hold of ( 1978) no Internet.
But hardly romantic.

I like anything I normally resist buying for myself. A lipstick in a gorgeous case, a beautiful compact mirror, a beaded purse, a luxurious shower gel, a fantastic smelling hand cream or soap, a bottle of wine with an unusual glass or fancy coffee with a specifically chosen mug. All quite small things but not what I would buy for myself. I buy these kinds of things for others so tend to get similar in return!

Ooh, good question.

My brother often gets me vouchers for an experience - like cinema vouchers or hotel or restaurant ones. That is great, as I don't have a lot of spare cash to do stuff like that.

I also like vouchers for shops I like but don't usually treat myself to shop in - like Waterstones or Lush for example.

Also toiletries/home spa stuff in brands I wouldn't usually buy. My ex-husband (dd's dad) got me some lovely face packs last year.

Or fragrance would be nice, as I can usually only afford cheap ones.

Books that people love themselves are also an lovely gift, especially as I rarely buy myself new books.

I also love vintage costume jewellery - my most recent ex used to get me lively brooches, just from the charity shop I think (he didn't have much money) but I love a nice brooch.

Things I’ll use. Foodstuffs, shower gel, candles, socks, body spray…

No need to be expensive, I have very simple tastes.

Almond milk bath soak from L'Occtaine
Redken hair products/hair masks
Elemis cleansing balm or No7
LuLu perfume
Any book from my active list
Candles
Candle holders, used is fine so long as it is interesting or to my taste
A good box or tub of sea salt, same with olive oil
Muslin face cloths or skin care pads
Foot skin care masks/scrubs
Warm cashmere/mix bed socks
Vouchers towards glass frames
Coffee beans! Any lightly roasted bag is a good bet for me.
Succulent plants, smaller the better.

Wool........😍........see username😂
Or hobbycraft voucher so I can buy wool

Belazu balsamic vinegar, fancy jams or chilli sauces
A simple gold chain than can be used with the pendant of choice (a perfect option is a sentimental charm from a grandparent/parent’s 1970’s charm bracelet. I did this for my DD and nieces and they were very well received)
Years ago my friend bought me a Jellycat cat cushion, well before they were a thing, and I still have it sitting on a chair and it still looks great.
If you know what scent someone wears it’s lovely to get another product - the body lotion or shower gel - from the same range
My MIL lives in another country but her sons live about an hour and a half away from each other in England. Every year she sends each family a voucher for a fancy lunch at a restaurant roughly half way. We could use the vouchers separately but it’s a great excuse to get together for a wonderful treat.

This is why I prefer wish lists. No wasted money and nothing lying around gathering dust.

If people don't like it, buy me a potted plant, a bottle of nice wine, decent teabags and chocolate.

MIL got me some British handmade soap (oat ones) with a wooden soap dish. I really liked that.

as a teenager my stepmum bought lovely slippers, slipper socks, posh DKNY or Calvin Klein knickers, posh bubble bath from philosophy or clarins. I loved all these treats so much.

my mum bought me a lovely colourful Boden jumper one year. Also Celtic co.

My mum once did us a food basket. It wasn't expensive stuff it was just staples with a few bits and bobs that looked fancy like jams and spreads but it got us through the 5 weeks till payday after Christmas and it looked beautifully done.