Gifts and Stocking fillers for 75 year old mum

[Greyrock2828]

Help! I do this every year, I'm panicking. Mum staying with us this year so I'm doing a stocking and I've bought her a hand bag she wanted from m&s.
So far for the stocking....
3x fancy baubles
1x neck/shoulder hot water bottle as she has upper shoulder pain
1x vitamins
1x glass wipes
1x mini panettone that she loves
1x Clarins hand cream
1x Aveda shampoo or some sort of luxury shampoo

Thought I might get her a magazine subscription. Any other ideas?

She doesn't have much money and is a hoarder so keen to avoid buying crap.

Something you want, something you need, something to wear, something to read …

Wouldn’t a microwaveable heated pad (forgotten what they’re called) be safer than a hot water bottle if it’s going around her shoulders and neck?

I can never see the point of being given baubles for Christmas!

Puzzle book, writing set, perfume, warm socks, gloves, paperback.

Thanks @NorWouldTilly well she wanted the handbag, don't know if she needs anything apart from money! Maybe i should give her a voucher for her hair salon.

Yeh you're right the microwaveable one is safer, now I think of it she might have one already.

A book is a good idea, she likes to read, usually picks up books in the charity shop.

Ah rhe baubles she loves, loves Christmas and they're expensive ones I got in the sale like £15/20 for 1 ordinarily.

Maybe some thank you cards, stamps, they're useful. Could go in stocking

I think it's just because she's visiting i feel like she won't have much to open on Christmas day, it's only DH, mum and my son.

Big bar of Dairy Milk. Or smaller box of more luxury chocolates, if that is her preference.
Can of her favourite cocktail, or an alcohol miniature.
Pack of handbag tissues with a festive wrapper.
Lip balm.
Retro sweets, which she will probably remember! My garden centre is good for these.
Pocket/handbag diary.
Phone case.
Book of stamps.
Fancy pen.
Bar of posh soap, or hand wash.
Tube of Pringles, in one of the Christmas flavours.
Glasses case.
Candle.
Battery operated tin opener - I got one of these recently and love it!!

In that case keep the bigger stocking gifts and wrap them for under the tree. And make sure some are ‘from’ your husband and son.

Don’t let everything be ‘little’. Full bottle of Baileys’; new hardback books, a beanie or scarf from somewhere like Community Clothing.

And don’t bother with things she’s not interested in, or basic tat, just in the name of Christmas. (I can’t stand Pringles!)

I’m sure she’ll be delighted to be with you and her grandson, anyway.

Lottery ticket

My parents like those jars of fruit in booze.

Nice handwash. Would she like a physical calendar to hang on the wall?
Bee revival kit key ring (I think everyone needs one of these in their stockings)

How, seriously, can anyone think handwash is an acceptable gift? It’s like giving someone toothpaste or mouthwash …

And I’m sorry, but tissues in festive wrapping? Does one use them to scrape a barrel?

To me these would be gifts that very plainly said I cannot stand you and sincerely hope I never have to spend another moment in your company.

Books? My Mum loves a crime novel so I’ve bought her the latest Mark Edwards ‘The Christmas Magpie’ and on the winter/Christmas theme Val Mcdermids lovely new book ‘Winter’ in hardback.

I also got her a lovely cream chunky knit cardigan from M&S that she was admiring last time we went shopping together, some fancy lovely smelling hand soap, L’occitane hand cream and body lotion and some chocolate marzipan (her favourite).

French soaps is my go to for stocking fillers.

If she’s not got loads of money, then nice things she wouldn’t normally buy. New books by her favourite authors (instead of having to wait until she gets one second hand) , magazine subscription (but only if she reads magazines) posh cheese or chocolate, some really nice socks /warm tights, silk scarf- does she garden? I was given a long handled hand fork and it is wonderful! Some really nice slippers (real sheepskin ones for example)
plus some little things- pretty /funny mug, key ring, photo and frame…
A bottle of her favourite booze

Photo cube puzzle ( similar to this https://www.amazon.co.uk/Personalized-Rotatable-Pictures-Boyfriend-Christmas/dp/B0F7GC7N11?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&psc=1&smid=A7MMK1XM80560)
Euclidean cube star.
mini Lindt Santa/teddy 60p. Or a nostalgic child’s lolly, but not too thick chocolate for old teeth. Eg Waitrose four tiny Christmas lollies for £1.
sm bottle Baileys/ Prosecco (M&S sell 1/2 bottle size of Prosecco), or a similar gift set.
glass nail file or fancy four sided nail buffer £1.
shower/bath puff
re-usable handwarmers
Mini box/hamper of special Christmas food to take home - mini mince pies, stollen bites, lebkuchen, chocolate brazils, dates, etc
(Waxed) amaryllis. I haven’t seen any waxed ones yet this year.
and my usual suggestion - a personalised glasses cleaning cloth (photograph).

Agree if she doesn't have much cash then upgraded versions of things she likes would be nice.

What about a day out while she's visiting - Christmas afternoon tea or the panto, or plan a trip to the theatre or a weekend awsy to look forward to in the new year.

If she likes Marzipan I got my mum these in John Lewis
https://www.chocolatesdirect.co.uk/product-details/116/380/12591/Niederegger-Santa-and-Stars-Marzipan-125g.htm

Hit present for my mum (similar age) last year was a ‘Tell my about your life mum’ guided journal. Lots to choose from on Amazon. She’s been writing in it all year (and I’m hoping she is going to gift me the completed book this year 🥰)

We are also getting theatre vouchers so she can use them throughout the year

Would you not like Molton Brown handwash in your stocking? I’d be really happy because it makes your hands smell lovely every time you use it so it’s a bit of practical luxury and joy for January. Goes without saying a bottle of Carex doesn’t have the same effect!

if she likes gardening how about seeds to her favourite plant
jewellry
her favourite makeup
a new hair wrap or bath bomb
warm socks
something she would find funny perhaps?
a gift from your son and then one from both of you?
if she likes to read, perhaps a book from her favourite author?
if she likes hot drinks/alcohol- maybe a sample size

i suck at gift giving so i hope these are inspirational

Can I ask, @Brummiecurlz173 (forgive me!) why you (and one or two other people) feel the OP’s mother only merits a ‘sample size’ of whatever drink she might be given? Do most people feel that a mature woman by herself isn’t worth spending much money on, or is it assumed that she must have a smaller appetite and less interest in indulgence than other types of human?

Probably cos it has to fit in a bloody stocking 🙄