A gift you didn't know you needed

[Laura17111]

We are doing a secret Santa where the rules are, something you did not know you needed. There is a budget of £10, I have a 55 year old woman (close relative) to buy for.

I am looking for ideas for something you would not know you needed. Any ideas would be amazing

I think you can get a parcel opener/box cutter on Amazon. Saves having to wrestle with a pair of scissors every time a delivery turns up.

Avocado slicer
Boiled egg slicer - use mine about twice a week
Milk frother

Tricky as it seems to automatically fall into “useful” category which doesn’t feel as “gifty”. So I think I’d go for a long handled spoon for scraping the last out of jars and a nice fat of chutney or jam depending on the persons likes… and maybe biscuits if the budget would stretch to that.

Fabric shopping bag that folds up into its own little bag in the same fabric (having one of these means you always have spare carrying capacity in your handbag)
Banana sheath (bananas are ideal transportable food but bruise easily)

If she likes gardening, a flexitub. I bought one and it's incredibly useful, not just in the garden.

Pillow spray or something cute like a happy looking soft toy :)

Spanish hot chocolate

Plugs that you plug other plugs into so you can turn them on and off with a remote control clicker. So much easier than going round turning all the lamps off before going up to bed (and the tree lights!).

https://www.amazon.co.uk/HBN-Programmable-Electrical-Household-Appliances/dp/B07P1S6X7Z/ref=asc_df_B07P1S6X7Z

I’d get a USB electric lighter for candles (with the flexible arm). They are super practical and apparently not everyone owns one.

Folding scissors and a handbag hook.
A rfid case for car keys

Avocado saver
Onion saver
Banana box (so banana doesn’t get squished)
Silicon lids to replace cling film
IKEA Klippets
Pack of those coin-shaped things for trolley
Pouch for card (eg entry card) to stick on back of phone

Spoon rest.

I got one, it changed my life. I love it.

YY to yaktrax. They're a bit more than £10 I think but they let me walk fast on sheet ice. They're incredible.

Problem is that if you are the sort of person that likes a gadget and are in your 50s (like me) you’ve probably got most of these already or had them in the past and got rid because you didn’t use them, or just know you wouldn’t use that particular thing in the first place.

So on that basis I’d go food, unusual spice mixes or obscure ingredients (plenty to choose from in Waitrose).

Might be over budget but packing cubes

Some slightly more random ideas might be a nice plant pot (they've got expensive over the last couple of years for some reason) or some supplement they might like to try, Ashwagandha or Lion's Mane seem to be popular atm.

Banana guard
teeny tiny mini hoover

Pickle spoons and long handled silicone gel scraper from Amazon.

jar not gel

Dreamfarm Supoon Non-Stick Sit-Up Silicone Scraping, Serving, Cooking Spoon Measures 5ml TSP & 15ml Tbsp - 11" Dreamfarm Blue https://amzn.eu/d/e6yXgF2

I've got teaspoon and tablespoon sizes. The teaspoon size is excellent for getting every scrap of jam, peanut butter etc out of a jar. I bought DB and DF one and having seen them in action my cousin bought them for her DF/DB.

I discovered one of those towelling hair wraps for wet hair, which I wondered how I did without! Much better than wrapping a towel round my head as it doesn’t fall off. It has a little button at the bottom around which you put a loop. Under a tenner from amazon.

A nicer copy of a book that they love.

Or a new houseplant. An orchid maybe.

Electric pepper grinder. Life changing.

Not everyone uses candles.