Do you think a hamper at Christmas is a boring present ?

[lulu55xxx]

Basically me and my friend have reached a time now (40) where we have everything.
There’s nothing we really need so for Christmas this year I’m making her a hamper.
Im gonna get some nice bits from M&S (cake ,biscuits ,nice chutney etc etc ) I’ve got her a Yankee candle (her fav smell ) some nice chocolates but my partner has said it’s a “boring “
gift .
Ive asked her all year as she has me and we couldn’t think of anything.
Rather than buy her things she doesn’t want or need ..I thought a nice hamper (with things she likes ) would be nice ?
or is it boring ?

I think it's nice. I would like to receive a well thought out hamper. It's usually our go to for the PIL along with a voucher for a night away at a hotel as they're impossible to buy for, they have everything.

If I were your friend, I'd appreciate it if it was stuff you knew I liked.

But if neither of you can think of anything you really want to get each other, why not replace present buying with a meal out/trip to see a show instead?

Why not scrap gift giving and agree to spend the money doing something nice together? I do this with a friend and we do things like a theater trip/ice skating etc

I love a personalised hamper. It's a bit like a stocking for adults. I think it's a top level present. Just make sure she actually likes/can eat what's in there because a hamper full of stuff you can't/don't want to eat/use is a rubbish gift.

@redskydelightwell it’s my birthday Xmas Eve and hers Boxing Day so in Jan we are going for a spa day so I just wanted to get her something little for Christmas to go alongside it really

I think a hamper is perfectly fine but would much rather have a joint experience as above.

Sorry that should of said our friends birthday Xmas Eve and mine was yesterday and hers on Boxing Day

I’d love it!

I'd love a hamper with things in I liked! I think its a great idea :)

Its a nice thoughtful present

I think you should scrap the gift giving. Just have the nice day together.

Since you will be customising the hamper to include stuff you know her to like, it will be a perfectly fine present. But, yes, boring. How could it not be? After years and years of exchanging presents, the whole thing gets tedious and unrewarding.

As a family, we haven't quite got to the point of ceasing the exchange of gifts at Christmas, but we are certainly scaling it back and admitting to one another how unrewarding and pointless it feels.

It is tough at this stage to get good gifts. There was a time when I'd feel very pleased with myself for getting them a few bits out of the body shop now its much harder as the skincare things we use are all more expensive and we have a £50 budget. We have different approches. I tend to buy just one or two more luxury things and then some foodie goodies. Other friends buy lots of little things and wrap them all up like a big stocking.

Ultimately it doesn't matter. I'm personally in favor of using the gift money to fund a nice trip out but others feel that if we didn't exhange gifts they wouldn't be getting any gifts at all.

I'd be really happy with nice foodie bits from M&S and we do actually do that for my DH's Aunt and Uncle.

I think it’s really nice. I’d be happy to receive a gift like that, especially if it’s stuff I like but wouldn’t normally get for myself on a regular basis, ie a fancy speciality marmalade rather than bog standard tesco one

would you like me to DM you my address 🤣🤣

This is a good idea.

I'd politely thank someone for a hamper, but I'm not that interested in food, and don't drink much, so it wouldn't be my favourite gift! It would be a bit like someone doing some of my food shop!

It would be mortifyingly dull to me (and I’m much older than you). An evening at a cocktail bar would be more my idea of fun. (They always have non-alcoholic options available if either of you is abstemious.)

I do like hampers, but only from certain places. Fortnum or a selection of non perishables from M&S. They are quite a personal thing.

I'd love a hamper, if full of carefully considered items. Like the adult version of a stocking IMO.

I personally wouldn’t want a food hamper and I can’t have candles indoors , I’m in my 50s and I stopped presents for friends many years ago and we just meet up for a meal out instead .

I'd love that.

I think a hamper made of things you know she'll love is lovely.

The ready made ones are over priced for what's in them....and I don't know anyone who uses the chutney...

The candle alone is plenty as a small gift you know she will like.

I don't like hampers and unfortunately I am of the age where people give me them.
It's a bit late this year but next time maybe have a discussion about it and agree on something else. Maybe a joke present, a present with a theme, a home made offering. If you both do it it might be fun.

It's not boring if it's got lots of things you know the person loves. I'd like to be able to fully tailor make them. As the ready made ones always seem to have couple of things you think they're just trying to palm off!

My adult DDs always do me a hamper and I really look forward to it. It is such a thoughtful and personal gift. I get toiletries, perfume, food, drink, candles - it's amazing.