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 ?

We used to make up a hamper for FIL and his partner. We got the hamper from Markies and bought our own selection of food items that we knew they loved. At their stage in life getting consumables was far better than decor/books/toiletries/socks, just stuff they didn't need. I've had hampers before and it's quite disappointing if some of the items are ones you wouldn't/couldn't eat, so handpicking everything to be bob-on is lovely.

Hamper is a lovely idea once it is filled with things she likes. A friend of mine adores jam. She made me a hamper last year with eight kinds of jam in it. I do not eat jam.

I bloody LOVE a hamper. It appeals to the part of me that loves a rake about in markets and those wee shops that sell absolutely everything. I could get the same gifts individually wrapped and think “oh that’s nice” but stick them all in a hamper and I’m overjoyed!

I love a food hamper, especially a hand picked one is lovely

I love hampers so long as they aren’t full of xmas stuff - as I don’t want to eat xmas puds, mince pies, cake etc after xmas - and am usually on a diet

I love a good hamper 😊

Agreed! I would love it if someone went to the trouble of choosing things they know I like but would usually treat myself too. Plus the fact that it is a ‘use and it’s gone’ gift is great, too - I very much don’t want or need more ‘stuff’ in my house

I think this is the point where you stop buying gifts.

I would love that and don’t think it’s boring at all.

I love a hamper of food goodies and a Yankee as well

can you be my friend please

OP, I think it is a really appropriate, thoughtful present, and I would be very pleased indeed to receive such a gift.

I do one of my adult kids a hamper. I make it a matter of honour to find the most obscure things to put in, so I scan farm shops for interesting flavours of crisps and oils, flavoured salts and rubs, sweets and snacks that they probably wouldn't come across in the normal course of shopping.

He is always most appreciative and he and his wife love having some nice snacky bits to sit down with after Christmas!

So I think a well chosen hamper with food that your friend would love but probably not bother to buy for herself is a great present.

If you ‘have’ to do gifts, I like things that get used up. I’d prefer things I use every day (the tea I prefer, a nice cheese etc) than jams and chutneys that see out their days at the back of the fridge.

Hamper for me please! Mine would have a nicely wrapped book, maybe a couple of cocktail tins and a nice box of expensive mints.

I don't want the chutneys, jellies, lemon curd and crackers type hamper but just some fun stuff in a basket would be great!

It it was stuff I like I'd love it. It wouldn't have to be my favourites just not full of such "interesting and different" things that I don't want any of it. Chocolate, biscuits, cake candles, nice jam and wine would all be great and very appreciated, one new flavour would be fun to try.

I’d love it but I gave one once to a friend that loves treats and stuff but doesn’t have the money to spend on them and I could tell she wasn’t delighted.

If you fill it with items she has expressed an interest in, then it's thoughtful.

I like this ideal I’d fill it with some lovely treat stuff, too but not from markies, but you know the kind of stuff you get at the garden centre, biscuits, cakes, sweets etc it’s usually a little bit more unusual than markies stuff, from smaller companies. And some nice drinks in there too.

unlwss she really likes chutney, I’d scrub round it, and a Yankee candle is fine but could smell the other packages, so make sure it’s seperated and wrapped properly if you do that. But I’d not put a Yankee candle in with food.

I'm slightly younger than you & your friend, but I love a hamper! Especially a food one with bits I wouldn't usually treat myself to.

My mum sometimes makes themed hampers for me, like one year she got me a rice cooker, a cook book, steamer pot thing for dumplings, chop sticks and some ingredients, that was about 12 years ago and I still remember it as a brilliant present.

It just depends on the receiver doesn't it.

I'm doing my DD a hot chocolate hamper/herbal tea hamper this year. She will absolutely love it. My DS would hate a gift like that though

I think pamper should have a theme of some sort e.g lemon or cheese or coffee and it should include something you don’t eat on a regular basis, something unusual or new or a special treat otherwise it is a bit boring. Maybe your DH meant that?

I’ve done this a few times with stuff from Fortnum’s and it always seems well received.

Its boring. It can be thoughtfully boring.

But thats ok. Not every gift can be a special, extra sentimental gift thats exciting or original. Thats one hell of an expectation to put on people.

I think it's a nice present.

No, I'd be really pleased to get a hamper!