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 ?

It’s a lovely idea.

I know hampers receive a mixed reception on Mumsnet. I think the key is as already mentioned - ‘well thought out’, so things you know they will enjoy. People responding to these threads often overlook the fact that the giver knows the recipient fairly well so should have a good idea of their tastes. That said, another benefit of a hamper is that even if they don’t particularly like one item, they are likely to enjoy others.

If you know they like cheese, some artisan crackers and something like quince paste.
If they have toast in the morning, a more expensive jam or marmalade.
if they are list makers, a pretty notebook.
Some sort of toiletry item - shower gel or hand cream.
if they are cooks, some unusual or expensive ingredients. I love saffron for example.
Herb seeds and little pots
More expensive than usual tea or coffee.
M&S have some lovely small oacks of chocolates
for example

I’m sure people will say they wouldn’t want any of the above but it’s about what your friend would like

I would love to receive a hamper but just approaching my 48th Christmas and to date, I never have!

It’s lovely as long as she really likes what you’ve put in. Choose long use by dates as she’ll already have nice stuff in for Christmas.

You know your friend and what she likes, it sounds great to me.

What’s Mr Clever suggesting as an alternative, or is he only gifted at carping from the sidelines?

Not boring!

My husband’s company gives him a F&M hamper every year. It’s the Christmas one, so is filled with good stuff.

We fill and re-use the hampers for friends and they always go down so well.

I wouldn’t want a food hamper but that’s just me. I buy all the things I like for Christmas but after Boxing Day I am sick of food and I usually want to start healthy eating.

I am in my 40’s, I struggle to buy for one of my friends so we just go out for a meal or book tickets for a gig. I prefer to spend time with her rather than get a gift.

I love receiving gifts like this. Delicious food, drink, candles etc, all of which I can really enjoy using, but ultimately don’t clutter up my home with things I don’t like or need 😂

I think it’s a lovely idea! Especially you making it yourself with the personal touches and items you know she’ll appreciate and use. My Dad is tricky to buy for and I’ve done this for him more than once with no complaints. It’s certainly more thought through than a gift voucher or something like that. I’d crack on OP X

I LOVE edible or drinkable gifts. I hate waste and excess so a gift that can be consumed (or something practical that can be used frequently) are the sorts of gifts I like the best.

That's such a thoughtful gift not boring at all

I love it when I get gifted a hamper, not boring at all.

It’s perfect. Shows thought and care. It’s personal. Lovely gift 🩷

Wow such a mixed reaction on here! I’d love a hamper but never had one! It’s making me worried now that I’ve just done one for our Christmas guests in our Yorkshire holiday cottage. I spent the weekend sourcing lots of Yorkshire foodie treats to fill it with. I really hope they like it and don’t think it’s naff🙈

I do them for everyone every year now - it’s expected! I do them as a ‘family’ hamper with foodie/drink/home stuff and then some more expensive things and wrap most of the items up individually with red paper for the women and blue for the blokes and neutral for joint, so they have something to actually open and the good presents aren’t on display so it’s pick and mix which they open! Then just have crisp and chocolates dotted inbetween the gifts. All in a nice hamper with ribbons to tie it together. I always get complimented and say I make the best hampers! It can take a while to wrap them but it’s all good fun as they can’t see what’s in it! I also put a lottery ticket in their cards as you never know! (BTW I’m 52 and love giving and receiving a hamper - provided it’s not filled with stuff we wouldn’t use! 😂)

I like a hamper, as long as it isn't too fancy and no chilli jam but apart from that, great present especially if the person doesn't need stuff, tbh most people don't once they get to a certain age.

Holiday place guests would really appreciate that i am sure.

No l wouldn’t want a hamper. I love biscuits and cakes but put on weight so easily. I don’t like chutney or crisps.

My sister made me a wine a crisp/nuts gift bag for my birthday during covid it was a lockdown honestly it was one of best presents I have received.

It’s lovely if you’re very confident they’re things she’ll like but my mum does this for us and it’s always things she thinks we’ll like rather than what we actually do. We don’t eat ultra processed food as a general rule and often we get given brands or items we don’t eat so it just feels like a big waste.

Tell him to butt out. Lovely idea. Just like a Christmas stocking but bigger. Pop anything you like in: a good book, a film, a lottery ticket, giftcard, olives, cheese, popcorn. Literally anything.

Much rather have a hamper than stuff I don’t need or wouldn’t use, everyone eats so a hamper will get used up eventually!

We do the same and for birthdays we do cards and take the birthday person out for breakfast and lunch on a date near their birthday . No need to do presents

Me, my family and friends have all agreed hampers for a number of years. I love a hamper

so much better than loads of tat you don’t need or use