Gift for my (Lovely) MIL

[TheSeriousSanta]

I would be grateful for some nice gift suggestions for my MIL...

She doesn't really do that much.... I know she likes scratch cards (but rarely gets them) but I can hardly buy her 20 of those, can I?

She doesn't buy magazines, she likes to cook, but wouldn't be keen on new recipes... She doesn't knit... She does have two cats but isn't the sort of person who would buy a cat book, IYSWIM...

I thought of a little hamper, but my budget is around £30 max...

any ideas?

thanks!!! TSS

A voucher for a facial/ manicure?

jewellery
perfume

Does she like pretty 'smellies'? You can get some lovely Neals Yard gift sets (from places like John Lewis) for well within your budget. Or boxes of really nice scented candles (can you tell what I've been buying in-laws? ).

If she likes to cook, maybe a pretty oven gloves/apron set or something quirky for the kitchen.

Otherwise, a hamper is a lovely idea: a little box of Hotel Chocolat chocolates, some florentines from Thorntons, some 'home-made' lemon curd or jam (but shop bought iyswim!), some tasty biscuits (obvuously not jammy dodgers but again, something 'home-made' looking ), a nice tin of tea bags - not PG Tips...

my MIL is hard to buy for too. Last year I made her a hampper of things she likes, it cost no more than £30, but everything in there was useful.

This year money is tighter so i'm doing a parcel of stuff made by dc with a photo album, tree decoration, biscuits, sweets and may buy a couple of bits and bobs. My MIL would rather have a load of things made by dd than something I bought. But I know not everyone's like that, my step-mother would hate it if I gave her some, but I may do some homemade sweets/biscuits anyway

If you did the homemade hamper type thing you could include a few scratchcards.

Rudolph... that's a good idea. Practical really is order of the day for MIL, but the scratch cards make it a little bit more fun...

Excellent. Shall get on the case today!!

what about cath kidson? an apron or other kitchen pretty thing

Yes, she would like Cath Kidston - but I know she'd feel bad if she found out how much it cost... SHe really is quite frugal / practical..

I've been looking for a little hamper all day with no luck... Think I will just have to order one on-line!!!

I have made up my own hamper in the past, get a cardboard box from the supermarket cover the sides with Christmas paper and fill it up with goodies. If you leave the top open so you can see everything it looks lovely and with up to £30 you would fill quite a big box, Lidl have lovely Christmas food and you could add some M & S treaty things to make it look more luxurious