Help me choose a gift for 80 yr old

[HoHoHoliday]

I need some inspiration for a birthday present for my mum.

I have asked her, and she can't think of anything particular that she wants. But she does enjoy getting presents so I want to get something nice for her.

She has everything she "needs" so the present will not be anything functional, but a treat.

Despite being 80 she is mental younger, so I don't want to get anything too "old". Definitely no blankets or slippers.

She doesn't enjoy spa or afternoon tea. I'm not keen on getting a voucher because she then has to arrange something with it herself - I want to give her an actual thing.

My sibling is already getting her a long weekend trip away.

I'm really stuck! What have you got your young-at-heart 80 year old mothers?

My mum is early 80s, this year I got tickets for a Tom Jones concert

I also get her skin care as she still likes her lotions and potions

@HoHoHoliday I have bought several elderly aunts Liberty scarves for their significant birthdays/events https://www.libertylondon.com/uk/department/liberty-products/fashion-accessories/scarves/?gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAAD4IbFHZSwdiJ8BI2dtxRSK2n1nt_&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3taziPmeiAMVLZdQBh0FADetEAAYASAAEgLvsfD_BwE

My mum is 86, she likes receiving jewellery, either earrings or a necklace. Otherwise I buy her books, very soft scarves, chocolates, fudge, ornaments she collects. I've also framed a sketch I did, or photos of family.

Theatre trip (together. You agree show/date with her but do all the organising). Cashmere lined leather gloves. Wildlife camera, hedgehog house, food. Salon manicure (go together?). Fancy garden furniture. Hire a hot tub for the weekend.

My 75 yo mother loves garden vouchers. I bought her some fancy gardening shoes for her last birthday.

I'm a bit younger, not much though. I love Amazon vouchers as I can use them for treats that I'm reluctant to buy myself throughout the year, books for my kindle being quite a big expense. My kids reject this as they want to buy a thing so I end up with things in a cupboard.

Digital photo frame that you upload with videos and photos of family?

Magazine subscription?

My mum's nearly 80 and her favourite gift is something for the garden. A big plant for example. I got her a beautiful hydrangea for her birthday last year and she loves it. For Christmas, I got her a garden bench with a little ledge to put a cup of tea and a book. She loves sitting in her garden.
Would your mum like anything like this?

Lego flowers.

Depends on your budget but if my lovely Mum was still here I would have taken her away for a week or a long weekend eg perhaps a city break on the Eurostar with a couple of tings booked or to Scotland , Channel Islands or something

For my older Dad easy - trip to Maastricht to watch Andre Rieu live

My mum - a little younger but not much - wants to get rid of 'stuff' rather than accumulating more. She likes things that will be used up - perfume, skincare, food hampers, garden stuff, restaurant or theatre vouchers etc.

My mum was still very young at 80. Like most people of thst age, there was nothing that she wanted and she was always quite frugal. I booked a day trip on the Orient Express for the day of her birthday. I just told her to wear something reasonably smart, and when we got to Victoria station she had no idea where we were going. Her face was a picture when we walked round to the Orient Express platform. She loved every minute of the day and talked about it many times until she developed bad dementia. It was an expensive day out but it was worth every penny.

What hobbies does she have?
Is she physically fit?
What's your budget?

My mum is a little younger but I usually get her perfume, cashmere or something like an unusual cookbook and a box of ingredients (Sous Chef do nice kits). She normally asks for some books too but I probably wouldn't just buy them for her as she has very definite taste and buys a lot for herself anyway.

My mum is 85 and loves clothes from Uniqlo and Monsoon, and Monsoon do nice accessories too. Or something for her home, like a lamp, rug, kitchen appliance? My mum always wants stuff like that from John Lewis. 😊

This idea is perhaps no good if your mum is wealthy but if she's not you could put money in an envelope for her weekend away that your sister has planned. Label it as "Birthday weekend spending money". If you can afford it a couple of hundred £. If not then what you can afford - and some flowers or a plant/her favourite chocs.

Other ideas - does she have any jewellery or a watch that is sentimental but broken or needs resizing. If she has anything like that I would ask her if she would like it fixing for her birthday.

Would she like a room decorating? You could pay for this or DIY it if you prefer. Perhaps while she is on her weekend away unless you are going too.

My Mum is 80 in December and I've bought her some 100% cashmere fingerless gloves and a matching cowl (I actually had them custom made by a lady via eBay). I'll also get her some of her favourite wine, a takeaway of her choice and / or cook something for her. I always get her some M&S vouchers too, which she often spends on food or skincare.

Luxury hamper
Pampering session at beauty salon,facial, nails etc
Photo shoot
Day trip

My sister & I gave our 75-year-old dad one of these last Christmas. It comes with an app for uploading pictures - we both have it on our phones & add new ones every so often, so he doesn’t have to do anything but enjoy it. When I’m on the phone with him he’ll often comment on which picture’s just appeared.

I'd go with an outing with you of some sort a few weeks after her birthday so something for her to look forward to. Could be a concert/theatre/day out to somewhere she is interested in.

Got a friend's 80th next week. She's getting chutney, honey, a bottle of whisky and a book. Covers at least 80% of Maslow's Heirarchy :)

Take her out for the day or for a special lunch.
Order flowers to be delivered once a month
bedspread
throw or wrap
At that age we took my mum to theatre/ opera and Barry Manilow
take her to a live screening? My mum loved the ballet

My parents really enjoy their magazine subscriptions.

A necklace long enough to go over her head so no fiddly catches to open or close. Not beads, a chain with something pretty and delicate on it.