what to get the MIL for Xmas...soooo difficult

[helsi]

she doesn't like flowers as always loads in the garden
doesn't eat sweet things
never goes out and so doesn't wear perfume
doesn't drink so can't buy tipples/wine etc

she's so difficult to buy for and is unappreciative anyway. I just cannot think what to start buying her. She is tight with money and a bargain hunter and so doesn't appreciate anything of style, taste, more expensive.

anyone got any ideas?

my mil she is the same as yours
was very pleased wiht a sub to good houskeeping

What's your budget?
How about some really nice, cosy pyjamas?

My MIL has no taste either. She'd far rather go for quantity than quality and I'm the opposite. We hate each others presents so I don't know why I'm giving you advice.

a lump of coal

she doesn't do much housekeeping either.

last year she got slippers (quite expensive ones that I have never seen on her feet), an autobiography of Frankie De Tori (she loves horse racing), some bubble bath (woohoo!)

good idea cod, worked for my sil who has everything got her a choice of mag subscriptions last year, Debenhams do a make your own choice pack!

oh and she gets a food hamper from her pension company

Gardening vouchers.

You can get National Gardens Vouchers which most garden centres accept.

Or how about a gardeners kit - nice hand cream soap etc

Or a trug or a nice vase.

Gardening or cooking mag subscription?

i got mine a nice wooden sald bowl once

what about wooen of htose sweetpea vases?
or a garden pot all platned up wiht daffs?

oh helsi, know what you mean. the whole of my mum's side of the family is like this. i used to have a great uncle (before he died) who was the opposite, loved fancy flowers, nice aftershave, luxurious scarves, champagne etc (probably gay as a fish, no one mentioned it) and what a joy it was - but getting pressies for your MIL's type is a right pain.

how about one of those charity gifts like a pig for a family in africa or adopting an endangered animal on a reserve? a web search should help you find all that kind of stuff. or, make something if you can, like a nice patchwork cushion - unique and she might appreciate the thrift involved.

something creative like a watercolour set?

both my mother and MIL do watercolours and there's always something they need or want related to it.

What more could she ask for ??

thanks everyone - this is more difficult than I thought.

She has loads of vases, is not creative, can't cook and won't use cookery books as she thinks she can cook!, she doesn't garden as she has had a liver transplant and is bad on her legs....need i go on....HELP ME!!!

Waterstones voucher

Helsi - what does she do?

Describe a typical day for your MIL then we might be able to work something out

One way ticket to some where really far away?

(would love to get one for my m-i-l!!)

something from lakeland then? something useful?

she definitely needs what my dp would call "blobbing aids" - stuff to help you lie around on your arse at home. pyjamas, cushions, magazines, hot water bottle, or one of those scented pads you heat up in the microwave (i have one, it's great for aches and pains - I'm 95 you know)

She is retired and TBH fills her day with non sensical things just for something to do. For example, last Monday:

got up at 5am,
decided to strip the wallpaper from half the kitchen as she had some new to put up (off custs that someone had given and she thought would be useful) then put a dado rail over the join,
chose her horses for the day,
baked some coconut macaroons (yuk)
went to pub for her dinner
watched the races her horse were in
cooked tea
had a bath
went to bed.

can you see my dilemma - she is so exciting I just can't keep up!!

helsi it sounds like some kind of recurring nightmare. what a horrific day's activities

something with the grandchildren on? like a photo cushion/bag/mousemat/bone china cup? a mini album with them and her pictures in?
small potted herbs for her kitchen windowsill?
her favourite 'tipple' and pretty glass?
um..............a blank but pretty notebook esp for her 'amazing' recipes to be saved in?
a birthday book -where you write the birthdays in and store spare cards, sure you know the thing!
whole heap of decent brand bubble baths/bath bombs/scented oils?
expensive picture frame, (as doesnt eveyrone have some photos out on show?)
these are several things i have got my difficult MIL over the years. the only thing she actually commented on and showed round was the handmade mini album with the children in and their handprints..

yes - if it isn't wallpapering its usually something just as dull - i think the week before she painted the garden wall (using a mixture of paint left over as it's still good and too tight to buy a tin of a coloour she really liked) so now the garden wall is a coral pink colour.

B&Q vouchers

Always get photos of the kids. It's all she wants!

i like this thread though as it's giving me some ideas for my MIL, who is a total nutcase.

off to do some baking myself now.