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Original poster

Ideas for 40 presents for a 40-yr old

29 replies

emsiewill · 03/02/2004 22:04

It's my sister-in-law's 40th birthday on the 29th Feb, and we've (dh, me and their brother) decided to buy her 40 presents - probably one for around £20, and the rest for £3 - £4 pounds. I'm sure I'll have no problem getting started, but I fear that after about 15, I'll start getting stuck.

This is where you come in. Do you have any ideas for what we can buy her? She has 2 children - ds is 6, dd is 7 weeks.

All suggestions gratefully received!

OP posts:
Janh · 03/02/2004 22:12

dd1 bought dd2 18 presents for her 18th - I thought that was so nice. The main one was a bag she really liked and then there were all sorts of random things like sweeties and socks and cleanser.

You want stocking fillers, don't you? Books - photo frames - stationery - plant pots maybe - bath goodies - scour DIY stores and Woolies and Boots and M & S and those kind of places. Good luck - bet she'll love it!

Original poster
emsiewill · 03/02/2004 22:20

Thanks Janh, I was hoping it was a good idea - dh and his brother were very unenthusiastic about the whole thing, and I started to doubt myself. I guess I should get buying, and come back here when I get stuck. So far, so good, though.

OP posts:
Clarinet60 · 03/02/2004 23:24

A notebook
Earrings
Chocs
A small plant
Scented candles
Luxury salon-brand shampoo & condit
Wine
Small leather purse (for evening bag)
Eeeeek! Stuck now ...

Blackduck · 04/02/2004 08:59

I think this is a great idea...a friend did this for another friend's 30th...you should also try to put 'silly' things in I think, as well as sensible...and perhaps things from her childhood?
(Fruit salad and black jack sweets were one of the pressie I recall.)
Other suggestions...
..books
scarves
posh jam or chutney
key ring (with the kids photos!)
fridge magnets
small mirror for handbag.....

Boots and M&S do great little jars/packets of shampoo etc which won't break the bank...

Bron · 04/02/2004 09:20

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Trifle · 04/02/2004 09:28

I'm 40 soon but cant say I would be that keen on being given 40 presents most of which would be fairly trivial. Spending a few pounds here and there will soon add up and you cant really get anything for a couple of quid that isnt rubbish.
A few of my friends want to buy me something so I've suggested clubbing together say about a tenner each and putting it towards a piece of jewellery or pottery or something memorable that I can hang/wear etc to remind me of a special occasion. Your sil may well appreciate the frivolity of it but may too appreciate something a little more substantial. 39 presents at £4 each = £156 plus the additional £20 which would get her and her dh a weekend away and you could offer to look after the children instead. As this birthday is quite a milestone it might be better to ask her what she wants most.

Original poster
emsiewill · 04/02/2004 09:51

I know she doesn't want to go away, as she's still breastfeeding the baby (her dp had already suggested it).
I know I could ask her, but I like the idea of surprising her - personally at Christmas, it's the stocking fillers that please me best.
Hmm... you've put doubts in my mind, now Trifle, I'll have to consider this again.
Keep going with the ideas, though, everyone.

OP posts:
bettys · 04/02/2004 09:55

I have to agree with Trifle (having had my 40th birthday) that I would have wanted something more substantial if it was a joint present from nearest & dearest.
How about combining the two ideas? Like a new camera with an album filled with 40 photographs, one from every year of her life?
Or a necklace with 40 pearls or semi-precious stones? Both possible if you're planning to spend around £150-£180 once you've totted up 40x£4

Bron · 04/02/2004 09:58

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GRMUM · 04/02/2004 15:22

I think its a brilliant idea -i tried to do it for a friend a few years ago but ran out of ideas.I found some really good websites on the internet and printed them off too, eg your birthday in history, famous people with the same birthdate, number one each year on your birthday.etc I think just the idea makes it special plus the fact that you will have put quite a lot of thought into it. It isn't easy to think of some many presents. Other ideas I had were a small (2 glass) bottle of champayne/sparkling wine, seeds/bulbs to plant

Bron · 04/02/2004 15:37

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Angeliz · 04/02/2004 15:48

what about something relevent to each year, starting backwards from the year she was born. Headlines on her B-day or something!
Actually that could be complicated, or if you had the time AND energy, you could research a bit of interest for each B-day each year and write a little bit to go with a picture from that year!

Angeliz · 04/02/2004 15:49

I mean, make an album and then say, 10 facts about that day of the year!

Northerner · 04/02/2004 15:50

I think this is a fab idea and would love to recieve 40 thoughtful small gifts. Sorry if these have been mentioned but here's my ideas:

writing paper
drawer liners
knickers
perfume
facial cleansing wipes
brush/comb
choccies
socks
earrings
bracelet
hair accessories
purse
keyring
mug
photo frame
pen
novel
magazines
lucky charm
notelets
umberella
gloves
scarf
cd

bluesky · 04/02/2004 16:23

How about the 'my monopoly' that was mentioned last year, it is approx £100 and all the places can be places from her past; birth place, schools, college, where met hubby, wedding place, honeymoon, jobs, with Mayfair and Park Lane her two children! There is a website, which helps you set it up. Just type Monopoly into google and I'm suer it'll pop up.

Original poster
emsiewill · 04/02/2004 16:31

The only problem with the "what happened on your birthday each year" thing is that she was born on 29th Feb! So really, she is only 10. Obviously there will be things for every leap year, and actually thinking about it, that probably makes it a whole lot easier! I'll have to get onto my MIL to see if she can do the photo thing - I've only known her for 11 years, so obviously don't have photos going back further.
Thanks for all the ideas - the problem with the big present idea is that she is the sort of person who loves bargains, and can't bear extravagance, so can't see her appreciating an expensive piece of jewellery, for example. I am going to ask her if there is any one big thing she really wants, just to make sure we're not missing a great present opportunity.
I'll have to print this thread off when I go shopping at the weekend!

OP posts:
hana · 04/02/2004 18:34

what about 40 different kinds of choc bars?

Angeliz · 04/02/2004 18:35

oh, that's a tuff one then emsiewill, the chocolate sounds good!

sobernow · 04/02/2004 18:43

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squirmyworm · 04/02/2004 20:25

claires accessories and accessorize are great for small, cheapish pretty bits and bobs. Body shop good too. If you go to paperchase there are lovely little notebooks and gel pens which I just lust after. Thornton's do lovely tiny chox selections (2 or 4 in a box) or Alpini bars - yumm. A lovely ribbon if your SIL has long hair, a knitting pattern or little needlepoint kit if she likes that kind of thing, a bronnley lemon soap (nothing beats the smell) or a bottle of badedas. pair of slipper sox or just nice toasty sox from m&s - nice pair of knicks from same, tickets to get into a nice NT garden or wildfowl and wetlands trust site, or zoo, tickets for cinema, voucher to spend on amazon (or similar), nice mug from whittards and some tea or coffee in their gorgeous packs, fimo modelling clay, cheap and cheerful make up from one of the teen ranges, a stick of rock with her name running through it (brighton is awash with the stuff-I will get you one if you want!) lovely little things from a cookshop like a cookie cutter in a pretty shape or some other kitchen goody, a nice foody thing (olive oil, charbonnel chocolate sauce), like the ones they do on those funny 'gourmet' food shelves we have in our local sainsburys. ooh stop me, I want to be 40 too

doing something special with the wrapping might be fun to - labelling them one to 40 or piling them up somehow (all in different coloured shiny plain paper)to make them look gorgeous. Even stringing them all together or putting them in a pinata...

sorry you must think I am mrs brand name. serves me right for going to bluewater on Monday.

think it's a lovely idea btw

Original poster
emsiewill · 04/02/2004 20:32

But do they do rock with the name "Manon" in it, squirmy?!

Good ideas, though

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helenmc · 04/02/2004 20:52

I think its a loveley idea. for more ideas..
smelly candles
minature brandy/whisky bottle (think M&S do a 2 glass bottle of champagne)
small birthday cake
nail files (can never find one in our house!)
nail varnish
face mask
voucher for a weeks worth of ironing (ok more than £4 )
perfume samples
stockings/tights
have fun amyway!!

squirmyworm · 04/02/2004 21:01

hmmm manon - might be tricky. lovely name - is it welsh? I know a little girl called manon - lives in north wales near my mum

tillymint · 04/02/2004 21:02

At 41 I have fond memories of Bagpuss. In Boots they sell little mice,(£5ish)(from the mouse organ) .When you press their tummy they sqeak the tune 'we will find it, we will bind it,..' I can't be the only one to remember! They do boy and girl ones.
Happy Days

Original poster
emsiewill · 04/02/2004 21:48

yep, welsh it is - it's the most "normal" name out of SIL, BIL & dh. Not that I think there's anything abnormal about the Welsh, you understand

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