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Original poster

Mums 60th birthday - gift help please!

23 replies

Sickandtired14 · 07/04/2014 20:43

Might have posted in the wrong place but as title says it's my mums 60th soon and I am struggling for gift ideas. Mum is very difficult to buy for as she expects some super super extra special 'something to be treasured forever' 60th present. I am making and decorating a cake. Which will cost a few quid itself as it's two tiered and I'm making all sorts of edible decorations for it.

Anyway, so far all I have managed to come up with is a cuisinart soup maker (around £100) which would be useful to her and time saving for her but seems like a rubbish present in a way.

She is a busy person, cares for my 2 nephews Mondays and Tuesdays, tutors on a Wednesday, tries to see me once a week (I have 20 month dd and am 4 months preg), then she has private seamstress jobs and sees her friends (some with quite difficult situations atm) so she is on the go a lot.

Any idea would be great, thanks in advance!!

OP posts:
Clutterbugsmum · 07/04/2014 21:02

How about theatre tickets. I have bought some for my in laws in the past. You can use them in theatres all over the country.

UnionofMultitaskers · 07/04/2014 21:03

My siblings and I had a necklace made for my mothers 60th. The necklace pendant had three stones on it. The stones were each of mine and siblings birthstones. Cost about £160. The pendant was tiny. My mum treasures it and shed a tear when we gave it to her.

UnionofMultitaskers · 07/04/2014 21:04

We were shocked as pendant small for cost but totally worth it as my mum loves it

Latara · 07/04/2014 21:35

Things to make her feel glamorous and youthful still - jewellery; a nice watch; perfume eg. Chanel, a bouquet of bright flowers.

Original poster
Sickandtired14 · 07/04/2014 23:28

Thanks for suggestions. Jewellery is tough as she likes very alternative ethnic style things. She likes long skirts and fair trade third world type stuff. A precious metal/stone pendant or bracelet etc would be difficult for her to wear as wouldn't fit with her style. Have bought watches in the past but she has a watch she bought about 20 years ago and it's the only one she wears!!

Trouble is my siblings are all doing their own thing. I tried to organise something , a family portrait, a while back but DB and SIL were very resistant but also secretive about their plans so have up. My sis and I can't afford that on our own so a bit difficult really.

Ugh, I'm usually really good at buying gifts etc. But for some reason this one is escaping me! Maybe it's the added pressure of it being 60 and the expectation....

OP posts:
Nanny0gg · 07/04/2014 23:34

Take her out for a posh afternoon tea?

(I'm hoping for that one...)

Spa day as she is so busy?

YellowTulips · 07/04/2014 23:48

What about a painting?

local artists do sell sketches of their work at reasonable prices.

Is there a place your mum likes? My MIL bought a lovely modern art sketch of the place my DH and I got engaged. Was flabbergasted when the original was gift wrapped as a wedding pressie Smile.

For my birthday my best friend asked her aunt to paint a picture - it's pride of place in my dining room. She's a talented amateur watercolour artist.

It's a very lasting and personal present.

TheWoollybacksWife · 07/04/2014 23:53

I really like this Family Tree Papercut. I'm sure someone on here linked to a person on Facebook that makes truly individual ones but I can't remember the name, sorry.

ZeroSomeGameThingy · 08/04/2014 00:05

Does she have the most up-to-date sewing machine?

A tree if she gardens?

Hmmm - third world ethnic-y stuff.. Take her to the right sort of music festival? VIP tickets for her and a couple of friends?

(A soup-maker is a bit dull tbf. Useful but a little depressing...)

I'm still thinking. Would help if you say more about what she actually likes...

SallyMcgally · 08/04/2014 04:19

Family Photo album where not only do you include all the special photos, but everyone close to her has to write about a special memory to do with her, or say something about how special she is.

SallyMcgally · 08/04/2014 04:19

And I like posh tea as well. You could give her present at posh tea.

VegasIsBest · 08/04/2014 05:27

I like the family album idea. You can have photo books a made easily that look really professional and include bits of text, so you can in kids your own memories etc. Really personal Pressie that isn't too expensive.

Iwasagnome · 08/04/2014 05:40

A garden seat , maybe a bit more expensive than she'd choose herself e.g. A Lutyens one

Plant pots and plants

Theatre tokens

Photo frame

littlegreenlight1 · 08/04/2014 07:19

my mum wanted a really fancy handbag for her 60th, the kind of thing you covet but never justify, so my siblings and I all chipped in for one with a matching purse, she loved them Smile think we spent 100 each

littlegreenlight1 · 08/04/2014 07:19

oh there's 3 of us haha!

gingermop · 08/04/2014 10:24

its my mums 60th this sunday, me and my bro between us got her theatre tickets for a london show and a stay in a nice hotel.
seperatly iv brought her a white gold crucifix necklace with 4 diamonds on it, cost me a fortune, but its my mum, shes worth it.Smile

gingermop · 08/04/2014 10:27

also forgot to add, my children have been working on a photo/memories album, we gathered as many photos as poss of her growing up and of our childhood with her, added lil tokens of things that remind her of us and us her.
its cost pennies but knowing my mom it will b her fav gift Smile

Matildathecat · 08/04/2014 12:14

Does she like music? For my DH's 50th I downloaded one song that he loved from each year of his life. It took a while but was a really personal gift. He did get lots of other stuff,too!

Ps dc had to teach me to do the downloading and it was all freeGrin

NUFC69 · 08/04/2014 20:13

How about an experience? For my 60th birthday my two DC bought me a voucher to go for a flight in a glider. I loved it and, tbh, at our age we have masses of possessions anyway. I would second the afternoon tea idea, we love doing that and have given similar presents to friends/family. We still haven't used our Christmas present from DD - afternoon tea on a steam train. As I said, experiences are good, especially things which she wouldn't necessarily buy herself.

wishingnhoping · 08/04/2014 20:44

My mum is equally difficult to buy for so for her 60th we clubbed together to get her private licence plates for her car. Cost less than £300 including the cost of transferring them.

paxtecum · 08/04/2014 20:52

A balloon flight?
How about Go Ape / High Ropes if she is fit and active?

National Trust family membership (so you can all go), though she sounds too busy for that.

Fair Trade silver jewellery. Luna Tribe website looks lovely - very ethnic looking.

Original poster
Sickandtired14 · 10/04/2014 19:44

Thanks for all suggestions. Lots of things to consider.

I have been contacting her friends and family and asking for them to write a memory or short letter or poem so I can compile a little box of them for her but so far I've only had one person respond!!

OP posts:
grapple86 · 21/05/2016 13:13

I was in the same boat, had no clue what to buy. In the end, someone mentioned this ghost writing thing who come round and interview people to write their life stories. I bought my parents a joint birthday present and they got this gorgeous hard bound book all about their life. was deffo the best present they got out of all the children lol. story terrace I think they were called xx

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