40th Birthday Party pressie

rkh001

Any ideas?

My friend's husband is throwing a surprise party for her. I have no idea what to get as I also have my nephew's 21st and my best friend's retirement/65th birthday, all in July!

Any fairly cheap ideas will be appreciated.

Thanks.

newleaf

I bought my best friend a bottle of Champagne for her 40th. Cost about £12.

Emmzi

Newspaper from year she was born?

Photo album of times you have shared together?

An outfit that was in fashion when she was 21?

jessicamb

Something retro from the younger years? A nice photo album filled with photos?

If its a large party she will probably get loads of stuff she doesnt want anyway so something thoughtful might be appreciated more than something shop bought.

21st birthday - I got a couple of nice pens from grandparents/relatives. Dont have to be expensive but something to keep. Filofax or similar could also be useful. Plenty of sales on at the moment too. Not hip but comes in handy.

Retirement party - flowers? Sorry I would struggle too.

macymoo

Have you got an "All Fired Up" ceramics cafe near you??? My kids did a beautiful display plate for my sisters wedding present £19 and an afternoon with kids occupied !! What more could I want !

babyblooz

Give her an empty photo album, and then take lots of shots (using digital camera if poss!) at the party. That way, you can choose the best shots and have them printed out (18p per print in lots of places) and give them to her after the party. She puts them in her album, along with cards and tags from other pressies, and hey presto..... she has a unique reminder of her special day ..... and you have a very grateful friend and still some dosh left in your pocket.

These Kodak kiosk type photoshops also allow you to put wording over the top of your photos, and print them out in black and white, or sepia, and zoom in and crop shots to get very arty looking results. It costs you in terms of time, but the staff in the shops are very helpful if you go during their quieter times. Your friend would be getting something money can't buy. And she would probably love you going to all that trouble. Anyway, I'd like it!!!!

rkh001

Thanks everyone. Lots of ideas to play with now.

in*the*red_6

Ooh thank you this has helped me too- DH's sister is having a 40th in September - love the pottery idea!!!

ITR

themaccas

When a friend of mine had her 40th birthday a couple of years ago we all bought her 'older person' presents. Comfy slippers, laptrays, etc, can't remember all the things, she found it very funny and then we all clubbed together to get her a nice pressie - an ornament she wanted. We all put in £14 and raised £112 to get the gift she wanted.

lady_fuschia

Anything that's a bit of fun goes down well- usually people have more ornaments and jewellery etc than they'll ever need by 40. I got my 35 year old friend some little girly presents- play dough, a sweety necklace and a Mr Potato Head and she loved it. Gave a single friend a "Hot Night in For One" package (use your imagination..!) Anything like that is good- small inexpensive presents constructed around a personalised theme. If you fancy something with an ethical slant why not adopt a monkey or other animal for her (https://www.ethicalworks.co.uk/monkeysanctuary/adopt)or try Christian Aid or Oxfam's Gift collections where you pay a small amount to donate some animals or farming equipment to someone in a developing country in your friends name (you get a card with a picture of what you've donated to give to them.)