Ideas for a 70th present....cheap

susanhep1

Hi Guys,
My mum is 70 soon and unusually for me I can not think of a good idea for a present to get her.
She dislikes soppy poems etc.
So any great ideas you have would be most welcome I have a budget of £50 - 70 but less if possible as my son is 5 soon after her and then it is Crimbo 4 days after that........aaargh. Thankyou in advance:T

katieowl_2

We did my mum tea "At the Pitz" AKA our house....and I gave her a balloon bouquet with 70's and happy birthdays worked in (about £10 I think!) We have a 'no stuff' policy as we are both trying to de-clutter....it was her 71st yesterday and I gave her exotic Amarylis bulbs as she is a keen indoor gardener.
Regards

susanhep1

The balloon bouquet is a great idea, thankyou.

Seakay

Are you an only child?

If not then several of you clubbing together would increase the budget - we are doing that for my MIL who is 70 in January; we are planning a meal, trip to the theatre etc. With time to plan there are deals to be had.

Otherwise, then £25 will buy you a huge amount of flowers at any florist; supplement with some garden greenery and/or paint sprayed twigs (silver, gold, etc) and you could wizz up an impressive number of arrangements to decorate your Mother's house (or your own first and then transport them to hers if you go with the tea at the Pitz idea, which I do think is brilliant)

susanhep1

Budget has just got smaller as car died last night....whoopee
Keep thinking guys

lizzie12_2

Is there a local college nearby or do you know of anyone to do a flower arrangement for you.

I am very much into doing these " Fun Vouchers" where you could promise your mum a " Day Out" in the spring or something..... the list is endless - you suggest what you would like to do.

Could you make her a cake and decorate instead of buying one.

A voucher to have her hair done , manicure or pedicure if you think she may like that.

Rage_in_Eden

I was thinking along the lines of either bulbs for her garden - if she has one complete with the IOU from yourselves for planting! - or one of my friends in the States did a HM voucher book with x number of "taxi" journeys so her GM could visit her old-neighbours (miles away), how about a "This is Your Life" party combined with old-fashoined afternoon tea (not that old fashioned for me as I do it once a month - love it!). Then there's always adopting a tree/penguin/ pair of swans (who mate for life so that might be a bit touching for her). Er, that's it......

susanhep1

Thankyou all so much the ideas are fantastic, really love the voucher idea it is great also the meal in the house sounds great. Thankyou all for taking the time:T

mikeywills

The IOU route is good, my PIL recently made little IOU books up for their three children offering services in token form to be redeemed any time over the next twelve months. They included home cooked sunday lunch, baby sitting, etc. Everyone found them cool.

Perhaps you could do the same, but with mystery trip out, personal driver for the day, sunday lunch, cleaning duties undertaken, shopping etc etc.

Sometimes it the time we spend together is more inportant than the cost of the gifts.

Queenie

I've posted these suggestions before in other threads for birthday idea's for 'mature' ladies so I hope you don't mind that I haven't tailored it to your specific needs


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Queenie wrote:

~ Perhaps you could make her a more simplistic bath product using natural ingredients yourself?

~ Diabetic recipes are abundant on the web so you could still make her some HM goodies to gift.

~ Or, how about a HM rice bag to heat up for any aches pains associated with age?

~ Or, make her a lap quilt using OS techniques to keep her warm and her bills down during those cold months?

~ How about some Sloe Gin to warm the cockles of the heart, or slow vodka if gin isn't her tipple?

~ If she's tea-total, perhaps a "promise book" would be more appropriate filled with coupons for favours? (ie: a foot massage, a back massage that kind of thing - know this sounds daft, but how about a promise to cut her toe nails so that she doesn't have to turn to those ad's in the GP surgeries and have a stranger do it?).

~ How about making her a pinny?

~ HM (or even bought!) slippers?

~ Clothing is expensive for a pensioner, but they like to get dolled up just like the rest of us and rarely are they gifted clothes because smellies and chocs are usually peoples first thoughts.

~ Is there a gadget that might make her life easier, or more comfortable? A back scratcher or something.

~ Perhaps "time" is something that she would value? A commitment for someone to be there for x amount of time on such and such a date?

~ Energy saving lightbulbs so that it assists her financial state?

~ A promise of a meal out somewhere swank perhaps?

~ A foodie hamper of tinned luxuries that her pension doesn't ordinarily stretch to and fits with her personal health issues?

~ Does she have any unfulfilled dreams/ambitions that she would like to do but put on hold while she was a wife/mother/MIL/grandparent?

~ Does she have recipes/stories to tell that she might like to see published? It could be done on computer and passed around the family or even sold to the family/friends and any money raised given to her favourite charity.

~ Seriously consider ... who cuddles her? Who does she confide in? Who takes notice of her gripes and grumbles? I know that sounds really daft, but, that can be very precious to someone who time has forgot

~ Are they any odd jobs that everyone has been 'meaning' to do, but life has taken over? Make her a promise and follow it through.

~ If you really, really listen to her and put aside the pride which is prevalent in that generation, you may be surprised at her little whims and fancies

~ Audio books are GREAT! But, what if, one of the grandchildren/great grandchildren/whoever decided to do one FOR her? Imagine her delight!

~ would she appreciate a voucher to have her hair done?

~ Would she appreciate someone checking her utilitiy bill to see if savings could be made and maybe the promise of paying her winter gas/electric bill?

~ would she appreciate someone redecorating for her (if they have the skills themselves rather than paying someone to do it?)

The lady I was making suggestions for was diabetic and had eyesight problems.