Christmas Hamper Help for a Pensioner Please.

dunworking

i have done a hamper this year for my 40 year old son who lives alone.included wine posh curds and pasta from waitroise .as a joke put a box of farleys rusks in he as loved these from being a baby . i have packed it in a bright green paper recycling bag from poundland:j

Northern_Princess

Thank you so much for your replies. I didn't know chocolate would taint if I put it in the 'nice' basket, so thanks for that tip. I hasn't thought about Christmas loo roll and kitchen roll as a 'joke', what a fab idea and she will use it. I also hasn't thought of the pesto, pasta etc or the warm items like fleecy blanket, water bottle again which she'd use. I've made a list of all the things you've all mentioned and lots of them have jogged my memory of things she'll love but never buys for herself. I had also never thought of adding fruit or fresh items which I'll do as well as some magazines and puzzle books which she loves. I've made chutney's and jams but think I'll put them into much smaller jars than I already have them in, that way she can use use what she needs and not worry about large jars being used up. My friend has loads of baby food jars so I think I'll ask her for some of these, their a perfect size.

Once again thanks so much for all your help - I now have a huge list so shopping for me it is tomorrow

suzybloo

I have been doing this for my mother-in-law who is 84, as it saves her going out when the weather is bad, or struggling to carry home shopping. I always put in coffee, tea, sugar, oval tin ham, tin peas, tin potaotoes, Fray Bentos Pie, tin salmon, tinned rice & custard, tinned fruit, tinned soup, biscuits, jam, marmalade, tinned mince, tinned carrots, packet of Smash, these little sponge puddings, cornflakes, along with some shortbread and a small christmas cake - thats just an outline. I also make up a seperate hamper of washing powder, fabric conditioner, fairy liquid, soap, kitchen roll, toilet roll with a nice new dish towel and hand towel.
For my own dad, due to arthritis he finds preparing somethings awkward , I buy three pound each of mince, stew, sausages, and make these for his freezer, along with a big pot of soup - all divided into little tubs, and frozen peas, veg, fillets of fish, mashed potatoes, etc so his is really a freezer hamper, and my sister does his dry goods hamper.
We found this was much better than buying jumpers etc that they didnt really need, and they know they will receive it around the 15th so that they dont have to go and brave the crowds in the shops or the bad weather.
On christmas day they receive a small gift to open.
Last year for an old couple who live nearby I made up a fresh veg hamper of carrots, onions, potatoes, leeks, turnip and included stock cubes and a pack of broth mix and oatcakes, along with two soup bowls - it looked great when it was all tied up with a bow - she said it was a great gift especially give the weather. I am hoping to do that one this year again, but will change the soup bowls for dish towels or something similar.

CRANKY40

My dad lives in London and I live miles away....I was going to send him something like an M&S hamper....until I looked at the website and saw how much you didn't get for £75.

I went online at Asda (my account, just changed the delivery address) and ordered him and his girlfriend a shop that should last them them a fair while for the same amount. Lots of tinned things, but my dad likes tins (sigh!) and bacon, sausage, black pudding etc. The tins were things like carrots, peas, potatoes, ham, corned beef. I even managed to sneak in a tin of Roses for the long suffering girlfriend. My dad has a dodgy knee, so can't carry loads and walk, and his girlfriend is getting on a bit. It means that my sister and I can enjoy Christmas now, safe in the knowledge that the pair of them have plenty of food no matter what the weather does. I included a bottle of wine, some meat for Christmas, and some beer as well as some proper spuds in the hope that he will begin to see that tins are not the only option :rotfl:

My dad is known as "Ebeneezer" at this time of year, but even he was impressed by what was available from Asda for the same price as an M&S hamper.

[Deleted User]

As not only a pensioner but someone who likes to give small hampers to my friends, tea bags,a jar of instant coffee,1lb sugar,marmalade ,jam, small tins of fruit,evap milk, beans, a small tin of corned beef,sardines or salmon anything really that will help to make a meal for a single person who maybe doesn't feel like cooking.Its also handy as a 'filler' if the weather turns bad in January and they can't get out to the shops.I have several friends who not only live alone but have few family visits as their families often live a good distance away so I like to keep an 'eye' on them .A nice bar of cadburys milk chocolate is appreciated or a tin of cocoa.When you get older for some reason everyone buys you 'smellies 'very nice and I enjoy the ones I get but I also love the fact that some of my grandchildren will buy me a nice tin of ground coffee as they know its my treat at the weekend.really its anything that will bring pleasure.One year someone gave me a subscription for the Radio Times which was brilliant and lasted for a year.I also like to give a small hyacinth bulb in a pot as its nice to see it grow during January and the smell is gorgeous.Every year one of my presents to my youngest DD has been an amaryliss in a pot which she has had yearly for about 25 years last year I left it too late, and boy did I get it in the ear all day Christmas Day "But you always buy me a nice bulb Mum "I got hers earler this year just in case :)

meritaten

some lovely Ideas above - but, I do have an idea of how you could include some cash for her if you would like to.
You know those saving cans? The ones you can only open with a tin opener? if you can get one labelled 'In case of Emergencies' or 'My Treat Fund'. put some cash in and hide it under all the other cans and goodies - then she will have accepted the pressie and hopefully wont find it until you are well clear - and as she wont know whats in it.....will hopefully not try to give it back!

Valli

Following on from Jackie O's post why not include a small bottle of longlife milk (or two) then if the weather DOES go bad she's covered IYSWIM

I don't tend to 'stock up' much but this year, having been snowed in last year, I have longlife milk, longlife fruit juice and cat food stashed away (2 cats). Having said that even if I can't drive I can walk to a few shops. (Although don't ask DD about this as she dragged it all on the sledge from Mr Ms while I trailed behind like a feeble person!)

Cat501

I was struggling to think what to get for my mum, can't believe I didn't think of hampers, so thanks OP and thanks to everyone else for the brilliant ideas!:T:T Am already thinking, a bit of stilton, and the puzzle books is an excellent idea. Could even do this for DDs too. Does anyone know where you can buy cheapish baskets?

NO idea what to get for dad though, he's always impossible to buy for!:(

Valli

For baskets try Dunelm, Matalan, Wilkinsons. Ikea but look out for those fancy storage boxes (poundland type places too or Home Bargains if you have one; we don't) with lids as they make nice presentation boxes, too.

Cat501

thanks Valli - Matalan is handiest so I'll go there:)