Christmas Hamper Help for a Pensioner Please.

PixieDust

Or, expanding on the brilliant idea above about the treat tin, if you think she won't accept cash, you could put gift vouchers inside, or a gift card for her local supermarket so that she can use it for emergency groceries if and when she needs to? (hope the smileys work, I'm using my phone )

Northern_Princess

Oh! I never thought of long life milk and what a brill idea for the cash for emergencies! :j That would solve the problem with wanting to give her money for gas or electric if she runs short. I love the subscription idea as well. My daughter was looking for something to give to her Gran, so that would be perfect as she loves the Bella magazine. I wish I'd thought of the bulb idea too as she loves bulbs and plants but I'm sure I'll be able to pick a growing bulb up from the garden centre?

As for presents for dads what about doing a hamper for him themed with a hobby he likes?

mandco

depends on the person receiving the hamper but I found that for the older person individual sized food gifts are much appreciated.
my nan doesnt eat very much so tends to just buy single serving meals as she hates to waste things but as these are more expensive she doesnt often buy treats.
i usually include things like small bottle of bubbly, mini pots of jam,mini cheeses, individual sponge/xmas puddings & mini pots custard to go with it ect warming but filling things that are quick and easy but still feel like a treat.

motherhen2234

In order not to offend when I've done a similar hamper in the past (for similar-ish reasons) I've tried to give it a luxury feel so its more a gift than providing the basics. You can line / pad it with tea towels as well as a suggest (practical and effective). When I say luxury pepper it with items that she wouldn't normally buy herself but loves e.g. nice tea, posh biccys etc. Then for the basic stuff get branded items or supermarket top end items (when on offer) e.g Baxters soup.

monnagran

I don't know if this helps but when I used to make up a hamper for a very poor but very proud old lady, I used to put 2 of some of the things in. This was because I found she was not using some of the things I'd put in because she was 'saving' them. If there are 2 jars of coffee, pots of classy jam or whatever, they can use one while enjoying the knowledge that there is still one left.
Just a thought.
As for fathers, I found that a jar of homemade biscuits, a good cartoon book. a 'touch' bedside lamp,
a special cushion for his chair, a really good torch, and a fleece blanket have all gone down well in past years. Obviously not in a hamper! I agree men are ghastly to buy for and most things they want are jolly expensive.

Good luck.

valk_scot

My great-aunt was very resistant to us trying to help out with food or money, but loved baskets of toiletries. I knew all her favourites like Pears soap and Cussons talc so used to buy her enough to keep her going for a few months, plus some fancy bits and pieces and a set of towels. She was fine with that. I also used to give her a hamper for the cat...it was basically several packs of his favourite foods, some tins of tuna and sardines, a blanket and a couple of toys, lol, but it was enough to feed the cat for three months and meant she could use the money for other things. And she could hardly turn down a Christmas present for him after all.

For your aunt, how about a bottle of her favourite tipple, like Baileys or sherry or a few of these little 2-glass bottles of wine?

suzybloo

For a gent how about a couple of bottles of special beer, couple packs peanuts, pack of cards, a nice pint glass - along the lines of a 'pub' basket.
My sister has her own cake and craft company and she is selling a Scottish hamper that has shortbread, clootie dumpling, tablet, macaroon and oatcakes - these are really popular for the older gents.

Broomstick

Another non-food way of giving cash might be postage stamps. A book of 12 1st class stamps is over £5 now :eek:. If you got a pack of twelve notelets or postcards and slipped a book of stamps in it, it would look like part of the present but there is nothing stopping someone from using the stamps to pay postage for other things if they didn't want to use the stationery.

We have never done stockings in our house but I have always covered the tree in little presents for all of us on Christmas Eve and we spend Christmas morning unwrapping them. It was easy when my sons were little but now they are older teens it is proving really difficult to find things that are cheap and relevant. I've settled for some more expensive practical stuff as well as the usual chocolate and pens etc and DS1 is getting a carefully wrapped book of stamps amongst his tree presents! I am fed up of him raiding my supplies!

B x

7roland8

Well I'd like to say what a thoughful daughter-in-law to have - she is very lucky!

Think you have covered most of the things:

Food - tins, biscuits, hot choc, teabags, cream crackers, soups, choc nuts or raisins - anything that will keep really.
Warmth - blanket, hot water bottle, slanket, slippers, hot gel warmers, hat, scarf
Household - torch, candles, emergency lantern, nice washing up liquid
Toileteries - any really.
Money - I got a Heniz baked bean tin from Hawkins Bazaar with screw off top to hide money in - might be fun in the food hamper.
Stamps - also love that idea with notelets or how about a pile of black grettings cards that could cover any occasion - I usually stock up once a year - plus pens.

DODO_2

Hot water bottle electric blanket fingerless gloves