MIL 60th birthday present advice please 10 September 2012 at 12:47PM in Special occasions & other celebrations 7 replies 3K views

i_wanna_save_money!

Hi, hope you lovely lot can help! I'm normally good at buying people gifts but MIL is a nightmare as she never wants anything!

We want to get something special for her but don't know what.

She lives in a different country to us although we see her often, and she has organised (and paid) for a few family and friends to all have a caravan holiday together to jointly celebrate her 60th and also (hopefully) getting remission from cancer.

She is so difficult to buy for, she's the type who says not to bother buying her anything as she has everything she needs and buys whatever she wants for herself as she wants it.

So, whatever we are buying her can't be too big as we will be giving it her on holiday. In the past we have bought her a digital photo frame and loaded it with pics of all the family but she doesn't have it switched on, she doesn't see the point in vouchers as she feels restricted to a specific store, doesn't need money, can't really buy her a little break away as she is currently caring for her OH and it would be too hard for her to go away alone with him.

She likes to walk, likes dogs, just bought herself a caravan so something possibly for the caravan or something...i'm stuck!

Hope someone can offer suggestions please

whitesatin

I had my 60th last year and can honestly say the best gift I received was a Kindle. I download lots of books from Amazon, looking out for their Daily Deals. Some great stuff. I use it every day, take it on holiday, read on trains etc. Someone bought me a cover for it, with a light, wonderful. And you can adjust the size of the text.

Other gifts were, cash, a nice bracelet, a jewellery box (the stacking kind so I can add to it), a Cath Kidston handbag, a voucher for a stay in a nice hotel, all very much appreciated as probably would have felt guilty buying them for myself.

Hope this helps. I will be 61 in a couple of weeks but 60 was special, great memories.

i_wanna_save_money!

I don't think a kindle is for her - she doesn't read that much. A bracelet is a possibility though, i'll ask my OH although i've got a feeling she can't wear jewellery for work and so would just keep it in a drawer somewhere to wear 'for best' but she doesn't go out that much...See, I said she is difficult to buy for

whitesatin

Might be easier to say to her that you know she says not to bother buying her anything, you would still like to mark the occasion and you would rather buy something she likes. Say that otherwise you will make a donation to a charity of her choice, which is, of course, a worthy option.

JAJ_2

What do they do in their caravan? Maybe English Heritage membership or similar? Is she into puzzles? What about one of those roll up mats that you put puzzles on(picture of family on it ?)
She may well use a kindle in the caravan I read all the time!

A nice chair for sitting outside the caravan I recommend La Fuma chairs.

DianneB

She does sound difficult! I'm a similar age and I really do wish my family would spend the money on the little ones not me!! Them just being here is the very best present (two of my sons live 100 + miles away). However if they insist I ask for earrings (cheap 'cos I loose them), but posh ones for a big birthday, surely they can't get in the way at work? How about a framed photo of the family? Magazine subscription? Chocolate? Wine? More chocolate?

moneysavingmumofone

What about a special picture/portrait? If you're on facebook look for KateCreates shes does lovely personalised paintings.

Sagz_2

lovecustomart wrote: »

Type lovecustomart.com in your browser and give a gift card so she can turn a photo into a painting. Or if you have a photo you can have it painted by a really great artist in either: oil, charcoal, pencil, acrylic, pastel or watercolor.

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