Christmas Present For A Frugal Person

OneYorkshireLass

I have the same problem with my gran. I used to put a lot of thought into presents, or I'd get her something she said she'd liked in a shop only for it to be shoved in a drawer or given to someone else. I'd rather she gave me it back and I swapped it for something else. Hiding it away somewhere really riles me.
So now I stick with food that she wouldn't ordinarily buy, or wool cos she'll use it for her knitting.

The plants that you can grow yourself are a nice idea, like this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gift-Republic-Grow-Your-Lavender/dp/B001HJDKQY/ref=sr_1_4?s=outdoors&ie=UTF8&qid=1387317780&sr=1-4&keywords=lavender+gifts

joolsybools

Great thread, I hope OP updates us with what s/he decides to buy and the reaction it brings!

Lequirk_2

Practical things such as a diary and pen, a calendar, nice shopping bag, umbrella, an apron, a nice notebook, a scrapbook with pictures of your family in, an invitation to your house for a nice meal. I am pretty frugal myself and would appreciate a practical gift such as any of those i have mentioned.

paulineb_2

Magazine subscription. Or take them for a meal. Or as someone else said a hamper.

Im frugal, but I enjoy getting presents, however as Im pretty broke these days, the last couple of years Ive asked for something I could use, my brother bought me a pair of trainers two years ago, Im a fitness instructor and I go through a lot of pairs. Nothing wrong with some frivolous stuff as well, but some people dont like that.

Definitely think a meal would be nice. Sometimes I buy charity gifts for people from oxfam and Ive bought a couple of sponsorship gifts, I bought my brother something from the SPCA, you could sponsor a pen that a cat would live in, I did that through cats protection as well, sponsored a space for a rescue animal.

emg

Or a big bunch of flowers - no one would stuff that in the drawer! It's the kind of thing you never buy for yourself but are secretly thrilled if a gorgeous bouquet turns up at your door.

mucklebones

A couple of lotto tickets and a plant.

roses

Thanks all, a voucher for afternoon tea sounds perfect. She will definitely use that.

She already has lots of plants & gardening tools. I wanted to avoid buying her a material gift as she has so much stuff which she doesn't use and doesn't even remember she has! The problem is when you ask her "what do you want", she will reel off a long list but every single time I have done this without fail it has still ended up in a drawer! She has so many expired boxes of teas, coffees, chocolate, biscuits, jams etc in the cupboard which she is "saving for a special occasion".

The voucher with an expiry date forcing her to go out is the only thing I am pretty sure she will definitely use (and enjoy).

She really is one of those impossible people!

onlyroz

Pay for her to go out for a nice meal with a guest of her choice at the restaurant of her choice.

Oakie

A donation to her favourite charity.

A garden bench

Bird Table

Magazine subscription

Theatre/concert tickets

A kissogram !!!

*Robin*

Suppose I would be the recipient in this scenario, so here's a glimpse of the other side..
Have thought long and hard; the only material things I would be delighted to unwrap this year, are a pumice stone [:o] and a gizmo for making creamed soup.

Beyond those two items* what is most appreciated are shared experiences: A day out together, organised by the giver, could not be bettered. :T

ps. If anyone would like a collection of stone eggs, incense burners, posh toiletries and pretty writing paper [which doesn't work easily in a printer], I'd be grateful to get back the drawer-space.

* If either turn up, I'll find out which RL mates are MSEers, lol.