Gift for 86yr old Granny

spam88

My husband's nan is the same age. This year we've got her a digital photo frame. We're going to put photos on it ready for her, including some of her and her husband back in the day and wedding photos etc I've also got her a Christmas mug which I'll stick some nice tea bags and shortbread. In previous years we've also bought sparkly brooches and earrings, she loves a bit of sparkle!

pennypusher

How about a nice shawl. Debenhams do one for about £22. They are lovely and warm.

gb61

how about magazine subscription, audio books, wheat bag, hair dresser voucher/ salon or home, pay for a cleaner for an hour/2, I think the older we get the more we appreciate practical gifts, well I do, for someone to gift me a cleaner for an hour would be bliss!!

Topcat1982

You could ask OH parents what she likes

Ferryboat_Woman

How about a 'treat'? Something like afternoon tea at a nice local hotel or a cosy tearooms.

happilymarried2013

My grandmother is 89 and she always tells us not to bother getting her anything that will last longer than she will now she's nearly 90. (My nan has an interesting sense of humour).
Sparkly things usually go down well, or a treat day like getting her hair done, or her nails.
This year I'm hoping to make both my grandparents a photo book of pics of their home town from when they were younger. I'm hoping it will jog Dado's memory a bit and give them memories to talk about.

Hezzawithkids

mandco wrote: »

if in doubt ask though you may get there's nothing I need/want which doesn't help

I always make my great aunt a food hamper with individual sized/luxury items as these tend to be more expensive and she wouldn't buy them for herself. things like mini xmas cake/xmas or sponge puddings/ panettone/stollen enough for 1 or 2 serving without waste.mini jars of jam & pk scones, pots of custard, small bottle of wine,luxury chocolates/fudge, hot choc sachets, soups.
Its practical too as she gets some lovely treats and the money she saves on food over xmas means she can put some extra money on the electric for heating. There are lots of ready make hampers online or maybe even arrange for an online shop to be delivered?

This. I make up a hamper for my 93yo of all her favourite treats (sweets, biscuits, posh tea etc) and she loves dipping into it in the days/weeks after xmas, she also appreciates that we've given her something we know she'll use. Your problem is that you don't know her very well so don't know what she'd like but a top-of-the-range selection of "everyday" items (e.g. Finest) might work. I'd avoid ready-made hampers since they can often include obscure or bizarre things that no-one in their right minds would buy. I still have a jar of pickled anchovies in my cupboard that I have no idea what to do with!

Gloomendoom

How about portable generator?

My dad is 89 and that's what he is getting from me.

elljay

My mother is 89 and doesn't accept being an 'old lady'. Doesn't do nostalgia/memories, (she's happy to keep those in her head) family photos, family trees, Frank Sinatra etc. So I've got audio books, real but challenging books (not romance etc), but only cheap ones as she sends them to the charity shop after 1 read. Coffee table books didn't work as she found them too heavy to hold for long.

Chocolates (interesting ones) not Dairy Milk. DVDs, cds (loves spoken word such as poetry, Alan Bennett, someone with a bit of character etc) Fed up with other so called older actresses such as Judy Dench, Helen Mirren etc.

Would probably pass a shawl on to me (yes please) but bedjacket would be good. She likes going to bed early and reading until the small hours, brew at her side.

A decent house phone with lots of memory for friends and family numbers, and a good battery - she likes a good chat!

Nice classy smellies. Nice stationery, esp with notelets to write thank you notes to all her mates.

Voucher for meal out somewhere nice. Magazine/newspaper subscription. And of course vouchers for your time which she would probably value most of all.

I've made up a bumper bundle with the above, collected over the year. All individually wrapped so they're fun to open. I even wrapped a Christmas toilet roll one year which caused hilarity in an otherwise very prim and proper lady. (I took a risk there but it was worth it!)

EJ

HurdyGurdy

Ferryboat_Woman wrote: »

How about a 'treat'? Something like afternoon tea at a nice local hotel or a cosy tearooms.

That's what I was going to suggest. Something nice to look forward to.