Christmas Presents for Awkward People?

[Rlaw1978]

My MIL is so tricky to buy for. She always gives me a list of things she doesn’t want. Which leaves me with nothing haha
Things she doesn’t want include and are not limited to-
Bath Products
No vouchers
Make up
Perfume
Nothing homemade -espically if done by a child
No appliances big or small
No homeware
No cushions/throws/ornaments
No shoes/boots etc
Gift sets of any kind
No food hampers/food including biscuits and chocolate
No clothes
No books
No dvds
No technology
No candles
No jewellery
No slippers/gowns/pj’s
No scarfs/hats/gloves
No bags
No photos/canvas
No spa days/days out/ afternoon tea etc

And I have no idea what to buy her anymore

 

[Oohthedrama]

Donate to charity in their name.
Or buy a goat from oxfam 30 quid and nobody can complain

 

[TheDuchess]

Donate to charity in their name.
Or buy a goat from oxfam 30 quid and nobody can complain

Or donate to a food bank to people that will bloody appreciate what has been given.

 

[Mustard]

There was a TV programme on last night on Channel 5 about the rise of Aldi, and how it’s changed and become more aligned to British tastes since it first arrived in this country in 1990. A team of *experts* compared the Aldi hamper to the Fortnum’s hamper and Aldi came out on top, including the Christmas pudding. It might be worth looking at some of their offerings, inc. cakes and biscuits, especially the stollen. I go to both Aldi and Lidl, but more frequently Lidl, as it’s closer to me.

 

[Iced Coffee]

My go-to for people I'm not as close to is one of those cute mason jars full of baking goods. Like the ones with a bow on top and all you have to do is empty out the jar, add some milk, and bam -- cookies!

Or you could be like my boyfriend's family and get someone a grocery store gift card, since everyone needs food and all (Don't actually do that, I think it's the weirdest thing in the world haha)

 

[JessicaFletcher]

My MIL is so tricky to buy for. She always gives me a list of things she doesn’t want. Which leaves me with nothing haha
Things she doesn’t want include and are not limited to-
Bath Products
No vouchers
Make up
Perfume
Nothing homemade -espically if done by a child
No appliances big or small
No homeware
No cushions/throws/ornaments
No shoes/boots etc
Gift sets of any kind
No food hampers/food including biscuits and chocolate
No clothes
No books
No dvds
No technology
No candles
No jewellery
No slippers/gowns/pj’s
No scarfs/hats/gloves
No bags
No photos/canvas
No spa days/days out/ afternoon tea etc

And I have no idea what to buy her anymore

Mines EXACTLY the same!!! So awkward and makes it so hard. Every year she receives something the next day she asks for a receipt to take it back or a few months later its 'don't buy me that again'. We give cash or vouchers and she moans she has nothing to open. We tried experiences such as afternoon tea at the Savoy and on christmas eve she announced things like that were thoughtless and last minute! We now just buy whatever and give her the receipts on boxing day

 

[sarahboo]

My MIL is so tricky to buy for. She always gives me a list of things she doesn’t want. Which leaves me with nothing haha
Things she doesn’t want include and are not limited to-
Bath Products
No vouchers
Make up
Perfume
Nothing homemade -espically if done by a child
No appliances big or small
No homeware
No cushions/throws/ornaments
No shoes/boots etc
Gift sets of any kind
No food hampers/food including biscuits and chocolate
No clothes
No books
No dvds
No technology
No candles
No jewellery
No slippers/gowns/pj’s
No scarfs/hats/gloves
No bags
No photos/canvas
No spa days/days out/ afternoon tea etc

And I have no idea what to buy her anymore

Haha oh my god, I thought my family were hard to buy for! Nothing homemade - especially by a child killed me!

 

[sarahboo]

I usually do a hamper that I make myself & put things in there that I know will be used like food, drink, something for the home or toiletries. I hate waste but also hate not giving gifts so I find this is often a cheaper & less wasteful approach to those who are awkward because it'll be used! Sometimes I add in a little Christmas decoration too. Or if I'm just giving a little something I'll maybe buy a mug or nice wine glass & fill it with chocolate & maybe something I know they like.

 

[ChubClubThug]

My MIL is so tricky to buy for. She always gives me a list of things she doesn’t want. Which leaves me with nothing haha
Things she doesn’t want include and are not limited to-
Bath Products
No vouchers
Make up
Perfume
Nothing homemade -espically if done by a child
No appliances big or small
No homeware
No cushions/throws/ornaments
No shoes/boots etc
Gift sets of any kind
No food hampers/food including biscuits and chocolate
No clothes
No books
No dvds
No technology
No candles
No jewellery
No slippers/gowns/pj’s
No scarfs/hats/gloves
No bags
No photos/canvas
No spa days/days out/ afternoon tea etc

And I have no idea what to buy her anymore

Would she like a smack round the face? There's plenty to go round and the best part is they're free! Jokes aside this is the rudest person ever!! How do you cope!?

 

[Oohthedrama]

Or donate to a food bank to people that will bloody appreciate what has been given.

exactly, but as a physical gift giving an animal or something similar with oxfam is a cute idea, you have a physical “gift” to give and people who need it benefit

I’ve said on here before we don’t give gifts as adults. I like something like this for difficult people!

 

[Mustard]

My MIL is so tricky to buy for. She always gives me a list of things she doesn’t want. Which leaves me with nothing haha
Things she doesn’t want include and are not limited to-
Bath Products
No vouchers
Make up
Perfume
Nothing homemade -espically if done by a child
No appliances big or small
No homeware
No cushions/throws/ornaments
No shoes/boots etc
Gift sets of any kind
No food hampers/food including biscuits and chocolate
No clothes
No books
No dvds
No technology
No candles
No jewellery
No slippers/gowns/pj’s
No scarfs/hats/gloves
No bags
No photos/canvas
No spa days/days out/ afternoon tea etc

And I have no idea what to buy her anymore

Cashmere socks. Or one of those weighted blankets.

 

[Dandylion1]

A TIN oF biscuits or a smelly set, I hate just buying things for the sake of it so I know those things will get used

 

[LittleMy]

Gift vouchers for a favourite shop; something personalised, PJs (who doesn’t love new jammies?!); alcohol (if that’s what they enjoy). It all depends on the individual really. For the grandparents I usually make up goodie hampers with lots of biscuits, fave tea, luxury hot chocolate, sweets, shortbread etc. They usually go down well.

 

[Rlaw1978]

Mines EXACTLY the same!!! So awkward and makes it so hard. Every year she receives something the next day she asks for a receipt to take it back or a few months later its 'don't buy me that again'. We give cash or vouchers and she moans she has nothing to open. We tried experiences such as afternoon tea at the Savoy and on christmas eve she announced things like that were thoughtless and last minute! We now just buy whatever and give her the receipts on boxing day

My husband says not to buy her anything at all. Her actual husband buys her nothing, tells her to choose herself something. Which of course she complains about.
Like you we have resorted to buying things and giving receipts. Then we get the response “I’m not going to that shop they did ..... and ..... once to me”. She’s taken to giving presents we’ve given her to other people and is very open about how it’s no use to her and she doesn’t like it.

Cashmere socks. Or one of those weighted blankets.

We’ve tried socks in the past, we got “I’m a size 9, I have wide feet , I have bloated feet. It won’t fit” Then a whole story about how when she lived in London she got all her socks from Selfridges and they’re not the same anymore. Even from Selfridges.
Add insult to injury she doesn’t even try the socks on.
A weighted blanket I will look into though, if she doesn’t like it I would lol
Thanks

 

[coconochanel]

For someone difficult I think a diffuser is a good gift or box of nice biscuits.

 

[Gtc3931]

I really hate buying things that might be wasted, so I ask people what they want. If they like surprises they can just give me a broad area to shop from, like a candle or a scarf or whatever.

 

[gene210]

Or donate to a food bank to people that will bloody appreciate what has been given.

Totally agree. The effort and time that goes into purchasing gifts is bad enough without having someone who is difficult.

 

[Apple In My Pie]

This is what I’ve got for difficult family members this year:

biscuits
a personalised mug from funkypigeon
homemade goodies (fudge this year!)
a personalised birthstone necklace from here: https://eclecticeccentricity.co.uk/

 

[Mustard]

My husband says not to buy her anything at all. Her actual husband buys her nothing, tells her to choose herself something. Which of course she complains about.
Like you we have resorted to buying things and giving receipts. Then we get the response “I’m not going to that shop they did ..... and ..... once to me”. She’s taken to giving presents we’ve given her to other people and is very open about how it’s no use to her and she doesn’t like it.


We’ve tried socks in the past, we got “I’m a size 9, I have wide feet , I have bloated feet. It won’t fit” Then a whole story about how when she lived in London she got all her socks from Selfridges and they’re not the same anymore. Even from Selfridges.
Add insult to injury she doesn’t even try the socks on.
A weighted blanket I will look into though, if she doesn’t like it I would lol
Thanks

If she’s a size 9 then look at men’s socks. Does she wear boots? I’m quite obsessed with socks myself. I’ve always scouring websites for good socks. I got a lot of different ones on the TXMaxx website earlier this year. I usually wear two pairs with my boots. JCrew used to have good socks on their website and delivered for free but now they charge. It is free to order from their UK stores though.

Also, check out the Pantherella site. British made socks for men and women.

 

[Rlaw1978]

Would she like a smack round the face? There's plenty to go round and the best part is they're free! Jokes aside this is the rudest person ever!! How do you cope!?

I’ve had 20 years of practice lol and I met my husband when I was 18. This is the woman who said to me on the first meeting “I could split you two up any time I want to”.
Mostly coping is done by listening and tuning most of it out. Thankfully my husband is wonderfully supportive and always takes my side. Trust me there has been a fair few blow outs over the years. We’ve learnt to run along reasonably enough. Though tbh I wouldn’t put up with her behaviour from anyone who wasn’t family.