Every year our office has a gift exchange. We draw names and buy a gift costing $10 or so that we exchange at our annual holiday party.
This year I drew the name of one of our very, very part-time people, who’s in her 80s. I’m simply at a loss for what to get her. I know from the experience of buying for my grandmas that she doesn’t need any knick-knacks or anything like that. A gift certificate seems too impersonal.
So I’m asking your advice, Dopers. Any great gift ideas for our “resident Grandma”?
I don’t like knickknacks either, but I do like picture frames (the hanging on the wall kind). Everybody has more pictures than they’ve got frames for them.
Dishcloths? I know it’s not the most wonderful present, but when my great-grandmother got to that age, she stopped buying things like that.
At my local Bed Bath and Beyond there’s a spiffy easy-on-the-hands corkscrew for $9.99. I can’t recall the brand name, but it comes in a box with several pieces. We got one for Christmas last year and it’s really nice and doesn’t make my hands hurt at all.
There’s always chocolates. My mother told me once (although she can’t remember telliung me) that old people like mint chocolates as they can’t really taste the others. It’s what I’m getting for my great aunt anyway!
With the possability of postal rates rising, stamps or pre-stamped envelopes might be good. Moms eighty this year and I am so at a loss. Could I steal some ideas from this thread? Thanks.
A little hand soap / hand lotion combo might be a good idea. Everyone washes their hands, and lotion is nice for winter-ravaged hands.
A book? You’d need to know her tastes a little, though. One of those “inspirational-thought-for-the-day” books? Not my thing, personally, but all my aunts love that stuff.
Certificate for a manicure? A little pampering never did anyone any harm! I got that for my 89-year-old grandmother last year and she was showing off her pretty nails for a week afterwards.
How about a pretty quilt or throw? Last year Wal-Mart had some really cozy fleece throws for about ten dollars – I got one for my Grandmother. And this year my mother found quilts at Big Lots for about the same price (yes, I am from a family of bargain hunters. We have lots of people for whom to buy.).
I found a cool box of cards for different occasions in a nice organizer box for my mom. Older people tend to be big on sending cards, and it is nice to have some on hand.