Budget?

Ice cream maker.

Harry & David pears and a photo of her grandchildren

Anonymous wrote:We have tried for years to say no gifts. We've not given gifts. MIL gave DH guilt trip about not getting her anything. What can I get her that is thoughtful and inexpensive?

Husband handles his parents gifts. They aren't big gift givers anyhow. One year I got a hairbrush, and he got a board game. Easy peasy.

A beautiful designer purse. She can exchange if she wants to.

lottery tickets

A calendar with photos of the grandkids. Every year. She loves it.

I think it depends on lifestyle. My MIL was almost housebound the last few years of her life. Every year we bought her a few new books, since she wasn't the e-reader type. We always bought a new nightgown or robe, and one year a new soft throw blanket. Lotion because she had very very dry skin. And of course, every year we wrapped up the school photos of the kids.

My mom is tougher to buy for. We often give her and my dad a bottle of nice vodka with a bow tied around it. Last year I gave her some aromatherapy sugar scrub cubes, and apparently she wasn't a fan. Her favorite gifts are always school photos and whatever my kids give her or make for her.

A TV. I don't want to talk about it.

Socks from Etsy. The bottoms say, "if you can read this, bring me wine."

Does she have any hobbies?

My MIL is a gardener who is super practical. In past years I've given her nice gardening gloves, a new nozzle for her hose, and rubber gardening clogs. She really seemed to love her small but thoughtful gifts.

A reminder to her son to get his mother a gift.

I've had luck finding sweaters from Lands End.

Gift card

We have tried for years to say no gifts. We've not given gifts. MIL gave DH guilt trip about not getting her anything. What can I get her that is thoughtful and inexpensive?