Daughter-in-law Gift ideas

[easyas123]

Things I'm considering for my 2 DIL's this year:

Years subscription to MasterClass
Airline gift card (they are both of an age where they & their friends are getting married, there is always some hens party or away trip in the works)
Portable sauna
Gift cards to a place like Home Goods or Lowes - both sets of kids bought houses in past two years so they are still tweaking things and adding decor
cash, with the caveat that they do something fun/frivolous that THEY want with it

How about something along the lines of a long weekend away and you watch the kid(s) and/or pet(s) if that is applicable?
Appliance? Not very exciting I know but I recall the year my Mom got my SIL a new washing machine and my SIL was thrilled! Maybe if you know of something they are in need of it would be welcomed?


I must admit I am not terribly good with gifts. We will probably end up giving a big gift to each couple and then a stocking with odds & ends to each kid. We have no grandkids to buy for so the kids still get the big gifts

 

[mjkacmom]

Thank you! I hadn’t thought of that. She’s not a nails girl. But, everyone gets their hair done. I’ll ask DS where she goes.

My husband once bought me a gift card at my hair salon, I wasn’t thrilled, he could’ve bought me a gas gift card and I’d have the same reaction. So instead of paying for my regular cut and highlights from our bank account, I was paying for it from a gift card purchased from our bank account. Regardless, I’m getting it done, like going to the dentist or grocery shopping, it’s not a special extra I wouldn’t have done on my own.

 

[focusondisney]

So instead of paying for my regular cut and highlights from our bank account,

This is exactly why my DIL likes getting those gift cards. She’s going to get those things done anyway & for at least 1 visit, it doesn’t cost her a penny. I guess it really depends on the person.

 

[mjkacmom]

This is exactly why my DIL likes getting those gift cards. She’s going to get those things done anyway & for at least 1 visit, it doesn’t cost her a penny. I guess it really depends on the person.

It’s better that it will save her money, my husband buying me a gift card means I actually pay for my hair ahead of time. It’s like a gift card for a dental cleaning.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

It’s better that it will save her money, my husband buying me a gift card means I actually pay for my hair ahead of time. It’s like a gift card for a dental cleaning.

For me gift cards allowed/allow me to actually go do something or purchase something that I probably wouldn't purchase on my own. I'm notorious for if you give me cash it goes in the bank to be used for student loans (when I had them in the past), car repairs, groceries, etc. Even something like 2 years ago when my mother-in-law gave me cash for my birthday she said "now make sure you buy something for yourself with that"

My family learned when I was a tween into teens and later that gift cards meant I actually treated myself instead of using it for something not like that.

But I also agree in your exact situation what place the gift card was for didn't strike the same "kind gesture" note that it could have been. For the OP maybe it's possible that a gift card for where her daughter-in-law gets her hair done could be used for an unexpected "fun day" visit OR for any products that the place sells that might be of interest to her. I get my hair cut at Great Clips after stopping in college going to the person I had been going to since I was a young kid where she cuts hair in her house so for me it's not some bigger salon with highly specialized things to be done, I also don't cut my hair often like I did growing up so for me a gift card to Great Clips while serving the same purpose as I would treat other gift cards I get probably wouldn't pack the same punch as some other place. If OP does go the route of a hair place knowing what that business is might help out on if it's worth it or not.

 

[Miffy]

Buy her something(s) off her Amazon list. Those are the things she actually wants. Trying to get her something else sounds like a recipe for failure.

I say this as someone who doesn't want anyone purchasing a gift for me. Even if it seems like something I'd like, I invariably don't want it, will never use it, and often don't even like it. Yes, I'm picky. And also yes, I tell people who are serial gift-givers to please please PLEASE not get me anything, even if it's "thoughtful." Thoughtful can seem thoughtful but it can be a complete fail. Here I will not elaborate.

 

[princesscinderella]

Whatever you do don’t get her a purse!! I am not a purse person at all my MIL has never gotten the hint over the last 20 years, I think until the last one she gave me was the ugliest yet and when she said if I didn’t like it she would take it back I took her up on the offer and said I would most likely never use it. This was also a just because gift so not attached to any celebration. My favorite gifts from my MIL has been earrings throughout the years, if your DIL has pierced ears.

We went to Japan this summer and I asked my MIL if there was something specific she wanted us to bring back for her and she said earrings. Little did we know that culturally there they don’t pierce their ears and most wear clip ons. It was really funny to see the signs at the theme parks we went to specifically mention removing earrings before riding, because clips just wouldn’t survive a roller coaster . We did find beautiful hand made glass ones at a little boutique where they would change the clip on to a pierced ear hook on the spot so that was neat.

Does she like to read? A kindle unlimited gift subscription is a great gift too. If they have kids what about a certificate to pick from school and or watch the kids and give her a spa day of relaxation.

 

[Turn the Page]

May I just say how great it is how you all try so hard to find something your DILs will like?

My MIL and I are not close, we don't really have much in common (except DH and the kids of course), not common interests or anything and she doesn't try to get to know me any better.

She generally gets me housewares type gifts. In the past she has gotten me dish soap (not kidding), bar soap (at least it was my preferred brand), various kitchen utensils (to be fair they were better than the ones I had), a laundry organizer (in the hopes that it would make laundry more fun for me), dish towels, baking dishes, etc. Granted, the baking dishes had Mickey Mouse on them so she knows that about me, but still.

 

[MickeyP]

I wouldn't say, "but still", she's trying. There is thought there, and she's thinking of you.

 

[jensen]

I thought I’d update you and let you know that I bought the shredder along with several other items she had on her Amazon list. I did add a couple things I picked out myself. I put together a gift basket with hot cocoa, cute mugs and fuzzy socks and a jewelry box with a pair of earrings.

In true fashion she bought me gifts I absolutely loved including a Christmas ornament with a picture of my dear pet who recently passed. I cried because I loved it so much.

 

[jensen]

My husband once bought me a gift card at my hair salon, I wasn’t thrilled, he could’ve bought me a gas gift card and I’d have the same reaction. So instead of paying for my regular cut and highlights from our bank account, I was paying for it from a gift card purchased from our bank account. Regardless, I’m getting it done, like going to the dentist or grocery shopping, it’s not a special extra I wouldn’t have done on my own.

I think it’s completely different when it comes from someone who you don’t share a checking account with. It’s like a unique way to give cash. I like the idea.

 

[Turn the Page]

I wouldn't say, "but still", she's trying. There is thought there, and she's thinking of you.

But dish soap and a laundry organizer?

 

[TCRAIG]

But dish soap and a laundry organizer?

Sure! - my husband gifted me a vacuum cleaner and a new toilet lid (just the lid) once- I called him the king of romance… His idea of getting personal gifts was to get something you personally would use. I started to make a list and he would get me everything on the list - then one year I said surprise me with something personal - so he bought me accessories for my truck. The next year we went back to the list but I asked for some surprise little things as well - he bought one of everything on the displays by the grocery check out counter…lighter, dental picks, emery boards, etc…so then it was back to the list . Luckily, our daughter was soon old enough to help him with his gift giving…but we all still shared a good laugh every holiday - ‘diamond earrings are nice - but I was hoping for toilet lid’ kind of jokes abounded.
For DIL - I would recommend a lovely pashmina or fancy slippers - maybe aloe infused socks, a quality crystal nail file, lighted makeup mirror, new cosmetic bag or travel cubes - Little luxuries she wouldn’t normally be able to justify buying for herself.