Gift Ideas for two ladies ages 65 & 80?

[IMGONNABE40!]

I am stumped. This is the first year in quite a while we are staying in town for Christmas. We have friends here in town who we consider family. Even their extended family treats us like family! So this year we will be going over to their house for Christmas.

Anyway, each of our friends have a mom who we would like to buy a gift for. They each live alone but spend a lot of time at our friends' house watching the grandkids (age 8 and 18 mos.). In addition, they are both very active in the community. I prefer to stay away from food gifts (one is diabetic, the other eats very little) and gift certificates if at all possible. Any ideas? Thanks.

 

[Hillbeans]

I've always found that a roll of stamps is a great gift for that "hard to buy" person.

It's not the fanciest gift, but it's very practical. Maybe you can make a little basket with some pens, stationary, stamps, etc.

 

[IMGONNABE40!]

I've always found that a roll of stamps is a great gift for that "hard to buy" person.

It's not the fanciest gift, but it's very practical. Maybe you can make a little basket with some pens, stationary, stamps, etc.

Oooh! I'm liking that idea!

 

[msdznyduck]

just be careful how many you buy..........stamps will be going up in Jan., so maybe include some 2 cent ones also

 

[LuvN~Travel]

However, the postage stamps are now for sale for the increase.
Kim

 

[LoveWDW]

However, the postage stamps are now for sale for the increase.
Kim

I didn't know this!

When does the price change- Jan 1?

I like the stationary and stamp idea, even a box of envelopes and a lined tablet, along with the stamps, and how about the stick on address labels if you can get them made soon enough.

 

[luv2nascar]

Fleece blankets make great gifts. Who can't use a fleece.

 

[Robinrs]

I work at a senior living resort and believe me, their favorite person next to their doctor and grandkids is the POSTMAN! My sister, a postal worker, even tells me that the seniors are her most frequent customers, next to eBay sellers!

The reason for the change is that the younger generation has depended less on snail mail and have become electonically inclined but the elderly still hold onto the Post office as their source of connection to the real world.

Their concern for the stamp price is the top subject of conversation! This is why I'm so thrilled about this thread. I totally forgot about what a great gift that would be!

Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[kldmom2000]

Gift cards!!!! I usually get my grandmothers gc's to the pharmacies that they frequent because their medications are so costly and their insurance doesn't cover all of it-it's nice to take a bit of the burden off for them...

 

[noseybuddy]

I don't know if they like watching movies or not, but I got my dad a one year subscription to Netflix. All they need to to is drop the movie in the mailbox.

 

[pattyT]

Nice Jammies!!

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Something Red Hat. Maybe a framed copy of "When I Am An Old Woman, I Shall Wear Purple".
They sound like Red Hat ladies to me.

*ETA..here's a copy of the poem, if you've never seen it before.



When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple

with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves

and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired

and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells

and run my stick along the public railings

and make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain

and pick the flowers in other people's gardens

and learn to spit.



You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat

and eat three pounds of sausages at a go

or only bread and pickles for a week

and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.



But now we must have clothes that keep us dry

and pay our rent and not swear in the street

and set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised

When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

TOV

 

[antmaril]

I have an aunt who is 88 years old and I always buy her a gift card for the grocery store where she does her shopping. I know she really appreciates it.

 

[ItsJustMe]

I bought my great-uncle a nice bathrobe for his 85th birthday last November. He loved it, and wore it nearly every night of the winter. Sadly, he passed away in July. My great-aunt gave the bathrobe back to me after he died. Now, on cold nights I wear his robe. It keeps me warm in more ways than one Good luck

 

[Mickey Fliers]

I always send my DH's grandmothers fresh balsam trees from LL Bean. They never put up a tree of their own so it is nice for them to have a little one that they don't even have to decorate. They smell great as well!

 

[figment52]

I bought my great-uncle a nice bathrobe for his 85th birthday last November. He loved it, and wore it nearly every night of the winter. Sadly, he passed away in July. My great-aunt gave the bathrobe back to me after he died. Now, on cold nights I wear his robe. It keeps me warm in more ways than one Good luck

that is just so sweet.