Stumped for gift ideas for my in-laws

[Suz D]

I have been so blessed every year for the last 10 or so years to have stumbled upon a perfect gift for my in laws for Christmas. We got them Kindles one year, a Roku one year, iPod one year, tickets to the symphony one year (which we are repeating again this year), and a few other really perfect gifts. This year I decided that we'd give them an Amazon Prime membership. This couple, who are SO frugal and never go out and get anything, went and got themselves a Prime membership 2 months ago. Stink! There goes my really fun and creative gift idea.

Last week I resorted to asking them for ideas. My father-in-law suggested a smart phone for MIL (ummm she HATES to talk on the phone as she's hard of hearing and doesn't see well either so she probably wouldn't text). I honestly cannot see her using it and getting one would mean we'd have to choose a service provider and then who pays the bill each month etc? So I vetoed that right away.

The other idea he gave us is a stone address marker for the entry to their driveway. I called a local place and 1. they cannot have it done by Christmas. I'd be okay with giving them an IOU for it but 2. It's $275.00 and with the $100 we've already spent for the symphony tickets plus the dining gift card I usually include with it, that puts us over the amount we'd like to spend.

I thought of a speaker bar for their TV and found one on sale at a great price at Walmart. It got very good reviews, but the 1 star reviews all indicated that it was difficult to connect, and trouble with the remote linking with the tv, and compatibility issues. I don't want to give them something that will be frustrating so I think that idea is out.

So if you are still with me after that huge long discourse, HELP ME come up with something super neat and WOW! I have a reputation to uphold. What are you getting your in-laws? What would you get if you could spend around $150.00-ish.

 

[Suz D]

It might be helpful to add that they enjoy gardening, hunting, cooking, traveling, anything outdoors, golfing, tv, reading.

They have Netflix (which we gave them one year as well with the Roku and it was a big hit as they had never heard of it), Amazon Prime, satellite tv, and honestly don't need anything.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Well you said they are frugal what about a Entertainment Booklet for 50% off dinning.

I got my outlaws a Omaha Steak combo pack.

What about a gift certificate to a restaurant before they go to the symphony?

 

[kiramay]

It might be helpful to add that they enjoy gardening, hunting, cooking, traveling, anything outdoors, golfing, tv, reading.

They have Netflix (which we gave them one year as well with the Roku and it was a big hit as they had never heard of it), Amazon Prime, satellite tv, and honestly don't need anything.

If they like cooking and trying new recipes, look at Blue Apron. It's $60 a week for three meals for 2 people, and it comes with the recipes and all ingredients to cook them with. Meats, veggies, spices, etc. I believe there are 1 week, 2 week, and 1 month gift options.

We've been getting it for a few months and love it.

 

[luvmy3]

What a timely thread, I just thought of what I was getting my ILs today- a gift card to Bethel Woods so they can see a couple concerts there in the summer.
I was going to get them dinner and movie giftcards but I'm pretty sure my SIL gets them that every year so I didn't want to steal her idea.

If they like to travel, what about a night at a not too far away Bed & Breakfast.

I see that they like golfing so I'll share what I'm getting my dad. I'm planning on giving him passes to a few courses for 18 holes and a cart. Now I just have to figure out a way to ask him what his favorite courses are without him suspecting anything. He does so much for me that I really want to come up with a surprise he'll love and it gets harder and harder every year.

 

[mickeyboat]

I bought my parents' gifts from here.

www.simonpearce.com

The website stinks though. You have to navigate using the menu on the left. I got them some hand blown evergreen trees and a glass pine cone ornament.

 

[ajordan79]

My in laws never do anything for themselves so we are buying them a "date night" for Christmas. A gift card for a movie and one for their favorite restaurant. We will also get them a little something more personal from our daughter as well.
ETA: I read your post again and missed the symphony tickets and dinner card. So I was absolutely no help.

 

[msmama]

What about a lobster dinner through the mail. I don't know of a specific website - it's always been something I've wanted to get someone though, lol!

Omaha steaks is another idea.

I've finally decided that I'm just going to get my Dad a bunch of gift cards for a variety of places.

Do they have a digital camera? Anything in their house that just needs an upgrade?

 

[minnie1012]

I got my inlaws a gift certificate for a dinner cruise one year (in Philadelphia). I'm not sure if you have anything like that by you.

 

[mrsklamc]

Things that come to mind...

Gift certificate for Fogo De Chao if there is one around.

Gift package from cherryrepublic.com

 

[Suz D]

Well you said they are frugal what about a Entertainment Booklet for 50% off dinning.

I got my outlaws a Omaha Steak combo pack.

What about a gift certificate to a restaurant before they go to the symphony?

Got the gift card for before the concert, but like the Omaha steaks idea. Thanks!

If they like cooking and trying new recipes, look at Blue Apron. It's $60 a week for three meals for 2 people, and it comes with the recipes and all ingredients to cook them with. Meats, veggies, spices, etc. I believe there are 1 week, 2 week, and 1 month gift options.

We've been getting it for a few months and love it.

Sadly my nearly 52 year old BIL still lives with them. Don't want to feed him (can you read resentment LOL)

I bought my parents' gifts from here.

www.simonpearce.com

The website stinks though. You have to navigate using the menu on the left. I got them some hand blown evergreen trees and a glass pine cone ornament.

Going to check it out now.

My in laws never do anything for themselves so we are buying them a "date night" for Christmas. A gift card for a movie and one for their favorite restaurant. We will also get them a little something more personal from our daughter as well.
ETA: I read your post again and missed the symphony tickets and dinner card. So I was absolutely no help.

Great minds think alike!

What about a lobster dinner through the mail. I don't know of a specific website - it's always been something I've wanted to get someone though, lol!

Omaha steaks is another idea.

I've finally decided that I'm just going to get my Dad a bunch of gift cards for a variety of places.

Do they have a digital camera? Anything in their house that just needs an upgrade?

They are from the northeast originally so a lobster dinner had actually crossed my mind. I think I'm going to keep that one on the front burner.

I got my inlaws a gift certificate for a dinner cruise one year (in Philadelphia). I'm not sure if you have anything like that by you.

We do have that in Pittsburgh about 90 mins from here

Things that come to mind...

Gift certificate for Fogo De Chao if there is one around.

Gift package from cherryrepublic.com

Again one in Pittsburgh and I think they'd like it.

Let's keep the ideas coming for me and for others. Thanks everyone!

 

[pigletto]

I am zero help. The only things my FIL wanted were Cinnamon Buns from Cinnabon, and decking screws. I kid you not. $100 bucks worth of pastry and screws. My mother in law wanted new blinds for her dining room. They were quite expensive so we got her one, her daughter got her one, and her husband got her one. I can't make this stuff up..Cinnamon Buns, Screws, and a blind.

 

[LJSquishy]

Are they coffee drinkers? Maybe either a Keurig or an espresso machine?

You mentioned you got them an iPod one year -- do they have a speaker docking station for it so they can listen to music around the house? Or maybe a Sonos unit (I'm sure Sonos is probably over your budget though)?

I'm not sure if they would appreciate something like this or not, but I've seen websites that do framed family crest things to put on your wall that also include information about the origin of your last name. That's one of those gifts that people either really like or really hate.

Maybe even a nice fruit of the month club type of thing, or organic produce basket however often (like FullCircle or local co-op)?

 

[MagicalMawMaw]

One of my favorite gifts ever was a desktop digital frame. It is a large one with a wooden frame. It came loaded with family photos & I've added more photos to it over the years I've had it. I love it!

 

[wiigirl]

I bought my parents' gifts from here.

www.simonpearce.com

The website stinks though. You have to navigate using the menu on the left. I got them some hand blown evergreen trees and a glass pine cone ornament.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

We do something similar to Omaha Steaks - we go to our local butcher and purchase several cuts of the best steaks they have, and they pack it up in a nice gift box for us. That has been our go-to gift for the in-laws for many years when we couldn't think of anything else.

 

[jstbcuz]

I've dont Salmon from Alaska in the past (this was probably my favorite gift to them ever) and Fruit of the Month Club from Harry & David. This year, I'm stumped!

 

[Suz D]

Lets keep the ideas going for others (or for next year) but I did settle on a gift. Thanks everyone.


The lobster dinner was high on the list but I decided that we'd have to get dinner for three to include my BIL and then it wouldn't be a gift for my in laws, but for all of them. Just not feeling the love on that part.

So, I went with the digital photo frame. But here's the cool thing. It's a wi-fi frame with its own email address. I can add pics anytime by just emailing them to their frame! How fun is that!? It holds 20,000 pics, I will pre load many on it, help them load some of their own, and then email additional ones as we take them. Can do it right from my iPhone! It got great reviews on Amazon and was $149.00 with for prime shipping. I know the amazon regular prices are sometimes inflated but it was listed at $299 retail and the cheapest I found it was $185.

Here's the link if anyone is interested.

http://www.amazon.com/Pix-Star-PXT5...386429507&sr=8-1&keywords=Wi+fi+picture+frame

In the interest of sharing, the other fun gift I had planned I ended up giving to my MIL for her Oct BD as I was stumped for that event too. It was a salt lamp and she absolutely loves it!

http://www.amazon.com/WBM-Himalayan-1002-Natural-Purifying/dp/B001892AX2/ref=wl_mb_hu_m_3_dp

 

[bookgirl]

I have been so blessed every year for the last 10 or so years to have stumbled upon a perfect gift for my in laws for Christmas. We got them Kindles one year, a Roku one year, iPod one year, tickets to the symphony one year (which we are repeating again this year), and a few other really perfect gifts. This year I decided that we'd give them an Amazon Prime membership. This couple, who are SO frugal and never go out and get anything, went and got themselves a Prime membership 2 months ago. Stink! There goes my really fun and creative gift idea.

Last week I resorted to asking them for ideas. My father-in-law suggested a smart phone for MIL (ummm she HATES to talk on the phone as she's hard of hearing and doesn't see well either so she probably wouldn't text). I honestly cannot see her using it and getting one would mean we'd have to choose a service provider and then who pays the bill each month etc? So I vetoed that right away.


The other idea he gave us is a stone address marker for the entry to their driveway. I called a local place and 1. they cannot have it done by Christmas. I'd be okay with giving them an IOU for it but 2. It's $275.00 and with the $100 we've already spent for the symphony tickets plus the dining gift card I usually include with it, that puts us over the amount we'd like to spend.

I thought of a speaker bar for their TV and found one on sale at a great price at Walmart. It got very good reviews, but the 1 star reviews all indicated that it was difficult to connect, and trouble with the remote linking with the tv, and compatibility issues. I don't want to give them something that will be frustrating so I think that idea is out.

So if you are still with me after that huge long discourse, HELP ME come up with something super neat and WOW! I have a reputation to uphold. What are you getting your in-laws? What would you get if you could spend around $150.00-ish.

How about wireless speakers for their tv. If your MIL is hard of hearing she might enjoy being able to put wireless speakers next to her seat and hear the tv without having the sound blaring.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

Could you buy a Netflix giftcard to pay for their year of Netflix? Then they could move that line in their budget to something else.