What's a good birthday present for a 50 year old? Without breaking the bank?

[DisneyWalkerGirl]

To add onto the other scrapbook ideas - I did a scrapbook for my dearest cousin's 50th. She is like my big sister and I wanted something very special from me to her, so this was not a group effort like some previous posters have suggested. Let me emphasize that I am NOT a scrapbooker, so this was a much simpler in format/style than an experienced scrapbooker would do...

I titled the book "50 Memories of Lynn" and then began numbering backwards from 50 each memory item that I came up with. I used silly things like a couple of mini playing cards to illustrate the hours we used to play the card game "War" together. I cut off a record album cover for a late 60's idol that she adored, (so I did too ), used clip art photos and real scrapbooking stuff when it was available.

It doesn't have to be elaborate - I just did things that were either shared memories or things that always make me think of her like the color pink, a particular soap opera, teen idol, favorite phrase, etc.

I had a blast doing it and we had so much fun going over each item together. I'm sure it could have been fancier in expert hands, but it couldn't have been made with any more love

 

[BusyMom2Three]

It really depends on if she likes 'girly-girl' type things, is sporty, loves eating out, etc. With my mom, MIL, most of my friends & sis, I would go with the pampering idea and take my sis out to a spa day & lunch. None of us are the crafty types.

 

[disney1990]

Lottery tickets would be a real turn off to me personally. My luck, I would scratch all 50 of them and then have 50 worthless lottery cards.

My kids usually buy me gift cards to Starbucks, so that I can go someplace and sit and relax a bit.

Other things that I can think of are gift card to favorite restaurant or better yet to the place that she gets her hair done.

 

[Disney_Freak56]

As someone who is 50 plus 2 -- I agree with others -- I like gift cards. Scrapbooks -- eh -- not so much. More dust-catchers. But then again, I'm not a clutter kind of gal and Lord help me! Have never gotten into scrapbooking -- and am hoping to never go down that expensive slippery slope because I know my addictive personality, I would want everything there is -- even with my non-clutter attitude.

And by the way --- just because someone is 50, that doesn't make them old. I almost feel like some of you think that 50 is really super old! I am here to tell you that it's just a number. I even love I-tunes gift cards!

 

[powellrj]

As someone who is 50 plus 2 -- I agree with others -- I like gift cards. Scrapbooks -- eh -- not so much. More dust-catchers. But then again, I'm not a clutter kind of gal and Lord help me! Have never gotten into scrapbooking -- and am hoping to never go down that expensive slippery slope because I know my addictive personality, I would want everything there is -- even with my non-clutter attitude.

And by the way --- just because someone is 50, that doesn't make them old. I almost feel like some of you think that 50 is really super old! I am here to tell you that it's just a number. I even love I-tunes gift cards!

I'm glad you posted that because I feel the same way. I would hate the whole scrapbook thing and it would just be something to find a place for. A few years ago I got my parents a digital picture frame for their 50th anniversary and I offer to set it up for them, but it stays in the box.

My DFIL just died a few months ago and we just finished cleaning out his home. Thats one job I will not leave for my kids. I have already started
to downsize and I still have another year before I'm 50.

I agree that 50 isn't super old, but I do have a hard time convincing DD who is 12 that her parents at 49 and 52 aren't really THAT old!

 

[TwistofLemon]

This wouldn't work for a party gift, but it's fun anyway.

Whatever your recipient's age is, buy that number of birthday cards. Have a bunch of your friends address the envelopes for you, so all the handwriting is different. Use no return address. Drop all the cards in the mail at the same time. Try to mail so they'll be delivered on the birthday.

You can often get greeting cards for $.50...I wouldn't recommend doing this with the regular $3 to $4 cards, especially for a 50th birthday

Personally I'd like the lottery tickets, myself.

 

[Nolcrest]

A photo album with 50 dollar bills tucked in place of pictures. Your sis gets the money and a photo album to use with her choice of photos. It's also fun to see page after page of money when opening the gift.

 

[tinkerlisa]

My aunt got my mom this really cool mug! it has a picture of a cake with candles on it. it is heat activated and when you pour in coffee or tea the "flames" light up on the candles. She had my moms b'day put on it. My mom collects coffee mugs and this one by far is her absolute fav!!! she also got 50 dollars put in the mug along with some chocolate!

(stan)(lisa)(adam6) (ben1)

 

[RACHELSMOM1]

Money, money, and more money...That is what this 52 year old mom wants for every gift!!! Have to support my shopping habit!!

 

[dis75ney]

DH and I did this for my mom's 50th birthday. She was going to England a few days after her birthday, so we got $100 worth of 1-pound notes and taped them together in one long strip. We then used an old gift box (I think it held a snowglobe or something), had DS decorate it, cut a slit in the top of the box, then rolled up the notes and put them in the box, feeding the end through the slit. Mom loved seeing money constantly coming from the box, and was able to use the pounds for tipping at Heathrow without having to wait in lines to exchange money...

I love the idea of a memory book, too...

 

[Bren's Mom]

As a pp pointed out, the gift should depend on the personality of the recipient.

If my sister, who's very sentimental, was turning 50 I'd make a photo book for her (I'm not scrapbooky either) with pics of our lives together as sisters, her as a mom, as an aunt and godmother, etc. She would love it.

For an adventurous person, who's maybe not so crazy about getting older, I'd get a gc for an indoor rock climbing place, or a nearby race car place, or for a white water tubing day trip...something like that.

Others might like a 50 yo bottle of wine.

Or a spa gc.

I personally would hate to get money. But that's just me! Doesn't make it a bad gift.

 

[eliza61]

My sister is turning 50 in September. Her daughter is throwing a surprise party for her but she's not using a gag theme - no gravestones, over the hill type of gifts.

What's a good gift to give someone for their 50th birthday without breaking the bank? She is my sister and I don't want to seem cheap, but we don't usually exchange birthday gifts and I have no idea what to get her. I want it to be special for her 50th, but not something useless and not something so practical like a sweater or something.

Help!

How about a dinner gift certificate for you two. I know with my rl & my siblings crazy life, I would love a nice dinner with my sis sans kids & husbands.

 

[TXMouseChaser]

I do like the idea of doing 50 dollar bills presented somehow but if you are wanting some kind of gift basket (love to give gift baskets that are fitted to people's personalities).. I found a great list of them ..

http://www.ourhomefortheholidays.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=160

It is a Christmas site but has lots of gift giving ideas!

 

[TupperMom7]

OP here. Thanks for all the terrific ideas and any more that come in I will keep checking. The scrapbook idea with the photos is a great one - but her daughter is already doing something like that. She went to my Mom's and got all the old photos and she's making something with them.

I would like the idea of giving her the lottery cards, but my husband would kill me if she won a bunch of money with cards I bought!

I will check out some of the other ideas and see what I can come up with. I don't have a lot of time and I'm not terribly creative but I hope to come up with something.

Thanks!

 

[Kimmumum]

A friend of mine just turned 40 and had a surprise party. A bunch of us chipped in and bought a Southwest Airlines gift card. She loved it!!!!!