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Post by justkat on Oct 23, 2016 23:10:44 GMT
When it comes to gifts, what do you buy the person who is all but impossible to buy for? I'm racking my brain trying to figure out a gift for the oldest of my younger brothers. It's not that he's picky or ungrateful/unappreciative. I love him to death but he's very uummmm ah beige. lol Here's my dilemma: ~On the rare occasion that he wants something he will buy it for himself ~He has no hobbies or special interests, not into photography or movies or any particular tv programme ~He's not into sports ~He doesn't play golf, he doesn't fish or hunt ~He's not into clothes and doesn't wear ties ~He's not handy and owns the few tools he feels are necessary ~He's not into cologne ~He doesn't wear a watch or jewelry of any kind ~He owns the few electronic devices he feels are necessary ~He doesn't cook or grill ~His car is nothing more than a means of getting from point A to point B ~He's single with no children ~He puts gift cards in his wallet and promptly forgets about them ~He doesn't like to travel, takes only the one family trip per year ~Will do things but you have to cajole him into it but usually winds up enjoying it In previous years I lucked out...the year he bought his car I gifted him a service that detailed it 4 times for the year. One year I bought him nice headphones when his pair got destroyed right before the holiday. Another year he needed new luggage for the family trip so that was his gift. This year I have no clue. I really don't want to give him cash. He appreciates a handmade item (scrapbook for example) but once he looks through it he's done with it. He really just gets up, goes to work, comes home, watches a little tv, bathes and goes to bed. Repeat the following day. lol UGH! ANY help would be greatly appreciated. Or if nothing else, thanks for letting me vent.  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *UPDATE* Dear Awesome sweet peas, Thank you all so very much for your suggestions and advice. I read all the responses and gave this a lot of thought last night and today. Thanks to you all I now have a plan and can stop pulling out my hair. lol We do stockings and under-the-tree gifts. Here's the plan: (stocking) A Christmas card with scratch-off lottery tickets, one for each year of his life. (Doing this for everyone) Bag of spiced cashews. I make these and he devours them. A card good for 12 car washes from a concierge car wash place. A one year subscription to the How It Works magazine. He loves to watch How It's Made with DH when he's visiting. (Under the tree) A ballotin of chocolates. A metal photo of the last family pic we took before our dad passed. (Doing this for everyone) A small footlocker that I'm using as a gift basket. It has his college's logo. Inside I'll put a TV shaped picture frame with a Hulu gift card good for a year's subscription. 2 pair of llama socks he can wear like slippers. An over-sized mug with packets of gourmet hot chocolate and soup mixes. Some packets of microwave popcorn. A voice-controlled tv remote control. I'll also include a nice throw if I can find one that's nice and reasonably priced. Thanks everyone! You all had great ideas. I really think he's going to like and enjoy these gifts. Kat |
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peasquared
Drama Llama
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Post by peasquared on Oct 23, 2016 23:28:35 GMT
A Yeti cooler? Everyone can use a cooler at some point.  ? He does sound tough to shop for! |
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suzastampin
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Post by suzastampin on Oct 23, 2016 23:33:38 GMT
Monthly car wash certificates? Oil changes?
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:15:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2016 23:33:52 GMT
If he likes handmade stuff, can you knit/crochet something? Or maybe buy a handmade hat and scarf set?
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ellen
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Post by ellen on Oct 23, 2016 23:39:02 GMT
What about practical items like blankets, towels, or kitchen items?
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Post by kels99 on Oct 23, 2016 23:41:37 GMT
Food. Homemade by you or treats from Costco or I'm sure there is some sort of subscription box with cookies or something in it.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Oct 23, 2016 23:46:43 GMT
Is he a coffee drinker? Or tea? You can get some really nice teas here in town at various places. There is also a coffee shop that has the best coffee I have ever had.
That's all I've got. (It took 3 texts to my son to tell me what to get him for his birthday...and even then the website was down where I wanted to order from).
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Post by peanutterbutter on Oct 23, 2016 23:52:14 GMT
How about a scrapbooked calendar? A something of the month club (beer, steaks, etc?). a man crate www.mancrate.com? I am in the same boat with my in-laws it's tough. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2016 0:01:14 GMT
I know you said he promptly forgets gift cards but what about one to a local car wash or oil change place? Even though my car is nothing special and I see it as a means to get from point A to B, it still needs washed and oil changes. You might want to chat him up about his philosophy of where to do those things so you know where he goes (I only do oil changes at my dealership but they do issue gift cards) A gift card to a place he actually uses won't get forgotten. The trick will be figuring out where those places are...
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breetheflea
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Post by breetheflea on Oct 24, 2016 0:02:42 GMT
Sounds like my MIL. Go to work, come home, eat, watch TV, go to bed, repeat. We've done a coffee maker, movie tickets, restaurant gift cards, pictures of the kids in frames, photo albums of pictures of the kids, pictures of the kids, digital picture frame of pictures of the kids, dvd's of shows we think she would like, coffee and chocolate. I don't know if she actually uses anything we give her (probably not) but it's the thought that counts...
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eleezybeth
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Jun 28, 2014 20:42:01 GMT
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Post by eleezybeth on Oct 24, 2016 0:05:51 GMT
Does he have kids? What about an experience with them?
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Post by scrappinmom3 on Oct 24, 2016 0:07:15 GMT
Lottery tickets for how many years old he is?
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Post by workingclassdog on Oct 24, 2016 0:14:50 GMT
Lottery tickets for how many years old he is? That is a good one...  |
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Deleted
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Aug 18, 2025 20:15:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2016 0:21:18 GMT
New towels/curtain and mats! Plus a deep clean and Repaint?
New sheets and bedspread.
Expensive socks.
A pair of his favorite sneakers.
His favorite dinner , portioned and frozen.
Tape, cards, stamps sharpies.
An emergency food kit.
We bought the show chuck for husband's brother. With a supply of his favorite candy.
New glass storage containers for the frig.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2016 0:25:25 GMT
Sounds like my MIL. Go to work, come home, eat, watch TV, go to bed, repeat. We've done a coffee maker, movie tickets, restaurant gift cards, pictures of the kids in frames, photo albums of pictures of the kids, pictures of the kids, digital picture frame of pictures of the kids, dvd's of shows we think she would like, coffee and chocolate. I don't know if she actually uses anything we give her (probably not) but it's the thought that counts... As a grandma my absolute FAVORITE gift is updated good photos of the grands. Big Win in the gift receiving category. |
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Oct 24, 2016 0:25:59 GMT
Does he shave? If so, maybe a subscription to Dollar Shave Club?
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Post by justkat on Oct 24, 2016 0:44:42 GMT
Thanks everyone for the responses! I appreciate it so much. I feel bad that I can't think of something to buy him. As I said he's not picky or ungrateful.
I'm going to look into the Yeti cooler. I'll check out the different models and see if it's something he might like.
A gift card for a car wash or oil change isn't a bad idea. I know that with his car being a few years old he feels that detailing is a waste of money. But a wash and oil change are both necessities.
Buying him something hand knitted might work as well. Because of my chemo neuropathy I no longer have the hand strength or coordination to knit myself. Maybe a hand-knitted throw for when he watches tv?
He doesn't drink coffee. He does on rare occasions drink tea and hot chocolate so I could possibly do a basket with those and maybe a homemade treat. He likes pecan tassies but won't/can't make them himself.
I like the calendar idea as well. I know he buys a new calendar every Jan which he puts on his kitchen wall. A nice personalized Shutterfly-type calendar might be fun pre-printed with personal dates and family/friend photos. Good idea. :-)
I really like the lottery ticket idea as well. I think regardless of what I buy him I'll do this inside his card. Actually I think I'll do this for everyone inside their card. None of us are big gamblers but this sounds like a lot of fun. :-)
The man crates are pretty neat. A pea, don't remember who sorry, suggested them year before last. I bought all the guys one, including my brother. He got the jerky crate. His response? That's cool, thanks. Then he said "I hope it wasn't expensive". So while he liked it he wasn't overly impressed. lol All the other guys loved theirs though.
Thanks again for all the ideas. You've all given me some things to think about and look into. I appreciate it.
Kat
ETA: He's single with no kids. He uses an electric razor and has said at various times that it's the only razor that he'll use.
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Post by M~ on Oct 24, 2016 0:45:03 GMT
I'm a great believer in a nice scarf. Burberry now allows you to personalize with embroidered initials. That's one of the gifts I am giving my bff.
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paigepea
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Post by paigepea on Oct 24, 2016 0:50:09 GMT
Magazine subscription
Sock of the month
Cake of the month
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Post by justkat on Oct 24, 2016 0:50:32 GMT
I'm a great believer in a nice scarf. Burberry now allows you to personalize with embroidered initials. That's one of the gifts I am giving my bff. I did not know this. Thanks!! I'll be buying this for a few people on my list. Not my brother though.  lol He won't wear anything around his neck. Great gift idea though and I will be using it for some other people. (Maybe even myself sshh) |
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Post by M~ on Oct 24, 2016 0:53:28 GMT
I'm a great believer in a nice scarf. Burberry now allows you to personalize with embroidered initials. That's one of the gifts I am giving my bff. I did not know this. Thanks!! I'll be buying this for a few people on my list. Not my brother though. lol He won't wear anything around his neck. Great gift idea though and I will be using it for some other people. (Maybe even myself sshh) You can even pick the thread color!!! |
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Post by justkat on Oct 24, 2016 0:53:28 GMT
A monthly club might work. Thanks to those of you who made that suggestion. I'm going to see what I can find...maybe a food of some sort of the month would work. He doesn't drink, he has a single mimosa on Christmas morning and some times he'll have an old fashioned on his birthday but that's it. So no alcohol/beer of the month.
If I didn't know better I'd swear the boy was adopted. lol
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Post by scrappychick on Oct 24, 2016 1:03:24 GMT
How about a Netflix or Hulu subscription?
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Post by crazy4scraps on Oct 24, 2016 1:10:05 GMT
Gift certificate for a massage?
GC for a haircut at a place he likes?
Chocolate?
Adult coloring book and set of pencils?
Does he like music? Maybe a current CD for an artist he likes, or iTunes GC?
Amazon Echo?
Cleaning service?
Netflix subscription or Amazon Prime subscription?
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JustTricia
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,894
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Post by JustTricia on Oct 24, 2016 1:22:40 GMT
How about a Netflix or Hulu subscription? This is what I was going to suggest since you said he watches tv everyday. Or, do you know if he has a favorite show? Can you buy the dvds of it? |
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Post by justkat on Oct 24, 2016 1:39:06 GMT
Netflix won't work. He's had it in the past and didn't like it. He had a bunch of problems with it. However Hulu might be an idea.
He doesn't have a favorite programme. He says he just likes to zone out in front of the tv after work for a little bit. Though I could buy DVDs of a show I think he would like, introduce him to something new.
He wouldn't like a massage. We did a cruise as the family trip a few years ago. We all got massages and he hated it. So that's out. Good idea though.
Gift certificate for a haircut might work. Chocolate isn't bad, maybe as part of a basket of some sort.
He has an Echo. He barely uses it. He thinks adults colouring is silly. That's what he tells my sister when she's colouring.lol
He keeps his apartment pretty clean. I'm not sure what he'd think of a cleaning service. I'll have to sound him out on this one. If he's into it, it's a really good idea.
Thanks for the ideas. :-) The peas are great.
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Post by kels99 on Oct 24, 2016 1:40:56 GMT
Nice wool socks? Everyone likes to have warm, dry feet. |
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Post by natlhol on Oct 24, 2016 1:41:25 GMT
My son can be difficult to buy a present for and I have gotten him a subscription to How Things Work magazine. It is out of England, I believe. I bought a single issue from Costco so I'd have something to wrap and wrote a tag that said I bought the subscription.
He did enjoy it. It explains how all sorts of things work, coffee makers, tvs, toys, airplanes, whatever in short, easy to read articles. I browsed through the magazines myself!
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Post by justkat on Oct 24, 2016 1:46:47 GMT
My son can be difficult to buy a present for and I have gotten him a subscription to How Things Work magazine. It is out of England, I believe. I bought a single issue from Costco so I'd have something to wrap and wrote a tag that said I bought the subscription. He did enjoy it. It explains how all sorts of things work, coffee makers, tvs, toys, airplanes, whatever in short, easy to read articles. I browsed through the magazines myself! I'll have to look into this. Didn't know this was a magazine.When he's visited I know he and my husband like to watch How It's Made so he might actually like this. :-) Thank you! For the sock suggestions...I could maybe get him a nice pair of llama socks to wear around the house when it's cold outside., almost like slippers. Otherwise not sure he'd like socks as he's not into clothes. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Oct 24, 2016 1:59:18 GMT
Beware magazine subscriptions. I would absolutely hunt down and cut the person who would give one, because of the f'ing junk mail.
It took ten years for the junk mail to stop coming.
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lol He won't wear anything around his neck. Great gift idea though and I will be using it for some other people. (Maybe even myself sshh) 
