Suggestions? What to buy my Gram

[magenta321]

I'm looking to buy my grandmother a birthday present.

I'd like to spend somewhere in the $50 range, although, less is certainly wonderful if it's not "cheap" and more is fine, as long as it is something special (I was willing to spend a few hundred on her last week, as I thought it was the perfect gift. I was later talked out of it).

My grandmother is in her 80s. She only wears Alfred Dunner clothes and shirts have to have a waist band, pants have to have elastic, and be petit. Even still, 99% of clothing purchased for her goes back to the store.

She wears a lot of jewelry, but, everyone buys her jewelry as a cop-out. You can't buy her rings any more because nothing fits her in her mind. She has a ton of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. Any necklace has to have a large bezel on it, because she'll never use a "thin" chain that generally comes with the pendant when you buy a necklace. (She's a bit of a jewelry snob). She only wears gold. 14k is fine, as is 18k, 24 k, or Portugese gold.

But, like I said, she has a ton of jewelry. She has two dresser drawers (like you'd keep your clothes in -- not a jewelry armoire!) filled with mostly jewelry.

She doesn't go out a lot, but, I already take her out once a week.

She has a million pocketbooks, shoes (none of which fit), and jackets/coats.



What could I possibly get her? I've been racking my brain for a long time now. Her birthday is at the begining of Sept.

Thanks for any ideas.

[magenta321]

I realized that you guys don't know my gram, so it makes it hard.

She doesn't do much of anything. She has no hobbies. She doesn't watch much tv because she can't hear it (I already bought her tv ears). She's not able to drive much any more because she gets dizzy. She can't walk far, but, refuses to use a cane, walker, wheelchair, or one of those powered things.

So, she sits home, or goes to the senior center. She doesn't like the senior center because they mostly play bingo (which she hates).

She's set in her ways. She won't pick up a hobby because you suggest one (ie, my mom offered to reteach her how to knit, but, my gram refused).

She moves at a really slow pace. She takes hours to get ready to go any where. That's really what she does She goes to her room, picks out her outfit, picks out her accessories, puts on her makeup. This all takes her hours.

But, she gets compliments whereever she goes about how well put together she is.

Should I just give up and buy her yet more jewelry or another purse, only because that's about all that she likes?

Sigh!

[jgibson2[$]]

How about a bird feeder. Seriously. You could get a fairly small one that attaches to the window. Those can be a pain to clean and refill, though and you'd doubtless be on the hook to take care of it.

If you want to go for real entertainment check out this Yankee Flipper (media player)

[briandalsmom[$]]

How about take her out for a manicure? Or a pedicure? That is if she isn't already enjoying them.

Connie

[CurtisEdmonds]

Why not use your Victoria's Secret VIP status?

[magenta321]

Curtis, it's an Eluxury VIP status, thank you very much! It's not my grandma's type of stuff, except the purses. She already told me I'm not allowed to pay a lot for a purse for her.

A manicure or pedicure might be a good idea. She doesn't do anything for her nails. I'm not sure if it is "her" though.

The birdfeeder is a great idea, but, she lives in an apt. I'd do the window type, but, my family is very superstitious. A bird flying into the window, in her mind, means death. She really believes it.

[murasaki]

Hmmm....Maybe some sort of spa day or something where people will fuss over your gram? It sounds like she loves getting compliments so why not some pampering as well?

--naomi

[lynnzop[$]]

I don't know if you have time (maybe you can hire it done in your area?) but what about some type of scrapbook or memory book for her? Old pictures gathered and put together for her to look through and share.

If there isn't enough time for her b-day, maybe for Christmas.

I do know that as my grandmother got older, the LAST thing she wanted was some "trinket" that she would just need to have dusted. She adored handmade things, however, and enjoyed some small needlepoint things that I made for her.

Another idea might be "Fruit (or cheese, or flowers, or whatever) of the Month" delivered to her apartment. The gift that keeps on giving - you can do just a few months for around $50.

[magenta321]

There were many great ideas here.

Each time I see my grandma she says to me "did you buy me a purse like yours yet?"

Then she tells me "Don't spend a lot of money."

!sigh

This is the one she's fond of that I own:



This is the one that is made by the company that used to have their US license and still makes that style bag:



And I bought her the wallet for good measure:



Shrug.

I wanted to do something different, but, something tells me she doesn't want me to.

Here's the link for the bag and wallet I bought her in case anyone is interested. They also do fantastic luggage -- in fact, that's what they are known for:

http://www.frenchluggage.com/ShopFrenchLuggage.asp

[theworm[$]]

Looks like you did well!
I'm sure she'll like them.
I was going to tell you to get her a cat.

[magenta321]

LOL, she hates cats. Besides, she can't take care of herself, let alone a cat!

[scmrak]

My mother's in her 80s - does that mean I'm old enough to be your dad?

Most folks that age don't really want more "stuff" - they're more in the mood to get rid of stuff than to accumulate more. I almost always get my mom "consumables" instead of "durables" at gift time. Some things I've given her in the past include gift certificates to restaurants so she can take her friends out, a pre-paid pet checkup at her vet, pre-paid oil changes and car washes (before she stopped driving), and a 1-800 number at my house so she wouldn't have to pay long distance charges to call me.

She also likes the gourmet honey I've sent her (three times now).

HTH

-30-

rex