What do you buy for boring people?

Digital photo frame with pre-loaded photos?

Unfortunately Christmas ornaments aren't going to work for this person, as the two people he's trying to buy for are his parents and they wouldn't appreciate it.  In this case, its not just the thought, but the intent as well 

If this is who I think it is, how about a picture of their son? 

Alrighty, I'll offer one other suggestion:

I once got my mother-in-law a hamper of all those cooking things that she wouldn't buy her own self... like fancy salts, slightly expensive olive oil, balsamic vinegar, white truffle oil.... mini-adventures...

I've since peered into the cabinets and most of it was used. A big hit was the Hawaiian pink volcanic salt. Another friend who I bought it for now swears by that stuff on her grilled food...

Best of luck!

Thanks, all your ideas are going down a treat!! 

I've since peered into the cabinets and most of it was used. A big hit was the Hawaiian pink volcanic salt. Another friend who I bought it for now swears by that stuff on her grilled food...

I need to get this for my MIL.    Could you link to what you referring to online?  This was the closest I could find but I'm having trouble finding a place in the UK that sells it.

Rue, you're right. The link you found is it. I cannot seem to find the Hawaiian red salt for sale online in the UK. But, I have seen it recently in the gourmet food shops around Notting Hill area in London. I had thought about it then...

Anyway, there are tons of fancy salts to buy for people that they would never get for themselves... Heck, I have never bought the red salt for myself! And, I think I've purchased it several times now for gifts...

I love these ideas! In fact, I may do the gourmet foods one for my dad. He LOVES to cook and has most every tool (I've given him BBQ tools before). But, he loves watching Food Network and getting recipes from there. Maybe I could find some cool recipe or two and if it involves exotic ingredients, get them for him!

Anyway, there are tons of fancy salts to buy for people that they would never get for themselves... Heck, I have never bought the red salt for myself! And, I think I've purchased it several times now for gifts...

TK Maxx, Ross and TJ maxx (if your in the US) have a gourmet food section and sell gift baskets with salts, oils, coffee, and other food and cooking item.

Thanks, rutabega.  I just found loads of varieties on amazon.com, so this might be a "bring back from America" thing rather than a Christmas present.  They even sell a 2.2 lb package, though that might not quite be suitable for a gift.  

And gottagettolondon, finding a recipe and getting the special ingredients needed for it is a great idea. I might borrow that one too.  

  They even sell a 2.2 lb package, though that might not quite be suitable for a gift. 

You know, you could always get the jumbo one to bring back, then use it for several gifts by putting it in pretty/giftable containers!

gottagotolondon, cool idea about the recipe!

TK Maxx, Ross and TJ maxx (if your in the US) have a gourmet food section and sell gift baskets with salts, oils, coffee, and other food and cooking item.

TK Maxx did have a great selection of fairly inexpensive cookbooks too... we actually got my SIL a "world" cookbook and a tegine... great gift that looks like you spent a lot for about £15.

For the guy... there are bird watching books out there that also have sounds along with them.  At least in the US I know there's a really nice Audobon version of it.


And may I also suggest, Oxfam?  They have gifts where you buy uniforms for a school, etc.  Give a gift that gives....

gottagotolondon, cool idea about the recipe!

Thanks!

Sadly, I see a bit of myself in Mr. and Mrs. Boring!  I like things in their place and hate, hate, hate knick-knacks.  I love the idea of gourmet food stuff like the fancy salt, nice olive oil, etc--it's probably stuff they wouldn't buy for themselves, but will enjoy if given to them, so it's perfect.  I also kind of like the magazine subscription idea--or you could sort of combine the two by making up a basket of foodstuffs and sticking in a few magazines based around their (few and boring!) interests.

Sadly, I see a bit of myself in Mr. and Mrs. Boring! 

Oh Andee you're so interesting and are so far from being boring!!  Anyone who moves from Philly to Leeds, loves Ireland and plays the harp is definitely not boring!

*Sorry, sorry, sorry  I wasn't suggesting that all people who like things in their place are boring-hardly!-  just that these particular people are because they have very little interests besides cleaning their house

JK- I love the Oxfam stuff, I love to buy gifts like that. I'll have to remember Oxfam in my usual search for gifts like that 

The magazine idea has definitely gone down a treat as well as the outdoor books.  So I guess its in his hands. Thanks for all your help!!!