Your aunt has known you since you were in nappies, and that works in your favour: you have memories and a closeness that nobody else has. Even so, searching for “gifts for my aunt” can easily leave you stuck, because you often only see her at family celebrations and don’t know what she needs. Here are 15 ideas depending on what she’s like, what tends to work at each age and how to choose original gifts for your aunt for her birthday or at Christmas.
- How to get it right
- 15 original ideas
- By age
- Birthday and Christmas
- On a small budget
- Frequently asked questions
How to choose the right gifts for my aunt
With an aunt you don’t see very often, information is what’s in shortest supply. Three steps solve almost everything:
- Ask your mum or dad. She’s their sister or sister-in-law: they know what she’s mentioned recently, what she’s already bought and what she’d be excited about.
- Notice what takes up her time. Her social media, her home and her conversations give you clues: the vegetable patch, trips with friends, the choir, the grandchildren, the dog.
- Draw on your shared history. That summer in the village, the recipe she used to make when you went round to hers, the photo from your first communion. A shared memory is the hardest thing to copy.
15 original gifts for my aunt
Built around memories
- An album of old family photos, with dates and little notes. Ask your parents for the photos and scan them.
- A family recipe book in a nice notebook, with her recipes and your grandmother’s.
- A photo of the two of you from when you were little, nicely framed and with the date on the back.
- A digital photo frame already loaded with photos and set up by you, so she only has to plug it in.
- A real letter, handwritten, with what you remember about her and what you’re grateful to her for.
For her home and her free time
- A pretty teapot with a selection of teas, or a moka pot if she prefers coffee.
- An orchid or a houseplant in a nice pot.
- A knitted cushion or blanket in the colours of her living room.
- A book by her favourite author with a dedication from you on the first page.
- If she has a dog or cat, a reusable pet hair roller: it doesn’t need batteries or refills and it keeps the hair in its compartment. It’s a practical little extra to go with another gift.
For her hobbies and outings
- Tickets for the theatre or a concert, so you can go together.
- A ceramics, watercolour or cooking workshop, ideally one you sign up for with her.
- A gardening kit with gloves, secateurs and some seasonal seeds.
- A subscription to a magazine about what she’s passionate about.
- A meal at her usual restaurant, organised and paid for by you.
Gifts for my aunt by age
Age doesn’t decide everything, but it helps you rule things out:
| Her stage of life | What tends to work |
|---|---|
| 40 to 50 years old | A workshop, an outing or something for her home |
| Around 60 years old | An experience or a family album |
| 70 or over | Photos, a digital frame and time with you |
| Already has everything | Memories and outings, not objects |
If you want to narrow it down further, we have a guide to gifts for a 60-year-old woman and another to gifts for women who have everything.
Gifts for my aunt on her birthday and at Christmas
On her birthday the spotlight is all hers, so it’s the time for something personal: the album, the letter or the outing together. And if it’s a milestone birthday, you could suggest a joint gift to your cousins and siblings, with videos or messages from the whole family.
At Christmas there are more gifts at once and more eyes on them, so something simple to enjoy over the season works better: a plant, a good tea or a book.
Personalised gifts for my aunt on a small budget
Personal gifts cost more in time than in money:
- An old photo and a simple frame. The value is in the photo.
- Something homemade, such as biscuits or jam, in a jar with its own label.
- A voucher written by you: an afternoon of help with her mobile or a meal you cook for her.
- Careful wrapping. Here are some ideas for wrapping a gift creatively.
Frequently asked questions
What should I get my aunt for her birthday?
Something only you can give her: a photo album, a handwritten letter or a meal together. If you’d prefer an object, choose one linked to her hobby and add a few lines.
What should I get my aunt for Christmas?
Something simple to enjoy over the season, such as a plant, a teapot with a few teas or a book. Ask your parents first so you don’t end up with the same gift as someone else.
What should I get my 60-year-old aunt?
Experiences work well, such as tickets or a workshop, as do gifts that bring back memories, such as a family album. By that age she’s usually got her home set up, so it’s best not to add objects just for the sake of it.
How much should I spend on a gift for an aunt?
Whatever you’re comfortable with and similar to what your family usually spends. An aunt tends to value the thought and the time more than the price.
In the end, the best gifts for your aunt are the ones that remind her she still matters to you. If you’re looking for something useful for her home or her pet, take a look around the Velia Select shop.