10 things to buy your grandma for her birthday

Buying for your grandma goes the same way most years: you get to the week before, panic, and buy the safe thing she already has three of.

These ten are here because they either get used weekly or they mark something. UK prices, one pick from our own range, and the card sorted at the end.

10 her birthday gifts for your grandma

• 1. A printed, framed photo of the grandchildren. Nothing beats it. Ever. Shop this card
• 2. Fridge magnets, because the fridge door is the family gallery.
• 3. A visit with a date on it, written in the card.
• 4. Something warm: a proper blanket, good slippers, a hot water bottle cover. Shop this card
• 5. The biscuits, tea or sherry she actually likes, in a decent quantity.
• 6. A large-print book or an audiobook subscription if reading is getting harder.
• 7. A plant for the windowsill or garden.
• 8. A photo book of the whole family, with names written in.
• 9. Something with the year on it - a print, a photo book or a framed ticket from the last twelve months.
• 10. Our pick: the set of 10 oil painting fridge magnets - cheap, used daily, and they end up holding up photos of you.

How much to spend

• £15 to £40. Grandparents almost always rate visits and photos above spend.
• Pooling with siblings or friends on one bigger present beats three separate medium ones.
• A £15 thing used weekly beats a £60 thing kept in a cupboard.
• If money is tight, give time with a date attached instead - it isn't a lesser gift.

What to avoid

• Anything needing new technology to enjoy.
• Clutter she'll feel obliged to display.
• Anything that's really a hint.
• Gift sets you'd be embarrassed to receive.

Getting the timing right

• Order a week ahead so the card and gift arrive in one parcel.
• If you've missed it, send a belated card and say so plainly - it lands better than a silent late gift.
• Put next year's date in your phone now, with a reminder two weeks before.

Don't forget the perfect card

• The gift gets opened in a minute. The card sits on the shelf for weeks and in a drawer for years.
• Write something only you could write about your grandma - one specific thing from this year.
• Sign it properly. A name and a real sentence beats 'love from all of us'.
• Every card we make is designed in house and printed in the UK, and it posts in the same parcel as the gift.

Shop birthday cards

How to write it so it lands

• Specific beats expensive - the best gift is the one only you would think of.
• Order the card with the gift so they arrive together.
• Write the card before you wrap, while you still have something to say.

Where to shop next

• Our pick: Set of 10 random oil painting fridge magnets
• Shop birthday cards
• Shop all cards
• Posters and prints
• 10 things to buy your grandma for Christmas
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• Birthday badges & party pins
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Party bag ideas for adults
• How much helium do you need for balloons?
• Birthday pin badges
• All guides

Frequently asked questions

What should I buy your grandma for her birthday?

Something she uses weekly or something with a date attached - a print for a wall, the good version of an everyday item, or an outing already booked. All three beat a gift set bought in a hurry.

How much should I spend on your grandma?

£15 to £40. Grandparents almost always rate visits and photos above spend.

What should I write in the card?

One specific thing from the last year, then how you actually feel about it. That single line is remembered long after the present has been put away.