House warming gift ideas?

[ripvanwinkle]

I need some gift ideas. Last Sunday I as invited to my old boss's house to watch a football game. It had been a while since I went to their old place. I didn't know they had bought a 3 bedroom house. The house is about 10yrs old. Nice neighborhood.

They're both in late 40's. No kids. I want to send them a new house gift. Under $50. No wine ideas.

Anyone?

[cronewitch]

I like crystal serving dishes or a vase.  I would look for a crystal fruit bowl for example.

[dannylion]

My default gift for everything is a silver picture frame. Macy's always seems to be having a sale on silver picture frames, so it's nearly always possible to find a very nice gift for a reasonable price.

[giramomma]

What about a nice chips and dip bowl or some such thing? If they watch sports and have people over, that might be useful.

A gadget for the grill perhaps, if they grill?

What about a gift certificate to a local lawn and garden center or nursery? Not as personal, but that might be a nice option.

[bean29]

I like the gift certificate to the local lawn & garden center.

You could send fall mums. You could give bulbs to be planted now-to bloom in spring, but if you do, look for a bulb planter that attaches to a drill and digs the hole to drop the bulb in, and include it with your gift.

[milee]

Unless you know them enough that you know their taste, I'd avoid getting crystal, silver or pretty much anything that they'd be expected to display. Those are kind and thoughtful ideas, but people have a wide variety in taste and style and you don't want to be that guest that gets them something they hate (or that doesn't go with anything) but that they then feel obliged to store and then bring out when you're there. Be kind and get them some sort of really nice edible gift. Even if you flub and get them something they don't like, they can at least use it by serving it to guests or bringing it in to work and you haven't burdened them - no matter how well intentioned - with something they'll have to store, regift, etc. 

Gift cards don't have the risk of not being to their taste, but a lot of people consider them (or money) very tacky, so a little risky unless you know they're not one of those people who thinks gift cards and cash are tacky.

[gooddecisions]

I second a large planter of mums to set out on their front porch. Throw in a pumpkin if you are feeling festive. Paint their family name on it if you want a personal touch.

[tcu2003]

How about a return address label stamp? That is popular in my group, and etsy has some cool ones.

[Anne_in_VA]

Hoe about a plant or flowers?

[Ombud]

Sept 25, 2015 8:27:57 GMT -5 gooddecisions said:

I second a large planter of mums to set out on their front porch. Throw in a pumpkin if you are feeling festive. Paint their family name on it if you want a personal touch.

The best thing about the pumpkin is that it doesn't hang around. Festive for 6 weeks or less then gone. Think of all the bad gifts you've gotten that others spent their $$ on. This won't be one of those

[Happy prose]

I usually do some coffee bean type gift. You could add mugs, a grinder, the chocolate dipped spoons, etc.

[ripvanwinkle]

Good ideas all. I'm leaning towards the coffee bean stuff.