How about some American Express gift cards, they can be used anywhere. We used to do that as a class gift for a teacher. I am originally from AZ, and I havent been to Casa Grande since there wasnt anything there but the ruins! of course that info not so helpful. anyhoo brought back fun memories.

Graywings, your MIL is a very lucky person to have two people care about her this much. If I am reading your post correctly, your MIL has a net worth of 23K, and all of this is in the house. The fact the your husband will inherit the house is not relevant - upon her death, the house will have to be sold to settle her debts, and pay for her final expenses (burial, cremation). Your huband will receive a small amount, at best, or will have to pay all these expenses (up to value of house) if he wants to keep ownership of this house. Your MIL is of sound mind - even if you do assume all of her debts (with house as collateral), what is to prevent her from driving up her debt again? You said she was very irresponsible. A lot of this debt could be consumer debt or unforseen medical expenses. Are you willing to pay a $400 mortgage because MIL bought too much stuff on QVC on her new charge card at 18% interest? I could ramble on and on, but I'll try to wrap it up. I would not do this. You're responsible - she's not. By helping her in this way, you are possibly hurting yourself in ways that you can't know right now. Situations change, often with little advanced warning. I would look for other ways to help her. If your husband insists, I would certainly ask help from a professional who deals with these situations.

I think the best gift we ever gave our parents was an album of memories from friends and relatives, for their 40th anniversary. We wrote to as many as we could think of, asking them to write and send a favorite memory of our parents, and perhaps a picture or two, which I would copy and return. Then I put them all in a pretty album. It's a job, but believe me, not as much as when we did it -- there were no internet or photo scanners then. And it was really fun to do. One of my dad's childhood friends sent me their whole high school yearbook! It's also a nice way to include out of towners. My husband did something similar for my 50th birthday, and I loved it as much as my parents did. He included a photo section from our own albums.

I gave my dad a new, silver pocket knife--he always carries one (a small one), as well as a handkerchief. It's one of those "my dad" things that I've always liked about him; he was always prepared. And just a week before the wedding he'd lamented that his was getting a little dull. And I think one of the decorative panels was cracked or something. So it was something he needed, and it was small and personal; I just got a slightly fancy version of it. My folks didn't pay for the wedding, but they DID a lot. I wanted to say thanks. I don't remember what I got my mom--maybe a beaded evening bag I saw that I realized would match the dress she was going to wear? Sort of "spur of the moment" thing. I didn't have a really formal thing, and i don't think my sis got them presents, so they weren't expecting anything. I just happened to get two very SPECIFIC ideas that were unique to them. I didn't worry about getting a present for my in-laws. I didn't give the presents out at the rehearsal barbecue, co my ILs didn't even know about them. Plus, I was very specifically saying "thanks for ripping up your schedule, your home, etc., for this wedding." My ILs didn't do that much. They flew out for the wedding, and were helpful where they could be, but that was about it. They did throw a big reception back in their home town, but I didn't feel like they were doing much for US; that reception was really for THEM. So while I was gracious, and grateful, it didn't move me the same way my DMom & DDad's organizing and cleaning and prepping did. I'm not a fan of generic sorts of gifts--picture frames, etc. Those do feel like a "shuffling around of the money" thing.