21st birthday present for my DD. Help!

[ApolloandDaphne]

DD is 21 just before Christmas. We won't see her ion the day as she is at uni so we will send her a card and maybe transfer her some money to go out for a drink with friends.She is also getting money to have a party in January.

We are having a family party on Christmas Eve when she is home as everyone is coming to us then for Christmas anyway. Will it seem odd that we don't actually give her a gift? I think I want to give her something but what? She is fussy about jewellery and clothes so I wouldn't buy that. Her DS is buying her a bag and another relative is doing her a photo book of her life.

What could I get her as a memento of the occasion that isn't tacky or lame? She is one cool but quirky young lady!

What a lovely mum you are! I was 21 a long time ago!! However my birthday is just after Christmas and I had no idea what I wanted, was into grunge at the time, but wanted something timeless - very confusing for DPs. However the compromise was pretty much what you have described. I got £50.00 to go out with friends and then as and when I made my mind up DPs came up trumps. I was fine with it, got gifts from family and friends which was great but eventually DPs at my request bought me a string of pearls - they were aghast that someone like me would want something like that, however over 20 years later, I always have occasion appropriate jewellery for weddings and funerals and although they are not the height of fashion they are perfect to me! hope she has a fab birthday!!

Plumstone your pearls sound lovely. I know DD likes classic jewellery but she has a Tiffany key which she got for another birthday so I am not doing that. I also know some family friends have bought her vouchers for a jewellers she likes.

Are champagne glasses a strange gift for a 21yo? She does like a glass of fizz. Or something gin related?

I gave a relative a diamond and some gold as a christening present so when she is older she can have something made.

Could you do something like that? You can get a diamond for about £200. Obviously it depends on how much you are planning to spend.

Other gemstones can be as low as £30, a stone and a promise to have it set in a piece of jewelry in the new year.

Def some sort of jewellery to keep even if its only on special occasions or nights out. I don't wear jewellery every day.

My parents got me a bracelet and ring. And I bought a necklace from a different range with the money I was given from other people.

Over the next couple of years I completed both sets, ring bracelet and necklace. 20 years on those are pretty much the only jewellery I own and love them.

Thank you for those suggestions but I am not buying her jewellery. I got her a bracelet for her 18th. It has never been worn. She would accept some very plain earrings but only on the basis that she loses them constantly so would only want cheap ones.

I don't think I want to spend more than £50 as she is getting quite a lot of money for her party.

DD was 21 a couple of weeks ago and we are waiting until she's home from university to choose the piece of jewellery she wants. I sent two boxes: one with a big 2 and 1 in blown up balloons; the other with items I'd asked her for on a list. She's very practical. Item one was a Fuji film, item two was "toothpaste is always useful and appreciated ", item three was hair bobbles and item four was socks!

Might not be her thing but my mum paid for me to have a tattoo. I had a flower on my ankle with 21 petals x

If she wanted a tattoo I would pay for it but I don't think she does.

The sending her a gift box of practical stuff on her birthday is a good idea. Socks and hair bobbles would go down well with DD too! Add body wash and box of after eights and she would be delighted.