Thank you present for 18 year old

[Amillionyearsago]

We have a lovely local teenager who does some regular babysitting for us, picking up DD and walking her home from school two nights a week, on the days we are wfh. Today is her last day as her exams are starting soon and she’ll be off to university in the autumn.

I’d be really grateful if I could pick the brains of parents of teenagers - what would be a nice thank you/goodbye present? It was so long ago that I was an 18 year old! An Oliver Bonas voucher, maybe - do 18 year olds even shop there? Some nice wine glasses to take to university? All ideas very gratefully received!

Our 18 year olds really didn’t enjoy wine. They would very much have appreciated a supermarket shopping voucher, though, once they were at university.

Extra cash in a thank you card.

I'd go for a nice mug or two (less fragile than glass), maybe reflecting some interest of hers eg favourite dog breed or whatever.

Cash 🙂

I would give cash in a card (though if you were able to pay BACS into her account that would probably be even better for her). Thinking it's a large amount as you would want to be 'paying' her so better she chooses what she spends it on.

Cash always goes down really well - if you want to give a little something as well, chocolate is usually popular.

If not, a love to shop gift card as she can chose from a number of shops to spend it.

Thanks very much. We’ve obviously been paying her for the babysitting every week so I was wondering whether I should give her something a bit more tangible - but it sounds as though cash is still the preferred option…

Definitely cash. She can use it to help buy stuff for uni.

Definitely cash or a supermarket voucher eg Asda, that she can keep for emergencies. When our sons excellent GCSE Science tutor went to Uni we gave her £100 extra cash into her bank account and a £100 Asda voucher to keep for emergencies. She was very pleased with that.

I have never heard of Oliver Bonas. I wouldn't get that - if I was going to get a voucher I'd get one of those multi restaurant one's with common chains. Otherwise, just cash.

Just asked DD. She said cash but if the giver would prefer a "gift" then a gift card for IKEA or Tesco or somewhere to help with uni living costs or a book token if they wanted an "actual wrapped up" then some nice mugs or glasses or a throw for her room. But they were low down the list as she doesn't yet know what she needs (and is assuming I will buy that kind of stuff for her!).

If you know where she is going how about a gift card for a local restaurant or cafe? DD would love that, thinking about it

Those are the great ideas - thank you!

Those “are great ideas”, sorry.