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Original poster

18th birthday present for son who doesn’t want anything

107 replies

Gudspede · 27/03/2025 07:05

Not into sport
Doesn’t want driving lessons
Doesn’t want gadgets (iwatch/buds etc)
Already had a new laptop
Not really into clothes but concedes that a few new jeans / sweatshirts would be good
Not into jewellery or skincare (ie face masks and serums - he does wash, before anyone says euww)
Doesn’t use Amazon- I buy his vouchers off him whenever he is given them by relatives.

He will be cross if I spend money on him for the sake of it, but, and I know it’s his choice, he won’t have anything to unwrap on his birthday unless you lovely lot can think of anything creative.

Help, please, Mumsnet.

OP posts:
BusyEvenForBee · 27/03/2025 08:20

We were in the same boat. DS did not ask for anything. Wanted to give him something memorable. Settled on a watch. Gold is also a great idea. You can probably get 2007 coin.

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 27/03/2025 08:21

What’s the budget here. I’d be doing a European mini break if it were me.

EmmaOvary · 27/03/2025 08:21

I find your son’s take refreshing. We’re all buying too much ‘stuff.’ Take him for a nice meal or day out and put what you want to spend into an ISA for him.

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General shopping
Flyboyblue · 27/03/2025 08:23

Cash.

Original poster
Gudspede · 27/03/2025 08:25

WhatNoRaisins · 27/03/2025 08:20

What about a decent meal out, that costs a lot of money these days. I think it's good not to buy stuff just for the sake of buying stuff.

I did book a table at a lively restaurant but he made me cancel it!

Gold is an ingenious idea. I think the value will keep increasing given the state of the world today.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gudspede · 27/03/2025 08:25

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 27/03/2025 08:21

What’s the budget here. I’d be doing a European mini break if it were me.

Sadly can’t afford it!

OP posts:
Happyinarcon · 27/03/2025 08:29

I’m thinking of getting myself a meditation headset that monitors your brain waves and plays various music to relax you. No idea if it’s a scam or not but it seems like a good idea. I also bought one of my brothers a rechargeable travel mug with a heater thing inside it to keep coffee warm on long journeys.

MayaPinion · 27/03/2025 08:29

Don’t get him stuff for the sake of it. Give him money and a couple of packets of his favourite sweets and crisps. Offer to take him to the pub for his first official pint. If he’s going to uni you’ll be spending a fortune on him in a few months anyway!

Cynic17 · 27/03/2025 08:32

Make an investment for him, so that when he wants to travel, or needs a rental deposit, he has some funds to start him off.
He's 18 - he doesn't need or want anything to "unwrap". The best gift is to actually listen to what he is saying.

fluffbreeder · 27/03/2025 08:32

Sounds like he’s getting loads, so I’d just stop there and spend time with him.

Puppupandaway · 27/03/2025 08:42

My DS is awkward to buy for. Last year for his 18th we focused on giving him keepsakes. So a personalised glass plaque, a cushion with a verse on about being loved for 18 years, a new mug with the days he’s been alive on. We also went to crazy golf at the Bullring. Plus a family meal out, with cake. His main present though was an upgraded phone ready for starting uni and travelling.

Coffeeishot · 27/03/2025 08:44

Gudspede · 27/03/2025 07:34

Thanks for your suggestions.

He already has an ISA so I’ll put some money into that. DH is taking him clothes shopping and will get him a backpack. He is off to uni this Autumn so yes, he will need a lot of stuff then.

He is having a party at home with a few friends in his birthday (Easter hols). We are also going to London to get him a new passport (dual citizenship) so we’ll meet his older sister and go to one of the Mr Foggs bars for a cocktail.

Has anyone used any of the personalisation sites? The hip flask suggestion has given me an idea for a personalised bottle of wine or something.

After reading this he is getting things for his birthday isn't he? I don't know why you are worried about getting him more, the lad is telling you he doesn't want anything because he has everything, I really think you have to calm down and let him enjoy what he is getting which sounds a great birthday.

mumonthehill · 27/03/2025 08:46

A personalised swiss penknife is a good one and useful if going to uni. His favourite treats and a nice bottle of alcohol. We did stocking type bits and then cash.

DenholmElliot11 · 27/03/2025 08:47

TwinklyRoseTurtle · 27/03/2025 07:17

Cash/ investments/holiday, I would probably go for a good amount of cash considering it’s his 18th birthday

You could give him 18 £10 notes!

jellycat · 27/03/2025 08:49

We got ours to open LISAs and gave them some money to put into them, with a stern talk about not putting all their savings into the account because if they don’t use it to buy a house or as savings for retirement and want to access it for something else then they will lose some of the money due to the penalty on withdrawal.

We went out for a decent meal with some extended family members and got them some nice bits too, but nothing very expensive because they didn’t want anything much.

Needmorelego · 27/03/2025 08:49

A tenners worth of his favourite snacks and what's left over out of how much you were going to spend into his bank account.
Seriously - don't buy something for the sake of buying something.

DappledThings · 27/03/2025 08:50

Does he actually want anything? I hated getting any presents by about 13 although it took me decades before I felt empowered enough to properly put my foot down and refuse them. Tried to drop hints about how much I hated them and definitely by 18 I was dreading unwrapping anything. If wanting him to have something to unwrap is only your issue don't push it on him if he really doesn't want anything.

Shinyandnew1 · 27/03/2025 08:54

So a personalised glass plaque, a cushion with a verse on about being loved for 18 years, a new mug with the days he’s been alive on.

My 18 year old really wouldn't have appreciated this! You're already doing clothes, a backpack, a passport, a party and a meal out, so I'd get him the some premium bonds if you to do something else, and be done with it!

Starlight1984 · 27/03/2025 08:59

Cinema / theatre voucher (we buy Everyman cinema tickets when we're stuck for ideas!)
Voucher for a nice restaurant if he has a girlfriend?
Trip to London or another European city with you / a friend / girlfriend

Also, I have bought young male relatives tickets for things like Crystal Maze, Pacman Live, Axe Throwing but not sure where you live?

Original poster
Gudspede · 27/03/2025 08:59

Premium Bonds are low risk, aren’t they? Might have a look at those. Thank you!

OP posts:
Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 27/03/2025 09:01

mumonthehill · 27/03/2025 08:46

A personalised swiss penknife is a good one and useful if going to uni. His favourite treats and a nice bottle of alcohol. We did stocking type bits and then cash.

I'm afraid I wouldn't recommend any knife for an 18 year old at all.
Nothing to do with OP's son (who sounds lovely), more to do with risks related to being observed carryng a knife.

Alarae · 27/03/2025 09:02

Depending on budget and if he actually likes drinking at all, could you get a bottle of whisky/wine from the year he was born to open and have a toast?

LivingLaVidaBabyShower · 27/03/2025 09:02

Don’t bother with the hip flask.

Do something nice before or after cocktails in London either a show or experience event like
hijingo bingo
f1 drive
crystal maze experience

or go somewhere like flight club or sixes

etc

theleafandnotthetree · 27/03/2025 09:02

My son has been asking for cash for a few years now but every occasion my ex-husband instead buys him designer gear that isn't even his taste. Abd of course my son feels he would sound like a spoilt asshole if he raises it. My take on it from my own experience with his Dad is that even if he is a very generous present giver - and he is - the gifts are often all about him, a demonstration of his largesse or good taste or whatever. I think there is a hint of that in some of the responses here. People sometimes give gifts that will be memorable to them or make them feel thoughtful, etc. Giving cash does feel a bit cold FOR ME but it's what my son wants so he can use it for things that make sense or are meaningful TO HIM (bringing his girlfriend out to dinner, going to a festival, etc)

NewsdeskJC · 27/03/2025 09:13

Proof sovereign from his year of birth? Nice mark of his coming of age, can be kept against hard times, takes up little space/can be put into jewellery/handed down.