21 year old birthday gift ideas

[21ideas]

My ds turns 21 this year and I am trying to think of a gift that is along the lines of the jewellery keepsake I got his sister at the same age.

Except he doesn’t wear jewellery so that rules that out.

I got him a watch for his 18th, that has remained in his bedside cabinet ever since.

He’s going to the States for his actual birthday - gift from other family members so maybe something for travelling?

Asking him gets the response - I don’t need anything - thank you. Which is true - but I can’t not give him anything for his 21st.

Any suggestions welcome - he’s sporty, has a car, I gave him cash for investing for his 20th as couldn’t think what to get him then.

Budget around £500 but not set it’s more trying to think of a memorable keepsake even if something that will be used to create memories if that makes sense rather than necessarily being an item to sit in the bedside cabinet, so that may only cost £20 and that’s fine neither of us are about the £££.

A good camera, expensive belt/wallet/sunglasses ect, cologne

@yestothat thank you for posting - may sound so obvious but your mention of sunglasses is exactly the cue I needed he’s a glasses wearer I can get him to choose a pair of glasses and/or sunglasses.

Sometimes it’s literally staring you in the face!

Private number plate

A really good weekend / travel bag.

I think that's the sort of thing you don't want to pay decent money on yourself but will be used time and time again for many years.

This is a great shout. Decent luggage can last a long time. And it can feel spendy if you only realise you need once you've booked a trip!

I'm here for ideas because I bought my ds a gold signet type ring for his 18th and his 21st is coming up.

I think I'm going to go luggage thanks to this thread.

Luggage is a good shout - and if he hadn’t had it for his gap year I would have taken it for the trip.

A good camera sounds like a great idea if he's into photography, or could be a good camera bag if he already has a camera, or a good photo editing program (here is a list of some beginner-friendly ones). If he uses his phone to take pictures, you can get him a lens for phone camera.
Are there any gigs or festivals held at the time when he would be in the US? You can get him a ticket to see his favorite band or cash so he could get a ticket to something.
Portable chargers are lifesavers for travellers too, getting him a good one might be a great idea

I bought my nieces and nephews Rayban sunglasses.

A holiday

A ticket to a concert/festival/theatre/comedy

Ticket to sporting event

Expensive/ special cologne like creed
tickets to a gig
tickets to a comedy show
Halfords gift card to spend on his car
adult Lego set
leather wallet
apple air pods/ headphones in general