18th birthday gift for son?

[Noweighteen]

What on earth do we get him?
he Seems to have everything and I’m not sure he’d like a gold chain or something like that. Shouldn’t your 18th gift be something you keep forever or am I overthinking it and cold cash is ok?
he is the sort of person that ( I think) needs new trainers but says he only has one pair of feet why does he need more shoes?!

I think you're overthinking the "something he will keep forever".

You can ask him what he wants or just give him cash, or if you can afford it a car 😜

An experience or a little trip away with him would create a nice memory (and then maybe do a photo book afterwards). I don't think young people are so much into a thing you can keep forever for your 18th birthday anymore.

DS is 18 on Monday, he doesn’t want to do anything, just chill. He’s autistic so a party is defo off the table, he wants it low key. He’s asked for a few vinyls and that’s it really, I’m giving him cash too. And he had a new gaming chair when we redecorated his room. To me it doesn’t seem that much for an 18th. I’m in a constant state of panic wondering if it’s enough when he will probs love it either way 🤭 we offered him miller and carter as his birthday meal… he just wants nandos at home 🤭

It’s a while ago, but I got mine a signet ring.

DD2 is 18 on Monday, I’m taking her to Marrakesh at Easter, just me and her (she has her mock A Level exams on/around her birthday) and I’ve made her something to keep - something that means something to the both of us.
DD1 is 21 in a few months and I’ve paid for a hotel abroad for her and her boyfriend and will be giving them a lot of spending money so they don’t have to scrimp while they’re away (they’re both students). I’m also making her something she can keep, that means something to both of us.
Neither want parties, so we just discussed what they would prefer.

When my son turned 18, I bought some lovely cuff links that he can keep for a special occasion but other than that he had money. I also got him an engraved pint glass so he had some things to commemorate his 18th. He’s still using the glass now & will be 20 this year

Our son got a car, because we’d been putting money in a savings account since he was born.
We also got him a nice watch as the “something he could keep forever” He wears an Apple watch day to day but keeps the watch for special occasions.
We’re now having the same dilemma as he’s 21 this month.

We were going to give ds a city break for his 18th - he was clear he'd prefer an experience to 'stuff'. Unfortunately, he turned 18 in the spring of 2020. We still owe him that trip!

What's your budget op? Could you get a nice watch?

we got ours an Apple Mac as they’ll be going off to uni, & a photo book. Personally would save the watch for 21st.

My son is not 18 til next Jan but we’re getting him a car for his 18th. Driving lessons start in two weeks for his 17th

Ask him!

Just ask him, pointless buying something he doesn't want. My daughters had contributions to car buying fund and a sky dive!

We bought all our nephews Swiss army knives for their 18ths. Not ideal for everyone, given there is a blade involved, obviously, but anyway it's something different. There are lots of different types - we mostly got the bartender one.

Cufflinks or a nice watch? If you can see him potentially wearing them. Would be a bit of a waste of it would just sit in a box unworn forever.

A Ferrari. Any colour will do.

We took my son to the jewellery quarter in Birmingham and he chose a modern signet ring. Cost about £500 for the ring.

We bought 100 shares in a promising company for our very close friends' son. Obviously they might have become worthless after a while, but we thought it might pique his interest in investments.
His sister has a completely different character. She got a parachute jump! 😁

I'm giving mine a grand in cash and a memory stick with all their childhood photos on it.

Mine's ASD so got him a giant ipad which has been well used including half way up trees. 🤔

I would ask him but would not worry too much about something to keep forever.

Ds was 18 this week. He got a new phone, a good apple one. I literally don't know enough to remember the name but Dh bought it. His old phone he bought himself second hand so it was ancient. We also bought a beer mug. He was delighted with himself. We had a family dinner and an overnight stay in a hotel. He celebrated with his friends. I'd have preferred a trip or keepsake but that's what he wanted. Extended family and friends gave him cash, he was very happy with that.

DS turns 18 soon: we're going to buy him a sky dive. He has a bungee jump for his 14th and went to watch DH sky dive a couple of years ago - was desperate to go up!

DS is definitely somebody who values experiences over stuff and refuses to upgrade his phone etc, so he'll be very happy with this.

The only other thing he might be interested in/want is money for driving lessons.

Private numberplate if he drives or premium bonds if not

It was years ago but my brother got an item of jewellery (can't remember what) and I got a word processor (a cross between an electric type writer and a computer).
A lot of 18 year olds get driving lessons or money towards a car. When the time comes, we will probably do this with our son.

I like the idea of a watch for my DS but he’ll probably have his own suggestions.