Special presents for 18th for a girl who doesn’t like grand gestures

[Pinkbox]

DD is coming up to 18 and various family members are looking for advice/ideas as they would like to get her something special but not waste money on an unwanted gift.

DD says she can’t think of anything she has her heart set on or would like as a keepsake. She rejects ideas about jewellery as she likes to get hers from charity shops (ditto clothes). Not interested in designer labels.

We have got her tickets to a show she’s desperate to see and will also get her something to keep from us; however advising the older generations who could really do with some guidance is becoming quite onerous. Obviously I am grateful for their interest and understand their wish to get it right.

Thinking back to my own 18th last century, people bought me jewellery, an ornament, special sets of books.

Any advice gratefully received! I would say budgets range from £50-£100 for the givers.

Thanks for all the ideas.

She has another year left at school before Uni so won’t be thinking of any of that yet.

I think maybe I’m stuck in the past a bit with my focus on a keepsake, hence not having thought of trips etc (although we’ve already got the theatre tickets in that category).

I’ve raised a twin, ie if I suggest a nice watch she’ll say she has a perfectly functioning one already!

Perfume is a thought but she’d have to go herself so no surprise possible there.

This thread will certainly help!

I came to suggest Premium Bonds too! This is what we do as special gifts!

I was also going to say Premium Bonds or depending on number of relatives a NS&I Bond

or if a reader a clothbound book from Folio Society if they do her favourite book

Depwnding on your daughters likes and whether they are happy to all club together a balloon flight

a Mason and Pearson hairbrush

Why not have a special day shopping? Have fun with some perfume and handbags for example.

Money. Anything from £18 to £180 to £1800 or more…

For his 18th I gave ds an expander file for all his important documents - passport, birth certificate, exam certificates, vaccination and other medical records, bank statement etc. Back then he also had the statement for his Child Trust Fund, plus a savings account passbook Id started years before, there wasn’t vast amounts in there but it was something. I filed them all away the night before and gave him the folder. It wasn’t the only thing he got - I also took him to see a football match - but to me it was the most meaningful. Passage to adulthood.

Someone on here recommended the folio society for beautiful books. Maybe a special edition of a favourite book.

I cant really remember what I got for my 18th. I know l had a lot of clothes, the one item I do remember is a lovely skirt from mango, an a-line, lined cotton one which I still have now.

I did get one of those plastic keys in a fancy box for my 21st (along with a laptop which was really appreciated!) which just baffled me. Are those still made and bought?

@Pinkbox I also have a-very- nearly-18 year old who really doesn’t want or need anything. He’s pretty quiet and has what he needs for his hobbies (guitars, archery bow). Clothes are an inconvenient truth, and he’s lost every watch he’s ever had (several). I gave him a get-out clause of celebrating 21 instead (which is when his sister will be 18, their birthdays are close), but I still might buy him the Lego Tin Tin rocket.

Can you buy Premium bonds for adults?

You can make a cute birthday video for her with her photos from childhood, pre-school, middle and high school, photos with friends, photos from trips and vacations, etc. Here are some other ideas too but just a video with pictures from every year of her life and a song she likes would be a very nice combo. Granted, it's not actually a gift to unwrap but could be a great addition to one. She might want to rewatch it years later too, if she's sentimental that will work wonders!

If perfume is an idea, what about a voucher to one of those places that you create your own personal scent.

Decent luggage

I made my DD a photo book for her 18th from baby to adult. She loved it. Is she going to uni? Any useful things she’ll need?

Edited - sorry just read another year at school

If a keepsake is your thing, have a look at what the Royal Mint are doing? There's some spice girls stuff amongst the mor trad stuff.

https://www.royalmint.com/offers/?HideOutOfStock=true

All budgets catered for. Could be good for one gift?

Get her an IOU for a plane ticket anywhere

This actually a great idea, a leather type overnight or weekend bag and then a small wheelie suitcase
Then put the IOU inside

Leather is a bit heavy though.
Luggage the right size for budget airlines maybe?

not for her 18th, but the luggage we got for our DD which she uses a lot are rucksacks of various types including enormous DofE type one for camping trips and one of the sort that are like a soft zipped suitcase but with back straps.

Tripp cases are very good for airline sizing and what all the “young folk” I’ve bought for have requested - the coloured hard shell type, wouldn’t be my first choice but then I’m not a teenager!

Is it just me or is fancy luggage a strange gift for an 18 year old?
How much travelling do 18 year olds do?
(unless it's the backpacking type thing - then surely you'd want a backpack).

Is a Backpack not luggage?

Many 18 year olds ttay a lot, to festivals, mini breaks, weekend back home from university etc.

But people are suggesting "fancy" luggage.
Surely you wouldn't want fancy (ie expensive) for going to festivals or travelling around Europe by train?
To be honest if someone had given me luggage for my 18th I would have been most baffled 😂
Do 18 year olds do mini breaks much?
I couldn't afford to have done that at 18 (and I had a full time job after I had left school).

Yes lots do mini breaks, £29 on easyjet to Krakow etc.

The suggestions were for good quality and decent, not fancy.

Sorry "fancy" is my word for decent quality 😂
£29 for a flight....plus she'd need more accommodation and food?
I certainly wouldn't have been able to afford that at 18.
Oh well..... different lives and all that.

Quite a lot if they’re back n forth to uni, most I know have a summer holidays with friends or their boyfriend /
girlfriend. The ones I’ve bought hand luggage cases for as presents were younger but went away on their own with school and clubs.

Perhaps just abandon the idea of needing it to be a keepsake present- in reality I doubt most people actually keep everything they get at 18 for the rest of their lives - i certainly haven't. The only thing ive definitely kept from my 18th was a scrapbook type thing my mum put together with photos, old art, ticket stubs, messages/memories from friends and family etc and that cost nothing (apart from time!)

Id just get them to give her money and maybe a smaller item if they want to do something thoughtful - if shes into reading, a copy of their favourite book or if travelling recommendation of the best place theyve ever visited so she can travel there herself, perhaps on a photo or print of the place. You could buy one of those map of the world scratch off maps.

I can see why it's difficult as she knows what she likes and doesn't like - always a good attribute to possess though!

How about something 'sentimental'?

You could get a photo album, ask each giver to write something or add a photo alongside a gift card which she can then buy what she likes - or use when she goes to University?

Or a gift card to use on a short break with a friend?

Driving lessons?

Or an experience day of something she's into?

I hope you update which what she chooses.

Practical useful gifts for uni - tool kit. towel, tea pot and cups etc.
A pencil portrait of her beautiful face or photos including family or a painting of her favourite beach.
Driving lessons.
Movie tickets.
Vietnamese cooking lesson.
Electric blanket or poncho.
New bike.