To ask for ideas - friend's 30th birthday

[angeltattoo]

It's my BF's 30th and she has asked for Euros as she is going away, which I will get her, but I also wanted to get her something else so that she also gets something personal/thoughtful.

I was thinking 30 things and so far have a photo album of our friendship until now, a CD with some memorable songs to remind her of holidays/parties/concerts etc BUT do was wondering if anyone had any suggestions/ideas that would work?

I'm heading into town today to shop so suggestions much appreciated!

Were you school friends? could you find some things that were "in" when you were there maybe? I was a child of the 80s and would try for one of those plastic shopping bags or some jelly sandals that everyone wore, for example. Maybe a Power Ranger or something? what were you into "in your yoof"

I would suggest lots of little inexpensive items. At Christmas, my friend and I try to get as many little presents that add up to about £15 for each other. We get things like earrings, hand lotion, fridge magnets, note pads, facial masks, bookmarks etc. I always try to find some quirky little things. We wrap each individual items. And it is great unwrapping all the items.

I did the 30 things for my bf's 30th, she loved it :) As mumof4 said, lots of little inexpensive things are the way forward - a handful of her favourite smellies in travel sizes, tiny scented tealights, my friend loves ducks so a miniature rubber duck for the bath, a duck-shaped bathroom radio, costume jewellery, a pretty scarf, socks, book of cocktail recipes etc....make sure you scour all the shops as I found that the best little bits and bobs would turn up in unexpected places!

And definitely wrap them all individually and put them in a big sparkly box full of tissue paper and confetti tied with a massive ribbon not obsesed with packaging at all, oh no :o

I think what you've already got sounds nice then maybe a keepsake eg. silver jewellery - earrings, bracelet, pendant or necklace. Or a charm if she has a charm bracelet.
It's what my friends & i usually do for birthdays - a couple of fun presents or presents that go with our particular interests / hobbies; & a pretty keepsake type present.

Sterling Silver jewellery can cost from £5 up to £100s depending on budget... so you can try local jewellers, Claire's Accessories, Essential, department stores, Argos, Debenhams, Accessorize, local gift shops etc.
A friend recently bought herself a heavy hammered silver bangle for £48 from Essential; & i bought a blueish coloured heart shaped shell pendant set in sterling silver for a friend (£12.99)... equally nice but huge difference in price depends what you buy.
I like to buy items that are plain silver or set with coloured glass / shell / stones depending on the person's taste. You don't need to spend much to get a pretty pair of earrings that will last for ever basically.
Silver can be worn with white gold & platinum jewellery (but it's a lot cheaper); & you can get gold-plated silver jewellery too.

I suggested Claire's / Argos because OP may not have a huge budget.

But i personally go to Essential if i can afford it because the sterling silver jewellery is lovely & definitely not 'tat', even the pieces that you can buy for approx £12 are good quality; my sterling silver jewellery has lasted for years.

If OP's budget is bigger then local jewellers & concessions in dept stores eg Thomas Sabo, Links of London are good.

My friends & i can only afford max £25 (on a good month) for 1 person's present's; but it's possible to get good quality jewellery for that price; same with collectibles eg. china ornaments that some people like.

Also when i said jewelley from Claire's - basically they have a section of sterling silver earrings that are very pretty, some of them are swarovski crystal stud earrings that i buy to wear to work.
No-one ever guesses they are from Claire's.

Does anyone else find it odd that the BF has asked the OP for cash as a birthday present? I would never, ever do this. It's weird and rude for an adult to say to another adult "I'd rather have the money" when asked what birthday present they would like.

Buy her a book on manners, OP...

Yes, i did mean spending majority of money on one item of jewellery; it's what me & friends usually do.
Some of my friends are lucky & get given very expensive jewellery by husbands / family. So i try to buy something for their home for example instead.

Eg i like cats so from one friend i might get a cat mug with a more expensive pair of earrings.
Last year i got unusual sterling silver dangly earrings with delicate hand painted pale blue glass hearts from one friend; & i wear them a lot. Because they are a lovely colour & just right for me.

They won't have cost more than £20, were thoughtfully chosen & so worth it.

Thanks everyone.

I have managed to get a couple of nice face and hair products in minature for her trip' as someone said, they are what she uses anyway, I bought her a lottery ticket and a cupcake and wrapped them all individually.

She only wears her current jewellery (wedding and engagement rings and watch, her husband bought her a tiffany bracelet) otherwise a charm would have been lovely for her to keep.

Oh, and I got her some pants! I didn't quite get to 30 items as I didn't want to get her anything she wouldn't use.

Making the photo album, with captions, was the most fun bit.

I just wanted something with a bit more effort on my part than just some euros for a bottle of prosecco' hope she likes them!

Wellwisher, she would have asked for euros for a bottle of wine when she's away to keep costs down for me as she wouldn't have wanted me to spend too much.

We do that quite often, e.g. Have given dollars as gifts if they were going America etc with a 'have breakfast on us while you're away' note.

I wasn't offended (although I might be if we didn't have that kind of friendship!)