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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy a decent ballpoint pen for thirty y.o. Daughter

162 replies

Maykid · 11/12/2019 08:57

I was thinking of buy my 30 year old daughter a nice ballpoint pen for Christmas, my OH says youngsters don’t use them these days. Is he right? Don’t want to waste my money.

OP posts:
Itsnotalwaysme · 11/12/2019 14:48

I'm 28 and love a good pen. I got one with my name on it from Edinburgh woolen mill a few years ago and it was delightful Grin

icannotremember · 11/12/2019 14:49

I would love that. I did love it when my mum bought me a lovely Parker pen a few years back but one of the bastard doctors I work with borrowed it and it never came back.

katy1213 · 11/12/2019 14:53

I'd love a nice fountain pen but they cost a fortune and I'm scared I'd lose it. A rollerball would be better than a ballpoint.

Longdistance · 11/12/2019 14:57

I’ve got the Swarovski Crystal pen and was bought this as a gift for a new job I got. I was in my 30’s at the time. I still love it to this day.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 11/12/2019 15:12

I saw a notebook tidy the other day, it slips over the front cover of a notebook and holds pens, post its, cards etc - I bought one as a secret Santa gift for a colleague who loves stationery. It's from the literary gift company.

TalbotAMan · 11/12/2019 15:20

I'd get the ballpoint pen. I have to make a lot of notes at work. While these are normally short-lived, in that they are either typed up or thrown away soon after, I still enjoy having a decent pen to make them with.

LemonPrism · 11/12/2019 15:37

I use pens every day... while I use my phone and computer I also have a schedule and a notepad for lists etc

LemonPrism · 11/12/2019 15:38

Although tbh I'm not sure I wouldn't just lose a nice one...

leiaskye · 11/12/2019 16:05

I’m a project manager & a mum. A bit older than 30, but would love a nice pen. I make notes all the time.

ShirleyPhallus · 11/12/2019 16:09

Really? Actively dislike it? For me, any functional gift that I wasn't thrilled by but which isn't actively horrible (like, covered in Minions, or in your case a Swarovski version) would just get used. Pair of socks, pen, cutlery, teatowel, whatever. Do you just never use a pen, for anything?

Yes, I use pens plenty. But 10p ball point pens are absolutely fine with me so I’d be disappointed that the buyer wasted their money on something which is so wasted on me.

Likewise cutlery and teatowels - the cutlery wouldn’t match mine, I don’t use tea towels and would just see them as clutter. I’d personally prefer for my mum to save her money than buy me something which I’d never use and end up resenting for just being clutter.

ShirleyPhallus · 11/12/2019 16:09

That bold fail was to @LastMichaelmas

ffswhatnext · 11/12/2019 16:11

How about a pen that also functions as a usb or other gadget attached?

Either way, she will appreciate it.

A fountain pen is also a good choice, especially if you get the refillable cartridge. I have a couple of bottles of ink, and I love creating my own colours from them.

DoesntLeftoverTurkeySoupDragOn · 11/12/2019 16:11

I'm fussy about what pens I like (not cost wise, they just have to be a really really fine nib) so I wouldn't like to receive a "nice" one.

TooMuchSun12 · 11/12/2019 16:15

I’m a teacher and I use pens all the time so I’d be pretty chuffed with a nice one. Smile

Dixiechickonhols · 11/12/2019 16:19

I think it’s a nice present and not something you’d buy yourself.

RhymingRabbit3 · 11/12/2019 16:20

I think a chillys water bottle or nice travel coffee mug would be great, if she doesn't already have one

bridgetreilly · 11/12/2019 16:22

If she likes stationery, how about one of these: www.spotlightstationery.co.uk/

You don't have to get her a subscription, just pick whichever of the previous boxes you think she'd like best. They are always really nice quality products.

unsure111 · 11/12/2019 16:27

I'm 28 year and 2 years ago my mum bought me a Swarovski pen. It was just a little present to go with other presents. But I love it and carry it around in my bag with me. It's got small crystals at the top.

FAQs · 11/12/2019 16:31

Love a good pen!

MaryWright · 11/12/2019 16:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

MitziK · 11/12/2019 17:14

Leather bound (maybe refillable) notebook in A5 size and a pen?

I'd love that, as I could choose whether to use it for work, home or pleasure.

memaymamo · 11/12/2019 21:26

I don’t use tea towels

@ShirleyPhallus how do you dry your dishes without tea towels?

ffswhatnext · 11/12/2019 21:48

I'm the same as @ShirleyPhallus I don't use tea towels.

I really don't see the need for them. I'd rather leave my washing up to air dry than dry something with a damp cloth.

And thanks to the posters for the stationary links.

BertieBotts · 11/12/2019 21:53

I would feel bad about getting a nice pen that cost a lot as I would immediately lose it. I can never find a pen. I do like pens but I like felt tips and fineliners.

However being a project manager is like my absolute worst nightmare of a job so I think me and the OP's daughter are probably very different :o

BertieBotts · 11/12/2019 21:56

I use tea towels loads and we never wash up! I use them as emergency oven gloves, to wipe up random spills in the kitchen, to dry my hands after washing them in kitchen, to dry off plastic things that have collected water in the dishwasher, dry veg after rinsing them, etc etc. I hate the thought of them sitting around dirty so I do tend to chuck them in the wash after having done one or a couple of these things.