Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

What did you give your dc for their 18th birthday?

154 replies

Dalint · 08/08/2022 18:12

Was it well received?
If it wasn't well received, did they receive anything from someone else which they really valued or appreciated?
Approximate cost?
What did you yourself get if you remember (I don't remember)?
What would you have liked to receive?
Any other input?
Suggestions welcome from those who haven't hit the 18 milestone yet or from anyone really.
Would you suggest longevity (jewellery), or an experience, or some tech?
I'm at a loss but it's for my dd. I deliberately didn't specify the sex in the title as some gifts can cross over and there will be female equivalents.

OP posts:
User280905 · 08/08/2022 20:57

Ds1 got cash for driving lessons for his 17th birthday and wants cash towards a car for his 18th.

Ds2 plays bagpipes so he's getting his own set of pipes. They cost a fortune but he wants them more than a car.

Ds3 is only 10 so he's got a while to wait.

I got a fancy camera that became obsolete within a couple of years as digital photography really took off almost as soon as I chose my camera. I gave it away for free a few years back.

DrCoconut · 08/08/2022 20:58

DS got £50 off me. That is a lot in our house. We also went out for a meal with family.

User280905 · 08/08/2022 20:58

Ds2 plays bagpipes so he's getting his own set of pipes. They cost a fortune but he wants them more than a car

Then a kilt for his 21st! Job done.

Comefromaway · 08/08/2022 20:59

Please be careful of the show/hotel deals. Often the tickets are appalling and marked up massively.

Pollianne · 08/08/2022 21:01

tillytown · 08/08/2022 20:27

For my 18th I got a second hand copy of a toddler's book and a gingerbread man, but my parents hated me so it was more than I was used to. My brother got a car and my sister was given a holiday for her and two friends to Ibiza

I’m sorry tillytown, that’s miserable and not dissimilar to my 18th: it’s a really spiteful thing to do. I wished they hadn’t bothered at all.

But It’s nice reading of all the thoughtful gifts given to their 18 yo for their journey into adulthood.

Original poster
Dalint · 08/08/2022 21:02

DrCoconut · 08/08/2022 20:58

DS got £50 off me. That is a lot in our house. We also went out for a meal with family.

To be honest, I won't be going out for the next year in order to try to afford something special for her. Unfortunately I'm broke too. It is fabulous that you broke the bank for him, whatever value it is. What I am going to is buy a physical photo album and put photos of her as a baby and when young into it. I'm old-school and I know everything is virtual now, but I think she will appreciate the time put into it. Or at least I hope she will.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dalint · 08/08/2022 21:04

Comefromaway · 08/08/2022 20:59

Please be careful of the show/hotel deals. Often the tickets are appalling and marked up massively.

Warning received. I depend on MN a lot so will double check with the posters on here in case I get sold something stupid.

OP posts:
A580Hojas · 08/08/2022 21:08

DD got an i-Pad.

DS got some £100 trainers and an expensive meal out with his girlfriend.

Both of them have had pretty cosy lives up to 18 with no real wants or needs. They might have wanted a Macbook or a car or whatever, but we don't have the money for that and they know it.

So it was like a normal birthday but just a bit extra.

Oh, and they were both also allowed to have a party at home for 30-40 friends with refreshments and food provided by us. That's quite generous in itself. Luckily no disasters.

recklessgran · 08/08/2022 21:31

@tillytown you are not alone. From my parents I got a fiver in a card with a note saying "We have to eat you know." They were loaded and we lived in a beautiful house in a nice area.
I am one of four siblings who all got fabulous and memorable presents.
DM didn't come to my wedding either.
She hated me and I'm not too fond of her either.

KittyMcKitty · 08/08/2022 21:33

Skateboarding magazines from the year / month of his birth. A record player (an upgrade on the one he had). Various small things.

KittyMcKitty · 08/08/2022 21:35

He also had already had a car.

blobby10 · 08/08/2022 21:35

DS1 - tickets to Silverstone F1 British Grand Prix
DS2 - high quality watch
DD- money to go on holiday

all around £3-400 and none had a party (cos we are all anti social sods 🤣🤣)

Becky6758 · 08/08/2022 21:40

A trip to Disneyland Paris.

Becky6758 · 08/08/2022 21:43

Iv told my daughter for her 18th il take her to New York or Japan. Whatever she prefers at the time.

Icequeen01 · 08/08/2022 21:47

My DS wanted a graphics card (I think that’s what it was called!) for his gaming computer which cost around £500. We also took him to London to see The Play That Went Wrong and bought him a meal in his favourite steak restaurant in London.

Boo1321 · 08/08/2022 21:52

is it just me or is it a bit show off-y listing the actual ££££ amount you gave your child? it’s mumsnet not a dick swinging contest

lot123 · 08/08/2022 21:53

His choice of gifts, being cuff links and a pair of Air Jordans. He was given a car for his 17th birthday so we didn't want to spend silly money for his 18th. We've also made some decent sized contributions to his junior stocks and shares ISA.

I didn't want to buy an expensive watch as I think your taste changes a lot at that age. I may do that for his 21st if he no longer wants a tasteless blingy rapper style watch.

Boo1321 · 08/08/2022 21:53

if it’s in the hundreds it’s an acceptable and normal amount for a birthday. sharing investing £5000 to strangers though🤨

cheninblanc · 08/08/2022 21:56

Dalint I made my dd a photo book too of only her, no sibling or family pics just her from her 1st photo to that month she treasures it

Ylvamoon · 08/08/2022 21:57

DD got some lovely jewellery and a 2 night stay at Alton towers. Both were very well received!
Unfortunately I can also see us paying towards a car in the near future!

Original poster
Dalint · 08/08/2022 21:58

Boo1321 · 08/08/2022 21:52

is it just me or is it a bit show off-y listing the actual ££££ amount you gave your child? it’s mumsnet not a dick swinging contest

I did ask the question and didn't include a budget as sometimes an idea can be done on the cheap. Some of it is hard to read when you've come from poverty or even just come from mean parents, but I did ask the question so any responsibility is down to me. I didn't imagine some of the responses, but some of us live on different galaxies. In hindsight I should have given a budget but I felt that if a suggestion was good enough, I would stretch to it. Clearly I didn't imagine thousands being involved, but hey ho.

OP posts:
JaceLancs · 08/08/2022 22:00

DS got an expensive watch
DD got a set of bangles
both were given a budget and chose what they wanted - both wanted a keepsake item
I got a gold watch for my 21st
DB got a camera (same budget)

RufustheFloralmissingreindeer · 08/08/2022 22:03

Mine got money, jewellery that they could pick up themselves up to the value of £200, an engraved compass that said ‘may you always find your way home’ and a few bits, like a t shirt and chocolate and smellies

Boo1321 · 08/08/2022 22:05

It’s really not your fault OP, and I wasn’t blaming it on you… it should be common courtesy to not brag you’re dropping thousands on your kids for them “to invest”, when £5k for another family would massively help bring them out of poverty. We’re living in such hard times and yet people still don’t get it.

tillytoodles1 · 08/08/2022 22:10

We bought her a car.