DS will be 18 - absolutely NO IDEAS what to buy for him

[Snooks1971]

Sorry AIBU but starting to panic slightly about how to mark his 18th.

He is our eldest and has no interests really other than on/off gaming.
He has left college and is starting a FT job as a trainee painter/decorator - can’t buy him brushes!
No interest in alcohol. Has stopped driving lessons temporarily til mid Sept.

Need a wild card idea. He says he doesn’t want anything.

I also got my ds a watch. It was a nice Tissot one, and we had it engraved.

My mum paid for us to do something for our big bdays. So my brother had a sky dive, I had a day driving rally cars. Would he like something like that?

Get him a Fleshlight....thats mainly what they do at that age isnt it

Say what now?

If he loves gaming, can you get him tickets to a gaming convention?
An engraved watch is a great idea. Or a really good quality work bag.

How about an experience of some sort.
We bought DS a trial flight from a local airfield for his 18th - and a friend did the same for her DS. Both loved the experience.
Lots of other experiences are available.

I would say an experience or a city break for you both - something they will remember. My DC don't really wear watches any more.

sorry couldnt resist.....definitely some kind of experience. You say he's into gaming. If he plays driving games take him on a rally driving day or a track event. If he plays shooting games them try paintballing or laser quest (if thats still a thing lol)

Thanks all!
To answer a few q:

Yes have asked him (multiple times) he doesn’t know what he wants.

I like the watch idea but he isn’t remotely materialistic (not saying a watch is materialistic, I think it’s more ‘symbolic’ but he isn’t into possessions as such - or labels eg designer clothes)

Budget can be £50….or 200 plus, we haven’t really set one but we aren’t daft (or incredibly wealthy!) It’s more about the how much he would value the ‘thing’ than the cost

Driving lessons were paused because he left college at the start of Summer Hols, was due to start FT as a trainee decorator immediately but the construction site won’t allow him onsite til he’s 18. Whilst this transpired he gave up his lesson slot that has now been taken up by another learner (instructor should have another slot for ds mid Sept)

Really like the experience idea! Going to go down this route for now!

PS @Ruby0901 i had to look up Fleshlight! 🫣

Mine got an Apple Watch and some really nice headphones.

My son was 18 2 weeks ago. I got him nothing tangible. I spoilt him on the holiday we were on for his birthday instead.

I asked him about a special watch, jewelry, pen, etc. He insisted there was absolutely nothing he wanted and doesn't like stuff for stuff's sake.

I like the premium bonds idea...

A token gift as a memento and money in a savings account towards buying a car/booking a holiday/anything else he wants to do in the future.

Maybe ask about the watch..mine isn't materialistic either but when I suggested it to my surprise he said yes. We and his dad made a daybof it looking at styles and going out for lunch. He wears it alot now when going out at uni

What about one of those experience days? Where you can go sky diving, or super car driving?