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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To stop gifts at 18

25 replies

Flashinggreen · 09/10/2022 21:22

My oldest nephew turns 18 soon and I was thinking of saying this would be last year of a gift. It’s usually an Amazon voucher. Otherwise when do you stop? My DS is 18 next birthday so quite happy for other aunts and uncles to do the same

OP posts:
PanicAtTheBigTesco · 09/10/2022 21:23

Yes it's 18 on both sides of the family here too

HighlandPony · 09/10/2022 21:24

Sixteen here for actual presents. £20 in a card after that

PanicAtTheBigTesco · 09/10/2022 21:24

Although we tend to then do gifts for 21st and 30th too (none of the kids have reached 40 yet!)

Dacadactyl · 09/10/2022 21:25

It's not 18 in our family but i think it is a sensible cut off to be honest. My 39 yo husband still gets an advent calendar and an Easter egg off of one of his aunts 😂

2pinkginsplease · 09/10/2022 21:25

In my family, niece and nephew gifts for birthday and Christmas stop when you have your own children.

MrsBigTed · 09/10/2022 21:33

18 is fairly common I think. I do remember the first year I didn't get a gift from my uncle, he'd always got something and a selection box (the cheap supermarket kind). I was really upset about the selection box! I felt really left out - doesn't help that I'm the oldest 'kid' in my generation.

Abouttimemum · 09/10/2022 21:33

2pinkginsplease · 09/10/2022 21:25

In my family, niece and nephew gifts for birthday and Christmas stop when you have your own children.

Same for us

CrabbyCat · 09/10/2022 21:37

Either 18 or 21 depending on the situation.

I had younger siblings and found it quite hard settling in going to university. I then come home that first Christmas and had to watch all my younger siblings open presents whilst I had essentially none as everyone had stopped at 18. It wasn't really about the stuff - it was about it making me feel not part of the family anymore whilst not having settled anywhere else. By 21 it wouldn't have mattered, I'd made that transition. What's the situation for your DN - will he have an income, does he have younger siblings who will still be getting gifts?

Flashinggreen · 09/10/2022 21:41

I was thinking of birthdays, last year at Christmas it was a secret Santa where the children all ‘bought’ a gift for one other. That could continue easily.

OP posts:
pointythings · 09/10/2022 21:41

I have no nieces or nephews exceot by marriage and on another continent and we have never exchanged presents, but I do presents with my household (5 people in total) and the cousin closes to us. The rest of us just do presents ad hoc when we come across something that calls to us.

Flashinggreen · 09/10/2022 21:48

These are all nephews and nieces my marriage. My brother and I don’t bother with presents for our children as he lives abroad and postage costs were ridiculous

OP posts:
Spidey66 · 09/10/2022 21:50

I give/gave my nieces and nephews presents till they're 12 or 13, then give them cash until theyre 21, then stop.

junebirthdaygirl · 09/10/2022 21:51

At 21 in our family. But all cash from about 14. There is a lot but my own dc really appreciated it so l'm happy to return the favour now mine are grown. Only presents after that will be wedding presents when the time comes.
No presents on dhs side!!

caringcarer · 09/10/2022 22:04

In our family it is once they leave education so after degrees as earning own money then.

Robostripes · 09/10/2022 22:13

I am currently having this exact dilemma as it’s my nephew’s 19th birthday next week! I asked DH if we were still doing presents (it’s been cash since he was 12 or so) as it’s his sibling’s child and he shrugged and said it was up to me to decide. I’m leaning towards keeping going until 21 - he’s just started uni and would still appreciate a bit of beer money I think.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 09/10/2022 22:17

We stop when the youngest child hits 13.

So, if there are 2 kids aged 13 and 17, that will be the last time we buy for them, OR if they are 13 and 15, or 13 and 19.

IF the oldest was 20-21 or so, and the youngest only say 5 or 6, we would make the upper age limit 21. Otherwise, with multiple children and a big gap between the oldest and youngest, we could be buying gifts for 30 years!

DdraigGoch · 09/10/2022 22:44

My aunt stopped presents at 21. My other aunts were quite annoyed at it, but to be honest I agree with cutting off at that age. Receiving fewer, properly thought-out presents is much better than a stack of identikit tat.

Ragwort · 09/10/2022 22:47

We stopped at 18 in our family (although my Godmother still sends me a birthday and Christmas cheque - I am 64 Blush).

Sweetener12 · 10/10/2022 11:26

We don't actually stop with gifts, they mostly come in a form of cash or vouchers or certificates and a smartshow 3d bithday video for adults. Could be actual items though, if it's something the person has wanted for a while and the family can get it for them.

KimberleyClark · 10/10/2022 11:29

2pinkginsplease · 09/10/2022 21:25

In my family, niece and nephew gifts for birthday and Christmas stop when you have your own children.

What if you don’t have your own children?

WhatHaveIFound · 10/10/2022 11:34

I sent presents to my niece and nephew until 18, then cards only until they were 21 when they both got money. Cards only from now on. I've always made an effort despite them living overseas.

Lovemusic33 · 10/10/2022 11:39

I think it depends, at 18 they could be working, have their own money to buy their own things but they could also be at uni and struggling?

I don’t expect anyone to buy for my DC’s (16 and 18) but I will continue to buy for other nieces and nephews until they are in work or have children.

MotherOfPuffling · 10/10/2022 11:39

Gosh, I’ve never come across the idea of a cut off point by age before for giving gifts, but that may be because we’re a small family? No nieces of nephews, just cousins, ones 20s one 30s, and still all do gifts for each other. DD is only actual child in the family though, and even with the extended family there’s only seven of us in total! Plus we all enjoy sending each other little gifts, well, I think we do!

PauliesWalnuts · 10/10/2022 11:40

I stop at 21 with a cash present on their twenty first birthday. They’re all in various stages of education, and will all go to uni so are grateful for treats or money when they aren’t working full time. I don’t have kids, and I’ve liked buying for them all but it stops when they’re earning and working.

JaninaDuszejko · 10/10/2022 11:41

I've transitioned to family gifts, so e.g. a food or booze hamper sent to the house rather than individual gifts for the children. So it doesn't stop but it becomes less work and cheaper. I know people like to say Christmas is all about the children but they get loads anyway.

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