What did you get for your teen this Christmas?

[teenpresents]

Im asking this as I tend to overthink whether I'm getting it "right" as a mum (for personal reasons linked to my own childhood). Anyway.... just wondering if this seems about right for a 16 yo teen girl for Christmas?

I didn't see my teen DD yesterday as she was at her dad's for Christmas Day. She's coming home today. I've just wrapped all her stuff ready for her coming back, but I feel a bit bad as I haven't spent as much on her presents this year as I normally do. I've actually ended up getting into debt for some of her stuff. I've got her:

• Apple AirPods (she asked for)
• trainers (she asked for)
• Gym Shark leggings
• 5 new tops / jumpers (2 she asked for; 3 I chose for her)
• a personalised engraved prosecco glass
• a bottle of Prosecco
• a candle
• smellies (bath products etc)
• a fluffy onesie

When I bought these things I felt like it was a lot but it doesn't look like much wrapped. But the first 3 items alone on the list came to £200!! I just can't afford to get her as much anymore now she's older. Is this just how it is now she's older and the stuff she wants is more costly?

That is loads and a 16 year old should be able to understand more expensive choices=fewer presents. I'm sure she will be thrilled OP :)

Wow that’s loads, OP!

That is definitely enough for a 16 year oId - even without all the extra presents she will (I assume) have got from her dad / other relatives!

Ok thank you. I'll stop beating myself up. It just looks like nothing wrapped up. I think I'm comparing it to when she was younger and she had a lot more for the money I spent on her, but she wants more expensive stuff now.

Yes she gets a lot from her dad / their side of the family too, which is probably why I end up feeling a bit inadequate 😞

That’s plenty. They do understand the more expensive the gifts the less number of gifts there are.

Dd is 18 and at Uni I got her

A Hamper with food, toiletries, cleaning products etc in. Basically filled with things that will save her money next term.

Some Phillip Kingsley shampoo and conditioner she wanted.

A revlon one styler I got at half price.

A cherry blossom Lego set.

Pjs and slipper socks for Christmas Eve.

A Kraken gift set.

A necklace and matching earrings (pearl) that was off Etsy

Set of candles

A travel mug and gave her some money. She asked for money. There was no big gift like AirPods etc.

Ds (11) had more presents but I spent, roughly, the same.

This is so much, honestly. And kid's present piles get smaller as they get older, because they tend to get smaller / more expensive things.

My budget for DS is £150, so he would only get a fraction of this amount. Maybe I need to increase it a bit as he gets older, but I'm not hugely keen 🙈😄.

That’s lots and sounds lovely. I have one 16 yr old dd. She likes certain brands of makeup, clothes and toiletries so would rather have one right thing than ten cheaper.
She doesn’t eat chocolate anymore and wouldn’t use toiletries sets etc.
When she was little I’d pad out with bath bombs, chocolate etc but it’s just unwanted tat so I don’t bother.
She was genuinely happy with what she got.
I’m sure your dc is happy.

My DD is 15 and she got Dr Martens which were £185! Some apple wired earphones and some dancewear. She knew how much the DM's were so didn't expect much else and I don't feel guilty at all, she was delighted with what she got. As a lone parent I can't afford loads anyway.

What you've got her sounds fab and you sound like a great mum, so stop worrying x

Mine has one large gift 50-70. Then hooded blanket, choc items. Mugs, toiletries, soft socks novelties. They were happy and got stuff off their dad too. They know money is tight now.

I would have only got her trainers or air pods to be honest.

Absolutely fine, she's a lucky girl. My dd's list won't help as they have VERY different tastes, but mine had a similar amount.

Ds is 17 and we got him

Under tree presents

1.Monitor for his computer
2.Wipeable notebook- you can reuse it over and over and scan the pages to an app
3.Toweling dressing gown

Stocking/Sack gifts

1.Slippers
2.Pjs
3.Books
4.Chocolates
5.Keyboard cleaning kit

1. Board game
2. Trading cards
3. Slush puppy syrups

Your list sounds plenty. Children that age understand enough about money to know they can't have everything. I'd honestly take a few out and return them rather than go in to debt over Christmas.

DS is 13 and had some trainers and a hoodrich tracksuit, those two items came to £300! DD is 15 and has had a tv and £200 worth of clothes she picked herself which I then wrapped up. They then had stocking stuff and other bits but these were the main presents. It definitely gets more expensive as they get older so they get less but I think teens understand that.

My DD is 16, she got -

Ticket to go and see Lewis Capaldi
Pandora bracelet and one charm
3 funko pop figures
Friends calendar
Green day t shirt
Switch game
Obama Llama game
Some art stuff

stocking was face masks, sweets, earrings from Shein

all in all cost just over £200, didn’t look like much wrapped up but she was happy 😊

We spent £30 on our 13 year old

You have spent a lot & it's crazy to get into debt to do so.

I'm sure she will be very happy.

I imagine she is in thr very top end of spending with that list op if you looked across the UK. Airpods and trainers are bith big expensive gifts

When they are little rhe giant plastic stuff they love is cheaper !

Approx £150 on each teen. One had concert ticket so her pile was less.

I have a 16 year old dd. She got airpods (not the newest, most expensive version) and she is delighted with them. She also got some makeup. I think your dd will be pleased with her gifts.

I also got AirPods and trainers for my 17 year old, plus other smaller bits and bobs (perfume, skincare, smellies). She was absolutely over the moon and keeps telling me how happy she is with what she got. I think you’ve done a great job and she’ll be super happy.

That’s loads.

why are you buying a 16 year old Prosecco? Bit of an odd one that

Is it? Why? We drink Prosecco together - it's "our" drink. She doesn't get absolutely wasted on it! Just the odd glass here and there. Didn't think it was controversial to buy a 16 year old alcohol for her to drink at home.

Thanks everyone. Seems I can stop worrying!

That is a lot of stuff, not sure how you can think it is not. You are her mother, it is not about the size of your present budget.

I think there is something weird about buying a 16yo prosecco and thinking of it as 'our' drink - it is damaging her brain development and parents should be encouraging their kids to be healthy really. The personalised prosecco glass is also not a normal present to a 16yo.

I can relate to the "it doesn't look like much" problem. I have a seven-year gap between my kids and didn't want my older child's smaller more expensive items to look tiny compared with little sister's bigger pile of toys.

We always give useful gifts as well as "fun" gifts, which makes the piles bigger. I hold back on most of the useful stuff I buy in the autumn, hiding it in the present stash instead. Nobody in our family ever gets new socks in November, meaning it's a real pleasure to unwrap socks on Christmas day and replace all the holey ones! DH got six little torches because he's always losing torches, DC1 (an artist) got nice rubbers, DC2 got a pack of biros because we've been a bit short of them lately and she's been complaining that there's never one when she needs one. I replaced the threadbare hand towels with nice fluffy ones and called that a family present. Everyone will enjoy the new saucepan with a lid that fits it properly. Likewise little food treats: you get ALL your favourites on Christmas: the slightly more expensive crisps I wouldn't usually buy, the posh sodas, favourite fruit which is out of season.