Mid teens...

[drspouse]

My niece is 15, has a birthday in Nov. No idea what to get her. She's not into makeup or fashion, doesn't really have a "tribe", slightly political, bought her and her sister a zero waste smellies collection last year. She shares a tiny room with her sister so nothing big. She reads a lot but I never know what she's read!
And of course there's then Christmas too.

Cash.

I think she'd be disappointed actually... I have built up a reputation for thinking up good gifts.. though maybe the adults like them more than the DCs.

TBH -- ask her .
My DD is 17 and I had no idea what se wanted at 15 without her sliding the iPad under my face or frogmarching me to the shops.
You could ask her for a wish list and you'll buy her A or B then let her parents know to save duplication.

They change their minds so often .

Chlily’s waterbottle
A board game such as Exploding Kittens, The Chameleon or Pandemic
T-shirt from Illuminated Apparel
Ice cream machine
Recipe book
Dressing gown and slippers
Cath Kidston purse

Metal straws. They bloody love em.

She may already have a wish list set up on amazon

Ricekrispies ideas are great

What about an online gift subscription for a magazine company- she can then choose her own magazine to receive each month and as it’s online she can read it anywhere. Or a bag with built in portable charger? TK Maxx have quite a few. My teens all have various portable chargers because social media eat the battery.

Sign her up to a book subscription service?

I really rate The Willoughby Book Club. You give them an idea of what she likes (ask her sister or check her shelves) and they send one book a month they think she will like. They also send you a new book (without recalling the old one) if you've read it. When I got this, the first 2 books they sent were things I had read and they replaced both really quickly - amazing customer service. It's new titles as well as old, and I got sent some amazing titles. I think it's £11 per month and you can sign up for 3 months, 6 months, a year etc.

Stationery. A beautiful notebook (Homesense and TK Maxx generally have a good selection of quality notebooks) and pen always goes down well. Lamy fountain pens are great and you can get ink in multiple colours.

Oh loads of great ideas!
I think a book or magazine subscription or a portable charger (she is of course on her phone a lot!) would be perfect.
She may think Cath Kidston is too childish or old ladyish (based on the fact that I have loads and so do the DCs who are much younger!)

Have a look at 'spineless classics' for book lovers...

A cool duvet cover or cushion for her bed.

Yes I think Cath Kidston wouldn't be so popular with teens. What about something like Happy Planner? They're an American brand and seem to be a combo of planner, journal, doodling, scrapbooking. They kind of put me in mind of Elle from Legally Blonde/preppy high school student . Very positive thinking/life goals vibe. If she's a teen who likes stationery type stuff something like that could be a hit.

Five year line a day journal went down well here, or book on feminism/ environment. Money for driving lessons.

Portable charger is a great idea! DS loves his

Yy to five year line a day journal

This is a while ago but the birthday hasn't happened yet - I decided to get her a five year diary and a driving experience for her birthday.
For Christmas I'm going to get her and her sister a pair of fair trade duvet sets from One Village. I used to always get them pyjamas but this seems a bit more grown up.
But the Willoughby Book Club is going on the list for my DM!

Definitely willoughby book club. It’s my favourite present ever!