16 year old boys are the hardest people to buy for surely?

[isitxmasyet]

Hates smellies
Only plays one PC game and already owns it
And a PC
Has all the sports kit and clothes he needs

Would really not be joyous about socks or stationary or food gifts

Arghhhhhhhh

He’s lovely- not at all grabby and wouldnt bat an eyelid if he just got a T shirt and a big bag of Maltesers but his sisters and older brother se so easy to buy for and I’d like to be fair in what I get.

Yes, mine too. He's not quite 16 so driving is still more than a year away, not really into gaming, already has a laptop and phone, not into clothes much, and already has all the sports gear he needs. Doesn't go to the cinema, theatre or gigs with any enthusiasm and doesn't like Alexa type devices. He is getting bluetooth headphones (his broke recently), books, cooking stuff, football match tickets.

Having similar problems with Ds1. Hard to buy for.

my dsis bought my ds a jamie oliver cookery book once which was great present.

Agree that 16 year old boys are hard to buy for. Mine is my youngest and his interests are very narrow so a lot of things suggested here are either irrelevant or have been bought already for older siblings. Fortunately, he breaks things quite regularly so for the nth year running he is getting a new gaming headset, and bud earphones. He did ask for clothes but isn't inspired by what is available. I have bought him some bright socks and a bright fleece blanket (he already has the fluffy dressing gown, agree with others, that was a big hit last year) but I am struggling to think of anything else.

I would just get a few stocking fillers and then give him cash.

16 is a difficult age when young people, boys in particular I think are often changing their 'identity' , growing up, taking on new experiences as they start college, get girlfriends etc etc

Age 15-16 my DS was very much into sports, fitness, healthy eating, only wore tracksuits etc

Age 16-17 he went back into computer games, spent most of his time listening to music, going to gigs, only wore band T shirts

Age 17-18 started work, going out drinking, has GF, likes to wear brands

So thinking that although cash seems a bit impersonal it's likely that over coming months your DS will probably develop interest in some thing which he needs money for and better to have it there than waste money now on something he doesn't really want. Is he 16 doing GCSE or post GCSE?

I also like the gift cards eg for Nando's, cinema but depends if your DS would use them. Clothing eg pyjamas, sweatshirt with logo of something that interests him? I think if he does have a sport that he is into I would get some thing small around this, maybe some thing small merchandise around the game he plays, chocolates and then cash as there will definitely be a point in the next year or so he'll be glad of some savings.

Fluffy dressing gown was a hit last year, as was a book of pasta recipes.

@savethecat we actually got a dog for DS 15th birthday after years of asking, we decided he was responsible enough to care for him. (Obviously taking into consideration our working patterns and that we would be prepared to be the doggy parents if/when DS went to uni/left home )

Mine asked for a voucher for Subway! 🤨

Money no good here- he has a PT job and gets an allowance and the money sits unspent in his account.
Doesn’t go to costa or cinema much and if he does has ample funds

Dressing gown was bought last year and still fits
Has everything for his PC

I was hoping for a few weird quirky gift ideas that would be a surprise but interest him but it’s so flipping hard at this age!

Does he enjoy a particular take away? Could get him gift card

Bit sad that at 16 literally the only thing he is interested in is his PC

Lovemenorca

My DS still likes Lego - the models of cars or buildings.
Dart board and darts.
If he likes trainers then there are great trainer posters at kickposters.com.

My youngest is 13 but I'll post his gifts and maybe there'll be something of interest

Switch controller
Xbox elite controller
Overwatch lamp
Rubiks puzzles and games and speed cubes
Grabola game
Garmin smart watch
Various coins and sets from the royal mint ( he's a collector)
SH figuarts Japanese figures
Velvetiser
Newton's cradle
Fat face slipper boots
Plasma light
Salt lamp
Calligraphy and art stuff

Yummy! Just what I needed with the Coffee i have just poured, thank you

I know that looks like a lot of lamps/lights! But the salt lamp will go in his bedroom, the Overwatch light in his games room and the plasma ball light in the study

AirPods (probably not the real ones but similar)
Cards against humanity, exploding kittens or similar card games like that? They’re mainly drinking games so maybe not used a lot at present but certainly in future

Tickets to a gaming convention or comic con?

@lovemenorca that’s not the case at all!

He’s a fabulous kid- has loads of friends and works hard at school and has a job he enjoys.
He plays endless sports but has all the kit he needs.
He reads constantly but we have always allowed him to order whatever books he wants throughout the year.
We do loads as a family and he always joins in and enjoys it be it days out of family meals.
He only plays one game on his PC it is mainly for school work so he is hardly in front of it which is why he doesn’t want headphones etc
He isn’t bothered about designer gear or fancy trainers. I still buy his clothes from TK Max and he’s pleased as punch with them.

It is his lack of material interests and general joy in a simple life that makes him so hard to buy for so please don’t assume he’s a brainless PC addict when you know nothing.

He also really looks after his stuff so for example the watch he asked for four years ago is still perfect and works fine despite being worn most days

Same with his sports kit.

He also has a carpentry set he uses a lot but he inherited it from his grandad on his dads side and looks after it so well I don’t think he’d want new stuff.

He plays four sports to a high level but tends to need the kit associated replacing whenever it’s due rather than waiting for Xmas

It’s the stocking filler bits that I struggle with as he just isn’t a ‘stuff’ person but I’d like
him to have something to open.

Steam voucher for PC gaming, a gaming mouse, maybe an Amazon voucher. Merch for his favourite games.

Right I’ve found a couple of great websites and I’m sorted!

I got a weird puzzle thing a bit like a rubix (which he loved memorising the rules to cracking it a few years ago)

A brilliant outdoor game capture the flag but with lights as he loves that sort of stuff

A cool alarm clock

And a pasta kit as he loves cooking

Phew.

I was just going to ask what kind of sports he does

just ask them what they want.

I hear you!!

Gift card for local cinema/nandos/costa
Superdry Hoodie
Earphones
Escape room board game
Fluffy robe
Bly rays
Books
Funky pizza cutter
Fun gift dvd of an old favourite tv show from when he was a kid