Present buying when dc don't know what they want

[FedUpOfAllThis]

Ok so my dc age 16 and 14 have no idea what they want for Christmas this year. Actually tell a lie they've told me a couple of small tings and i have bought them some small bits but other than that i'm stuck. This time last year i had bought everything by September as they knew what they wanted but this time after such a rotten year they have no idea and aren't very enthusiastic. Does anyone else struggle when it comes to buying for your teenagers?

Somethign to make their rooms more comfortable, or useful tech in case you go into lockdown again or they have to isolate. Could be blue tooth headphones, echo dot for music/school questions, comfy gaming chair. Or it could be slightly more luxurious bedding / pyjamas for snuggling. Full-price Oodie?

Could you redo their rooms a bit? Are they growing out of toys and need more space for coursework and folders and the like? I appreciated getting a couple of new bits when i was 14 as i felt a bit more grown up (and the teddies lived under the divan bed). Could be funky lights or anything.

But i'm 45, i'm probably well off pointe!!

What are their current interests and hobbies and are there things you could get relating to those? Eg if they like gaming consider accessories, if they’re into art - good quality pencils and sketch pads etc.

Could they do with a new version of something they’ve already got like a cosy dressing gown, trainers or a new hairdryer?

Assuming they have phones etc what about earphones/earbuds, Bluetooth speaker, power bank, phone case?

Sometimes the best presents are things people don't know they want and would never have thought of for themselves.

Tell us a bit about them, OP, and maybe together we can all come up with things your kids wouldn't know to ask for....?

Mine are the same age, my 14 years old doesn’t know what she wants but she rarely does, I kind of guess. My 16 year old doesn’t really know what she wants, has asked for cash, we usually have a £100 budget for main gift and there’s nothing she wants in that budget, i am surprising her with a ipad as she needs/wants one but won’t ask as it’s too much money. I’m cutting back on the amount of gifts this year so they will only have a couple gifts plus stocking.

Are they able to afford to buy what they want for themselves? We have a no buying from Halloween onwards rule which helps with adults. I don’t know if this is a factor with teens.

If they genuinely don’t want anything, I think I’d encourage that and give them cash, creatively, along with a stocking for a bit of fun. The stockings are the best bit, I think.

I got my DD’s an Oodie for their birthdays and they were a massive hit.

Great for camping too if they are into that.

Cash is king