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Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Inspire me with ideas for teen male gifts

51 replies

Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 17:40

Hi! Just popping on here to look for some ideas for gifts for my teen sons. One is going to be 19 by Christmas, and the other will be 16. (No alcohol ones for my eldest, as he doesn't drink). Cheaper ideas would be great, but more expensive ones I'd consider... It doesn't help that they also have birthdays in December, and November. What are gifts teens these ages into?

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willingtolearn · 30/09/2023 17:43

Food! Snack baskets go down well with teenagers (picking their favourites depending on if they're a sweet or savoury/both sort.)

New dressing gown/PJs/thick socks/hooded blankets

Otherwise minimal 'stuff' and either cash or experiences.

Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 17:53

@willingtolearn - Food would be a hit. Thinking cash would be an idea, so they can put it towards something they'd need or like.

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Riverlee · 30/09/2023 17:58

I feel your pain. What I usually buy…

sports socks
chocolate
tshirt
chocolate
cinema voucher
chocolate
sports accessories - golf tees, tennis balls etc
chocolate
sports baseball cap
joggers
sports training top
sports sweatshirt
sports team - clothing, etc

Riverlee · 30/09/2023 17:59

Driving lesson voucher

Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 18:01

@Riverlee - Thanks for the list of ideas. Maybe I could get a few driving lessons for my eldest especially.

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Riverlee · 30/09/2023 18:07

M and M Direct is a. Place I usually have a browse.

just had more thoughts.
wallet
tie (Next have some nice ones reduced in clearance sale online)
F1 clothes
funny joke book

and forgot LYNX deodorant set!

ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere · 30/09/2023 18:10

My kids do not consider clothes to be a present - so I try to find some utterly stupid stuff (mini hands that you stick on your fingers were a hit last year), and then cash (unless they've asked for something specific). So they have something to open, then they have something to spend on what they actually want.

SisterMichaelsHabit · 30/09/2023 18:13

Ask them what they want! At that age the best gift is the one they want.

Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 18:28

@Riverlee - Going to take a closer look on the M and M Direct website. Eldest loves F1, so clothing for that he would like. They always get a Lynx set.

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Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 18:32

@ICanSeeMyHouseFromHere - My 2 could do with some new clothes, so wouldn't worry if they got any. One of mine had some mini hands given to him last year. They would like some stupid stuff. Cash it might be, as they don't very often ask for things in particular.

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Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 18:34

@SisterMichaelsHabit - I will ask them, but sometimes mine don't really want anything in particular.

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RainCloudsInTheSky · 30/09/2023 18:50

Do they read? If so a book light that clips onto the book is a good idea. Otherwise, I’m watching for some ideas!

Riverlee · 30/09/2023 18:51

They do the odd bit of F1 stuff on M and M direct. Look under Motorsport or F1 in the search engine. Also, their annual pass isn’t too expensive (although you do pay for returns). Other companies to consider are ‘Fuel for Fans’, and Fanatics. It’s worth registering with them as they’re always doing 20% offers etc.

Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 18:54

@RainCloudsInTheSky - They're not overly into reading currently, despite me reading to them from birth. They have had book lights though.

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Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 18:56

@Riverlee - Thank you for the F1 website suggestions. I will take look at those too.

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 30/09/2023 18:59

so far for our 18 year old I’ve thought about (but not bought, it’s too early)

battery packs for his phone - he keeps pinching mine!
charging cables - see above!
travel adaptors - one of those multi country ones with several usb etc ports
swiss army card
Fisher space pen
Massive bar of chocolate

Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 19:19

@Muchtoomuchtodo - Great ideas. Hmm, I know one of mine would use the Swiss army card.

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CoffeeChocolateWine · 30/09/2023 19:30

My DS(15) actually loves getting clothing as a present because he wants a few higher-end things which he knows would not come out of our usual clothing budget.

For instance he wants some Nike tech fleece joggers to go with his hoodie and they're £90. At that price he knows they have to be a present!

Other things he's getting/has asked for/ideas for birthday and Christmas...
FIFA game for PC
Mystery football shirts
Hobby-related things such as cricket bag/boxing bits/dumbbells/novelty golf balls
Annual pass for local theme park
Aftershave
Nice toiletries/grooming bits
Books related to his interests
Magazine subscription
Tickets to a football match
Football stadium tour
Posters for room
Sweet hamper
S'mores kit

YouBelongWithMe · 30/09/2023 19:34

My son (16.5) would love:

An excellent Rubik's cube

Books suited to his interests (cold war, Soviets/Russia)

Funny socks

Eating things (pringles tubes, sweets, bags of fancy nuts)

Gaming headset

Starbucks/Costa/Greggs gift voucher

Hoodie

Oodie

Cinema vouchers

Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 19:51

@CoffeeChocolateWine - Some great ideas there. They would definitely like a match ticket to the football team they support. Eldest is into computers, and youngest wants to do carpentry... Maybe I need to find something for those interests?

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Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 19:55

@YouBelongWithMe - My youngest absolutely loves History. He's really interested in World War 2. Hence it's one of his GCSE choices. Actually, a Greggs gift card would be a good choice.

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YouBelongWithMe · 30/09/2023 20:10

Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 19:55

@YouBelongWithMe - My youngest absolutely loves History. He's really interested in World War 2. Hence it's one of his GCSE choices. Actually, a Greggs gift card would be a good choice.

You should look up Ben McIntyre. Lots of very accessible non-fiction which has had my son gripped. Helen fry (I think) too

Original poster
Needingacoffee · 30/09/2023 20:18

@YouBelongWithMe - Going to look up those people now for the non fiction.

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terraced · 30/09/2023 21:06

We got our 15 year old a driving lesson experience recently and he loved it.

Beautifulsunflowers · 30/09/2023 21:27

If your youngest wants to do carpentry how about some tools? And a tool box?

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