Teenage DS doesn't want or need anything!

[MissDollyMix]

Apologies because I know this gets asked a lot but I'm at a loss for what to get my 13yo DS for Christmas. I think I know what I'll get him for his main present but I'm completely stuck on smaller presents both to pad out his stocking and to suggest to well-meaning relatives who inevitably will ask me for present suggestions for him.
His birthday was in July and half his presents are still unopened in their boxes. He doesn't usually spend his allowance. He literally doesn't want or need anything! He's a very geeky boy, not into fashion or smellies at all (we're still at the pinning him down and forcing him to wear deodorant stage) He doesn't have any hobbies (we've tried so many things!) He loves retro gaming but he has all the games/consoles he currently wants and has plenty of money in his bank account to buy more should he want to. He's been on every trip/outing I can think of. He has every football shirt he wants (not that he actually plays football!) Lego remains unopened. He likes non-fiction books (geography, politics, gaming etc) so any suggestions for those would be good! Last year I ended up buying a load of sausage dog related gifts because he loves them but I've slightly exhausted that angle now! I'm utterly stumped. I don't want to buy presents just for the sake of buying stuff but he has a younger sister with a list as long as my arm and he will notice if there's a big discrepancy in the gifts they receive. He's a lovely boy and he works hard at school so I'd love to put a smile on his face but how??! Anyone else with a similar DS?

I’d start with some new socks, and gradually throw out the old ones as they appear in the washing basket, so he has to wear them. My DS likes fresh white sports socks.
Then look at some new boxers. TK Max do some nice ones in presentation boxes.
Does he need any new clothes or a new coat ?
A new dressing gown/PJ’s/slippers are always used by my DS.

If this is the case. I’d set him up with a Vanguard savings account, so some of his money can be working for him, see if he wants to transfer some too rather than sitting in a current account.
And then get him some retro gaming socks and a chocolate orange.

Ooh and a copy of “I will teach you to be rich” the U.K. version by Ramit Sethi.

We are trying to do more experiences this year - theatre tokens/tickets, tickets to sporting matches, history max DS1 is getting tickets to a candlelight evening of history talks at Southwark Cathedral - so stuff they'll love and remember but isn't clutter.

Gamish: A Graphic History of Gaming

How about this book? My husband liked it.

My teen is quite similar to what you’ve described in terms of his interests. Does he have any favourite youtubers that he would want “merch” for? Mine always wants that sort of thing - MatPat is one that he follows who does lots of actually pretty good quality and useful stuff at decent prices (clothes, lamps, board games, storage boxes for gamer stuff etc), and always has good bundles on Black Friday, the only downside is you have to pay extra for shipping from the US (and wait a few weeks for it!) - but I still think it’s worth it including the extra for that, I was actually surprised at the decent quality of his stuff and appreciated that, as he probably could get away with flogging these kids any old tat really.

These days he is often after some sort of game or plushie or model or whatever related to his interests that is being made on Kickstarter (getting the final product does not often coincide with Christmas but he is often just happy to know that it’s been ordered for the future).

He also enjoys things like novelty lights related to his gaming interests like this Tetris light for example:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Stackable-Interlocking-Lighting-Birthday-Christmas/dp/B0BVG5X78C/ref=asc_df_B0BVG5X78C/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=641605173800&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3126375312601547066&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007141&hvtargid=pla-2194231368416&psc=1&mcid=aaee6af8cad532bbbcd73b72a016879d

And enjoys collecting those FunkoPop figures of people from his favourite games/movies/TV programmes (a few years ago it was Wandavision for example).

He likes some anime series and I have got him anime drawing books and materials in the past plus an electronic graphics drawing pad thing for that which went down very well.

Redbubble is a great site to find stuff related to their favourite TV programmes etc even if quite obscure! I have got him posters and bedding, mugs etc. from there in the past. Again it’s a US site so bear in mind extra time to shop plus extra cost for shopping/taxes.

My son also loves lots of things from MenKind, their lights, little metal brain game puzzles etc. He had a moving sand art thing from there last year. You can get some of those puzzles and puzzle boxes etc on Amazon too.

He enjoys mentalist type magicians like Derren Brown so has had some books and special cards or other magic trick type things in the past.

Even though he’s probably older than the target age he still loves the Gravitrax marble run thing I got him a couple of years ago.

What about board games? My son loves board games and gets at least one every Christmas. This year I will be getting him the board game of the Traitors TV show (secretly I want it too and so does my sister so we can all play it together lol, his board games every year are often really a present for the whole family that he gets to keep haha).

I often get him one of those laser cut wooden moving model things at Christmas. This sort of thing;

https://www.amazon.co.uk/RoWood-Wooden-Puzzle-Starry-Night/dp/B0B9S5SDVC/ref=asc_df_B0B9S5SDVC/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=606811544348&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17166781123619040628&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007141&hvtargid=pla-1881583266170&psc=1&mcid=99dce75249063e4aaa0024724b1fdf54#video-immersive-view_1699619958601

He likes non-fiction books (geography, politics, gaming etc) so any suggestions for those would be good!

Monthly book club subscription
Subscription to The Week - or Private Eye!

As PPs suggested - nice socks, PJs, chocolate orange etc. A novelty mug, gloves. Useful things like multi USB chargers and cable tidies. But don’t worry about it so much- it’s madness to keep giving him stuff he doesn’t want and won’t use. At that age they tend to just want money, and the money makes up the difference between what he gets and what his sister gets.

And get the relatives to ask him directly what he wants, not ask you for ideas. They’re making their problem your problem, and you have enough problems of your own!

My son is a couple of years older and I'm booking us some experiences this year.

DH wants to do the zip lining in a Welsh quarry which DS said looks fun and I've never been to Wales so will combine that into a weekend away.

I'm also booking the Crystal Maze in Manchester. Once in Manchester we can go to a specific vintage clothes shop DS saw on TikTok and then have a tea somewhere he chooses.

There’s a (very expensive) Atari console Lego model if he’d like to build that?

Does he code, or have any interest in it? A Raspberry Pi is a great gift.

My non-fiction politics/geography/history geek loves:

History of the World Map by Map

The Politics Book

Brilliant Maps: An Atlas for Curious Minds

And stuff by Tim Marshall and Tim Harford.

For small stuff I’d lean heavily into clothes like t-shirts or socks that fit his interests, books (Randall Munroe is a good author for slightly geeky teen boys IME) and edible things - gift card to favourite fast food place, favourite snacks etc

Red Bubble does T shirts for geeks. I've bought my DS's Star Wars T shirts from there and DS gaming shirts too. I've also bought DH a Dan Dare T shirt from them. They do lots of retro.

A key ring

Marvel socks

New underpants

Premium bonds.

Does he like Star Wars? I’ve got mine a really cool Jedi dressing gown from EMP, good quality and came quickly. He needs a new dressing gown so this will be fun.

also going to get him a voucher for something like prison island/escape room thing, he’ll enjoy that.

how about a VR headset? Mine love that.

when I gift money I like to put it in something big or fun so it looks like more in the present pile. One year I blew up balloons and rolled up £5 notes and put them in a Santa sack, that was good fun on Xmas morning.

I might get that for my dp too 😀

He sounds similar to my 13yo dd. She just isn’t materialistic at all. Not into fashion, make up etc. She also has all the games she could want.

I've gone for cosy clothes and a squishmallow so far! I have been thinking of a Polaroid camera as its got the novelty factor and she can take photos of her cats. Even giving her money feels useless because she doesn't actually spend it on anything so I don't feel like it's bringing her any festive joy. Maybe a oodie if he doesn't have one already?

What about an escape room type experience? Could get him a escape room book to go with it.
Tickets to something, theatre, gaming convention.
Can you buy credit for any of the gaming things he's into?

I was going to say exactly this. Compound interest, the best gift you can give a child

I second a savings account.

If you know what gaming he's into, you could search on Etsy or somewhere for gifts connected to it? E.g prints/posters, t shirt with art from a particular game he likes etc.

Good for him! That's a really good quality to have as a human being.

I picked up a couple of books ideas off another Christmas thread, both by Randall Munroe: : serious scientific answers to absurd hypothetical questions and thing explainer - might be worth a look to see if that sort of thing appeals?

Edible stuff and things related. Mini waffle maker, bullet blender (DS makes ice cream), Japanese kit kat collection (his friends loved!), ramen pot, gourmet popcorn.
We've also done stuff like limited edition coins (silver or gold) and stamps and premium bonds.

gradually throw out the old ones as they appear in the washing basket, so he has to wear them

What an awful idea, getting rid of things your child owns, likes, and uses, to try to force them to use something newer you've bought them instead. A terrible waste and deeply unpleasant.