presents for teenage girls

[redcat9]

What kind of presents have real value and last long? Every year my DD receives lots of presents from us, the grandparents and relatives. Many of them end up in the charity shop in only a few weeks. It's such an inefficient use of money. What kind of gifts are nice and useful to her? Something she can still have after 10 years?

Does she not make you a wish list of the kind of things she'd like? I don't mean you have to buy everything on the list but surely it will help you in buying things she actually wants.

I find that useful for teen girls isn't necessarily something they'll have in 10 years. Most popular with DD were almost single use things - like make up, skin care, concert tickets etc. things that she loved but were more expensive than she could normally afford.

Experiences might be better?

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A good quality handbag like Coach

My DD doesn't want anything she'll still use / have in 10 years. Instead she and her friends are into skincare / make up (Sephora / Mecca / Sol de Janeiro type brands), nice pyjamas, stationery and craft stuff, vouchers, etc.

Just ask her what she would like 🤔

how about a piece of sterling silver jewellery? I bought dd a nice bracelet several years ago and she wears it often now. It doesn’t have to be expensive at all, this is the one I got her and it’s only £24.99. This website is my absolute go-to place for all gifts (for literally everyone) and this is the teen girls section. https://www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/collections/gifts-for-teenage-girls
they actually have an offer on at the moment, if you spend over £75 you get a free jellycat strawberry which would make a fab extra pressie. All the teens love their jellycat!

Whoops sorry, forgot to add the link to the bracelet that dd wears a lot https://www.morethanjustagift.co.uk/collections/our-tops-gift-edit-christmas-2023/products/sterling-silver-bracelet-oval-open-wire-t-bar
they have loads more even less expensive silver plated jewellery too.

I’m still using the good bike lights that my Gran gave me for Christmas over 20 years ago! She was a very practical person and she gave good presents. I suppose it depends what the person is into, but I’m sure there are some useful things you could think of that she would use into adulthood.

It very much depends on budget and what your teen is into! My teen lives on her laptop, it’s lasted her a couple of years but she uses it for school work, writing a novel, chatting with friends, social media etc. obviously that cost £250

Something like collectible funko pops have gone down well, we’ve got the Loki and Disney ones in the past. Furniture like a cute vanity stand or wavy mirror are popular.

my dd asked for a giant whiteboard for her room, not for everyone but she uses it all the time

She received some lovely perfume from her grandparents which she uses sparingly (Miss Dior) and will get some Victoria’s Secret pajamas from me this Christmas which I expect will last a couple of years.

clothes, scarves, bags (all new look) have gone down well and will last, stationery always gets used and sweets and chocolate are always appreciated (particularly American sweets, Japanese snack boxes or pick and mix)

I think I misread the question, sorry, none of my items would last 10 years. Really I’m not sure I had anything like the same taste at 14/18 than I did at 24/28. Apart from something collectible like first edition books or a classic piece of jewellery there really isn’t much (probably anything) that lasts for a teen, it’s quite a transitional stage!

Headphones or ear buds

I think there is a good middle ground between wasting money on unwanted gifts that get donated in 2 weeks and heirloom type gifts.
Honestly- it sounds like she's reaching an age where a few more expensive things she has asked for would be better than the little kid 'things to unwrap' pile.
what does she WANT? Have you asked?
obviously im old and grumpy and my family was skint growing up but even for well off relatives, extended family gave ONE present. Multiples are from parents only.
What's your financial situation? Unless you will never want for spare money then I would be inclined to set up a savings account for uni/driving lessons/first car/first moving out and asking extended families to put their gifts in there.
Or buy from a list/vouchers for higher end things she actually wants now, like make up, clothes, toiletries etc.
Both of the above would be after discussing it with your DD of course.

two of my DCs are quite sentimental and so good gifts have been jewellery, jewellery boxes, photo books, good quality leather accessories (handbags/wallet/belt/keyring/washbags)

the who family love Lego so that’s always a success and the consumables like good quality make up/skin care is are always a hit.

other presents that have lasted well (but not ten years) are ear buds, kindle, sports equipment

Obviously it’s difficult to tell if an item will still be used 10 years on as tastes change but jewellery especially classic is always a good option for this. My daughter has had a Tiffany necklace for a year or so and hasn’t once taken it off. Her north face jacket has certainly had a LOT of wear too.

Otherwise I agree with PP, it’s usually makeup, skincare, scent etc that goes down well at this age, preferably a step up from the usual day to day stuff they get all year round

Pretty sure my DD won't have much in 10 years other than Pandora charms and other jewellery

Also DD gives us a list or even a PowerPoint presentation of what she wants

Anything she likes as fashionable now is surely really unlikely to still be to her taste in 10 years?
I think maybe simple /classic jewellery is the only exception to that

As for DS not a clue - he has no clue what he wants so it's very difficult

I did well for his birthday getting some quality wireless gaming headphones which he mentioned in passing and wasn't expecting and loves

For Christmas I got DD some wireless Sony headphones which have a similar spec so will also sound brilliant and are also noise cancelling

they should last a good few years

She broke her last wireless head phones so is using wired EarPods till she gets her new ones for Christmas

If I keep giving her her Christmas presents early which I'd love to then she has nothing to open on the day

I have form for doing this

Also a useful present that lasts is a Bluetooth speaker if she doesn't have one.

I can't think of anything DD would like now that she will also like in 10 yrs time.
Their tastes change so much that I doubt it would be possible.

Depending on her age if she's doing GCSEs or A Levels or similar then get her a MacBook because they last a long time and if it starts to lag or not charge after a few years just get apple to replace the battery like I did for mine and they're like new again

Or a new iPhone because they last

Who knows she might have all this already or you might buy these things throughout the year regardless of birthdays and Christmas. Everyone is different with different budgets and needs

But instead of lots of useless things one big expensive item is better and will last

Bizarrely I bought DD a table lamp which she told me to wrap for Christmas as an extra item

It wasn't meant as a gift just as a useful lamp to do her homework at night

That should last 10 years

Apart from jewellery I can't think of anything which would last 10 years. If you have the money, then iPads/phones/decent headphones/airpods are great gifts which would definitely get a good few years of use.

My dd pretty much has everything tech already, so I've bought things she'll enjoy using, like perfume, make up and clothes. I'm thinking of paying for her blond highlights. Admittedly none of this will last for years but she'll enjoy them for now.