Lower budget parents of TEENAGERS - what are you buying?

[lechatnoir]

There's another similar thread running but virtually no suggestions for teenagers who are past the age of toys & games. So, anyone looking to spend c.£100-£150 on your teenager, what are you buying? I have boys 15-19 & so far there's talk of a £110 pair of trainers, aftershave (as seen on Tiktok for £85😮) & some wildly expensive headphones.

Driving experience at Mercedes world (in Weybridge). Half an hour for £60, which is obv pricey but getting to drive a £70k brand new G wagon off road was worth every penny for our car obsessed DS!

Smores making kit comes with flame thing but I think it will be a great novelty

Silk pillow case, last years went down a storm.

Perfume on offer
Sol stuff.
Costa coffee voucher thing

Why don't you tell them what the budget is? Tell them that if they want the £110.00 trainers that will be their only present or if they want a pile to open they need to choose cheaper things. At 15 and 19 they should know how much things cost and that people have a budget.

I'd rather buy the £110 trainers than lots of small bits and risk them not getting the one thing they really want.

My budget for DS is around £150 this year - he has all the tech so I've gone for scent, pyjamas, a couple of books and nice chocolate.

In previous years I've bought as smaller presents, oodies, a heated massage chair, jlab ear buds ( nice quality if you didn't want AirPods ), F1 model cars, trainers, PlayStation games for boys. All decent gifts but not in the same league as £300 headphones!

I don't tend to spend much, DD15 is getting £50, a cheddar cheese bomb, and teas from Bird and Blend, all of which are things she loves. She also wants a box set of a 2000s series she's been watching.
She has a tonne of clothes and books, the only band merch she wants she has already.

Will do a stocking with tiny things, lip balm, pens, underwear, chocolate orange.

£100-150 is a low budget spend? Sounds a decent amount to me.

How about a small Bluetooth speaker for listening to music off their phone? I got my 19 year old one fir his birthday and he loves it. Only cost £28 but is good quality.

I need this thread for inspiration! Ds14 has seriously expensive taste and very few hobbies. He's asked for a £120 PC mouse and a £70 tracksuit top (which tbh is better than the £300 hoodie for his birthday!).

Things that have got in the past that might give others ideas...

• Hamper of favourite sweets and snacks.
• Mini fridge.
• Dupe fragrances (I use the essence vault, ds doesn't mind these but would be unhappy with dupe clothing)
• oodies
• wireless charger alarm clock (tiktok shop)
• football away days scratch off poster
• away football tickets, he's still under 16 so these aren't too expensive yet.
• baking ingredients hamper
• trainer wipes

ds10 got an over the door basketball hoop, and ds14 hasn't been able to stay away from it!!

My DS is 16 but not into the 'trendy' stuff, I think he wouldn't be seen dead in white fox or drinking prime etc... He already has a PS5 so thats the most expensive thing he could want he already has.

He is just getting things like merch from his favorite bands, funko pop, headphone holder, games (like a dart board).

I'm struggling to think of a 'big' item for him. I looked into gig tickets but they are close to £150+ a ticket now a days so just not possible.

Vinted can be good for bnwt stuff
T k maxx is good for fancy boxers and also fragrance
Typo has ramen bowls
Oodies
Uno has a new version out
Harper Collins website has 40% off books

Last year I got one of my teens a cheapo bluetooth speaker (can of coke sized) and a bag to put it in on the bike (from Decathlon). Winner, hoping for similar inspiration this year!