Gift ideas for 18 year old DS / it's a challenging one

[LilBatFace]

I'm out of ideas for gifts for my soon to be 18 year old DS. He has his birthday in December so I've got a double problem!

He's very lucky and fortunate and already has an iPad, iPhone, Xbox and AirPods - basically all the tech he could need and none of it needs an upgrade. He has plenty of nice clothes and wouldn't be interested in anything particularly sentimental such as a watch. He has plenty of treat type food stuffs

He also has a part time job so money of his own and he's already having driving lessons

He likes football but is a season ticket holder for his team and has all the kit etc. he likes gaming but has a complete set up with nothing needing to be upgraded

So I feel a bit stuck. He probably wouldn't appreciate me making a charity donation in his name  so any ideas would be gratefully received

What are you getting your late teen boys?

Gym subscription
tickets to a music gig
The start of a holiday fund for the summer

Cash would probably be appreciated.
I recently got teen dd a charging station that does the buds, watch and phone in one and is portable.
A fragrance? Could spend a bit here JPG/ Valentino etc…
An experience of some sort? Stadium tour or driving a racing car?
Pringles, noodles, Japanese food? Other food or drink? A nice bottle of alcohol?

Big screen/projector?
Gaming chair?
Swiss army knife/similar multitool knife?
Piece of jewellery (not sure if that would be in your "sentimental" category)?

They just want cash I think! For my 18yo last birthday we got one of those boxes where you pull out the notes one by one in a long strip - it made them smile seeing how many would come out.

Chocolate Santa
Socks
Couple of paperbacks
Money/Voucher

What about

A yearly subscription for 'game pass' for the Xbox, I think it use to be called 'gold', mine have changed over to ps5 .

A top up for their 'Xbox wallet'

How much are you looking to spend?

All great ideas but he has savings, he has a gym membership, he has a gaming chair, plenty of treat style food, he has a decent penknife - he has a yearly game pass for Xbox

He's very very tricky , mainly because he's a very fortunate lad who's lucky enough to have many nice things!

The experience idea is decent - I could give that more thought

The budget is perhaps £500, give or take. I usually do around £150 for birthdays but as it's his 18th, that's my budget

I could transfer him money yes but he's got plenty of his own

Tickets to a comedy gig?
Quad biking, water sports experience voucher

DS's friend got annual National Trust membership for his 18th. I think that's probably a bit of a niche present amongst young people these days, but are there any memberships to things that he would like?

My DS would love records, guitar pedals, band shirts.

For £500 though? I'd do a weekend city trip with him.

@LilBatFace £500 is a lot to spend if there's nothing specific he wants.
Spend £50 and put £450 towards a car fund.

A pension?

I sound like a stuck record but I keep saying coins, with your budget a sovereign or even a gold bar.

https://www.royalmint.com/gifts/bullion-gifts/happy-birthday-1g-gold-bar-minted/

Tickets for something, a gig, cinema, theatre, favourite comedian. a few years ago I got my niece tickets for 'avenue Q' which went down well.

A lesson in something, making an axe, flying lesson, foraging...

A mini fridge for his room?

Is he getting ready to go to uni?

Another thing I got my niece was a 'bag of requirement' for uni. It was a weekend bag and I put a bit of everything, first aid kit, paracetamol, emergency chocolate, flip flops, hat and scarf, emergency brick phone, supermarket vouchers, corkscrew, tin opener, USB stick - you get the idea.

A drone? A home beer dispenser?

Doe he go to away football games? You can get a scratch off map of stadia

I got foster son a Tag Heuer watch for his 18th. He had always said he liked dh's watch so got him a similar one.

Supercar driving experience
Ziplining, skydiving, wing walking experience
Wristwatch
After shave
Tickets to a big event

Streaming options for uni or any other tech type stuff he might appreciate.
My DC got cinema membership as he’s a film nut. He’s had quite a few subscription type presents.
Sounds a bit practical, but he’s getting a decent electric razor for Christmas because his original one is really just a small travel razor and dealing with Movember has highlighted the need for a better one.

@sashh that's the one!! Yes thank you. Thats just the inspiration I needed

He is VERY into learning about investments and he practices with an investment account etc etc - just for fun as he's still 17

So a gold bar is perfect. It's tangible (I'm a sucker for a gift you can actually see!) , it will always have a value and yep - that's the one!

Take him somewhere! A whirlwind weekend somewhere with some night culture and atmosphere, a grown up trip that he will remember

One of my son's favourite things is a waterproof speaker he uses to play music in the shower.

And once again my gift selection skills are working.

Yep OP I got my brother's children half sovereigns when they were tweens, there value has gone up and up and personally I think owning a a gold bar is cool. Hopefully he will too.

You know him best- but for me coins or gold wouldn't be something I'd appreciate. Its not decorative or useful or fun, and you can only USE it if you sell it, which is a bit shit.
For that kind of budget if be thinking a trip/experience to celebrate. At 18 I think he's more likely to want to go with friends than you, is there anything he would like to do? A day experience, or a weekend trip somewhere?
Flying lesson/s?
Vip tickets (for him plus friend) to a bigger football game?
Skydiving?
Driving experience in a fancy car?

Omg sashh, you sound like a mega auntie!
Would have loved an auntie like you, your gifts are so thoughtful 🙂

Watching the thread as am completely out of ideas for DS1 and DS2, Christmas and an 18th in Jan 😬
Gets harder as they get older!

For my children's 18th birthdays I bought them (separately) weekends away. One went to Prague, one went to Venice. They went with their partners and had a great time. If he has a best mate or a girlfriend you could easily do that for £500. Memorable, interesting and if you wanted to have something to give him on the day it could be a guide book to where he's going (I know nobody uses actual books anymore but it's the thought and they can read about it before they go).

Or if he's not ready to travel alone you could take him?

@Threewheeler1 thank you that is really sweet of you to say. Despite not having children I do seem to be able to get them things they like.

A few years ago the family arranged a surprise 80th for my dad. I took a polaroid camera and some bubbles that don't pop. My cousin's little girl called me, "the magic lady"..

If you have a budget of £500 how about a weekend away somewhere. We took our son's to Prague for their 18ths and DD went to Manic to watch Green Day.

Prague is beautiful in the snow.