ds been invited to a 13th birthday party. what present to get?

[bunjies]

So, what's the present buying etiquette for a teen birthday party? How much do you spend, what's cool to get. The boy in question has said he doesn't care what present he gets, which is great on one hand and completely unhelpful on the other. At least with girls you can buy jewellery, nail polish etc. What do you get boys??

The DC and all their friends tend to give and get money. Generally £10 a pop

I usually put £10 in a card for the boys.......Lazy I know but it was what my sons wanted! It isn't unusual for friends not to bother with gifts as they get older. They all just turn up to each others party.

I've found over the years that mine and other teenage boys we know only want money or expensive games for their xbox etc. I also buy xbox points or xbox Live if it's a close friend of the boys. I've tried clothes in the past, t-shirts, nice boxers etc but my kids have almost died of embarrassment when I've told them so again it's money and I've kept the clothes for them. Not much help other than that, sorry.

No sugarice that's very helpful. Anything I can do to spare me from ds' ire is greatly appreciated. Sounds like £10 cash is the way to go which saves me a huge amount of hassle. I think I'll get ds to buy the card though.

ds1 had a 13th birthday party and didnt get a single gift from his friends. a few brought a card and one gave him a gift card for game and another an itunes card, but out of 30 people that was it.
just as well he didnt have a party to receive gifts! (i think he did a bit actually as seemed a bit on opening the 7th or 8th card and nothing fallling out :o

Yep teens are a nightmare to buy for. Money or itunes voucher is the way to go, and hassle free.

daisy That's a bit rubbish eh? I'd always send mine with something for the birthday child

usually cash, it seems to be preferred over game and itunes vouchers.

I usually give cash with a couple of big bags of Haribo!

Your DS is NT, yes? In that case I would tell him to get his own presents for his friends. If his allowance is big enough it can come from that money, if not give him a tenner. It's up to him then to decide what to do with it - he can stick it in an envelope, use it for an iTunes voucher, or actually buy an object and wrap it up. A 13yo really should be in the position to achieve that much. DD1 has been doing this since she was 12 and now she is 13 would now not dream of asking me to buy or choose her friends' prezzies.