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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

Please share the amount you spent or planning to spend on your DD for her 16th.

30 replies

icouldjusteatacroissant · 28/08/2015 22:33

She has just presented me with her 'birthday list' (didn't know she was compiling one!). It's all clothes and shoes, and the total is £300 all but £2. I am just a bit Shock at this, although 16 is one of the special birthdays I think?

Is this how much parents are spending on their darling dearly beloved daughters for their 16th birthday? Wouldn't be so bad if she was one, but she's a lazy, self obsessed, greedy, selfish, little twat

OP posts:
2catsfighting · 28/08/2015 22:55

Well I definitely wouldn't be spending that much. My budget for birthday presents is from £20 -£100 depending on what else they have had spent on them recently.

HearTheThunderRoar · 29/08/2015 07:59

Spent about £75 in total on DD's 16th in May, half for a meal out with friends and other half on her present. Plus another £20 on a meal out for us.

Tbh I wouldn't spend more than £100 on a birthday (16th or not) unless there was something she really wanted, I don't have the money for start.

SheGotAllDaMoves · 29/08/2015 08:29

DD hasn't asked for anything, but will receive;

A ticket to see a band (£40)
Money for a band tee shirt (£20)
A young person's driving lesson (£60)
A jumper (£18)
A box set (£40)
A book (£6)
A diffuser for her bedroom (£12)

However, I would not spend any money we don't have. Ever. And DD would be happy with whatever we gave her (some years when we've been away on her birthday it's been very little).

TeenAndTween · 29/08/2015 09:57

Birthday lists are suggestions not orders.

DD1 turned 16 just after GCSEs and prom, so had a very quiet birthday with presents probably < £100. She asked for new phone but I said wait until starting college to see what features you want/need. So I'm expecting Christmas to be more expensive.

I think 18th is 'bigger' than 16th anyway.

Savagebeauty · 29/08/2015 10:00

I spent about £200 plus £100 on 2 small parties/ gatherings.
Did the same for 18th.
But we could afford it so no debt.

TravellingToad · 29/08/2015 10:02

I don't count 16 as a "big" birthday, for me that's 18 and 21. But judging by her attitude you mention in the op I wouldn't be spending £300 on her!

The list is suggestions not orders. Pick a few things from it.

TinklyLittleLaugh · 29/08/2015 10:06

I spent about £100 on presents/cash. She also got a nicer than usual birthday celebration as it coincided with the end of GCSEs and her group splitting up to go to different sixth forms. I think the party probably cost close to £150.

SanityClause · 29/08/2015 10:10

I can't remember, now, and it was only in May! She had some new DMs, and some cute socks, a diamond stud for her piercing, and a few other bits. We also bought theatre tickets for her take a friend to something she wanted to go to. Lots of her friends had parties, but she doesn't like to be the centre of attention.

I would get some things from the list, but not all, if you don't want to spend that much. At 16, she could start to do some babysitting, of similar, to earn a bit for herself, if she really wants the other things.

YeOldeTrout · 29/08/2015 10:12

Same budget as 15th & 17th, I'm not much into birthdays anyway!

annatha · 29/08/2015 10:19

Bear in mind you've got her 17th next year (driving lessons, provisional licence) and 18th the year after (big birthday) so I'd downplay this birthday! As others have said pick a couple of things off the list and maybe start talking to her about part time jobs now she's old enough so she can treat herself to things like shoes.

ThatIsNachoCheese · 29/08/2015 10:26

I think about 250 because she needs a new laptop which we are putting 200 in for. And I also bought her a ring so she would have something she could keep forever.
That's the important bit I think, I've always been quite bitter that I never got anything I could keep from my Mum.
To be fair she does really need a laptop for her college work, otherwise the family laptop will never be seen again!

thornrose · 29/08/2015 10:31

I'm getting dd a laptop but it will be from my sis and mum as well, we're splitting it.

I'll probably take her shopping and out to Nandos and that's it.

I don't really see 16 as a big deal. I like the ring idea though!

Cocolepew · 29/08/2015 10:35

About 60- 70, cant really remember. She got a kindle hd fire. We would have went out for a meal too.

BestIsWest · 29/08/2015 10:44

We paid for DD and 3 friends to go and see a band,train tickets, then a sleepover here. I can't remember much in the way of presents, in total about £150 I think.

However a couple if her friends had these totally over the top Sweet Sixteen parties. She's 22 now so I'm not sure if this is still a thing.

Original poster
icouldjusteatacroissant · 29/08/2015 10:56

Wow, thanks all. Looking at your replies, I think maybe half of her list, so £150 tops.

She had a part time job, but as I mentioned, she's lazy, so jacked it in cos it was too hard. Poor love.

OP posts:
wickedwaterwitch · 29/08/2015 11:02

Ds had a new iPhone - so iirc it was £300

Plus a party (catered) which was expensive but great!

SanityClause · 29/08/2015 11:04

Well, if she wants the rest of the stuff, she'll have to find another job, won't she. Wink

Lilaclily · 29/08/2015 11:04

Gosh I'd tell her £100 & a meal out with friends or £150 & no meal out

Milliways · 31/08/2015 11:26

My DD used to make lists of ideas, she never expected it all. It also gave us ideas to tell Grandparents etc they could get, or how to use any money she might be sent for a present for.
The biggest present she asked for, giving is lots of notice, was a bicycle for her 21st as hers had got rather trashed at uni and she would need one to get to work on.

BackforGood · 01/09/2015 20:23

I didn't count 16th birthdays as anymore special than 15ths or 17ths.

Surely Birthday lists are a suggestion of things you'd like, so that anyone who is planning to get you something can choose from a selection of things they know you'd like? It's not an order.

How much you spend varies hugely - partly on income, but more so on what is traditional, or normal in your household.

One us us might say they spent £10, another £100 and another £500, but it makes no difference to what you feel is right to spend.

Maybe this is a good time to mention that x hours in the PT job she left would have equalled this, that, or the other item on he list of things she'd like ?

kslatts · 02/09/2015 12:13

We are buying dd1 a new purse and will put some money in it (probably £50), we will also be having a party at home for family and about 12 of dd's friends

Sundance2741 · 02/09/2015 19:45

Not there yet but I wouldn't see 16 as particularly special. My dd will be 15 soon. She always makes a list but I'd only choose one thing from it (usually the most expensive depending on what she wants) and let the rest of the family choose from the rest. It would be around £40 - £50 unless she needed something bigger (eg bike). Then she get a party/ outing too. Last year it was bowling and a meal with friends. This year she wants to go to the theatre - but I am getting theatre tokens free via my credit card to pay for most of that.

ThatIsNachoCheese · 02/09/2015 20:16

See I DO see 16 as special. Maybe it's just me Grin

GreenShadow · 02/09/2015 20:59

DS was 16 a few months ago but we didn't treat it as a particularly significant birthday. We spent about £80 on him. When his older brothers were 18, I think we spent somewhere around £200, but it's not a fixed amount.

Mama1209 · 15/06/2023 20:23

I’m so surprised at this! My daughter wants a new phone £700 I’ve got her some jewellery £100 and planning a party £700 my husband is going mad and I thought he was being tight as sweet 16 is a big deal but reading these comments I think he’s right!

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