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Teenagers

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

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Original poster

Christmas for 18 year olds-what are they getting?

68 replies

Sparklingbrook · 02/12/2017 14:18

DS1 is 18 and in his first year at Uni. Can't help but think Christmas will be a bit different for him this year.

In our family 18 is the cut off for Christmas presents, so he won't be getting anything from the relatives (although his younger brother will!).

He's sent a few ideas through as to what he might like from us. Just wondered if anyone was buying theirs anything exciting/interesting this year. Or are we really just looking at giving them money?

OP posts:

ssd · 02/12/2017 23:40

mine don't even want microsoft points anymore

bigbluebus · 03/12/2017 19:41

My DS couldn't really come up with anything he needed when I asked him what he wanted - and he's just had a birthday too!
So far I have bought him a couple of Sabatier knives, as he loves cooking and says the ones I sent him to Uni with are crap and blunt! Also ordered him some curry spice mixes - again cooking theme and he doesn't have lots of jars of spices at Uni, so ready mixed spices are the way to go. Am also going to buy him a couple of tickets for an exhibition that will be on over Easter/Summer in a city local to here that he would be interested in going to. He did say he would like a phone upgrade - and as we still pay his contract I might consider doing that too. That will be about it I think. He will still get some gifts/vouchers from relatives as we still do 'the children' even though they are all now adults.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 03/12/2017 19:58

YY I think the problem is they don't really need stuff. Like ssd I want to go present shopping but there's no point.

DS1 has texted with a bag he likes. It's hideous but I am going to order it anyway.

OP posts:

Maryz · 03/12/2017 20:48

I refuse to give vouchers. I'm also avoiding cash as their disposable income is currently greater than mine on account of them not paying keep (students, but living at home).

I'm fed up finding unused vouchers. Also, where we live, vouchers devalue at the rate of about a fiver a month, so a 20 euro voucher is defunct after four months, by which stage they've barely taken it out of the envelope

So I'm buying random crap they wouldn't otherwise bother with. Boxers/knickers, selection boxes, socks, possibly perfume/aftershave if I'm feeling generous.

I've also found alien eggs (on Santa list in 2004), a rubiks cube (Santa list 2007), guitar picks and strings, marbles (Santa list 2002), a graduate build-a-bear (dd), earphones and power banks (not expensive, and constantly breaking/getting lost), naice shampoo, three colour pens, refill pads (hopefully they are studying), chocolate, spices and random Irish foodstuffs (for the one in Australia), etc, etc.

Basically I'm satisfying my need to shop for them (in pound shops and supermarkets) while spending very little

bigbluebus · 03/12/2017 22:25

Maryz Why do they not use vouchers? I found 2 x £25 Amazon vouchers on DS's desk whilst he was away. I made him load them on to his Amazon account when he was home the other weekend along with another one he just got for his birthday. I explained to him that it is real money and he actually needs to spend it. He's 21 FFS - why does he need telling? He had a pile of Argos vouchers he needed to use in the Summer too. I actually suggested something he might like to buy with them and he did order it and collect it - the £40 item cost him about £5. It's like they are too lazy to think about what to buy (although some might say that about the people who sent the vouchers in the 1st place)

MycatsaPirate · 03/12/2017 22:34

DD is 19, we have bought her a new stereo for her car - the existing one is the factory fitted one with a cassette player!

The new one has the phone hands free and Bluetooth streaming thingy - I don't know exactly because it's technical but apparently it's all good. It's getting fitted on the 19th when she is home for a flying visit as she has two hospital appointments. At least she will have music to listen to on the four hour drive back to uni.

Other stuff I've bought her is a penguin ice scraper for the car, a car air freshener (she does spend a lot of time driving to placements), some stationary and a few other bits.

I agree it's getting harder to buy them actual stuff now but as DD rarely gets time to do paid work then I know I can always resort to buying essentials like underwear, socks and toiletries.

kath6144 · 04/12/2017 14:42

DS20 is second year at uni - we have just bought him a new wok (bigger than basic one he took last year) for his birthday last week, plus he bought himself a slow cooker last year, which he uses regularly, so some ideas if they like cooking?

He also watches some of the old BBC comedies on youtube, so we have bought DVD sets in past years.

I am struggling for xmas though, he wanted a uni hoody, so have got that (DS was going to buy one last year but didn't it seems) and have got a variety of stocking items, but cant think of anything else for a main present. Looks like it will be money.

DD17 on the other hand has an almost endless list of ideas, plus wants money too of course. Yes girls are definitely easier!!

lljkk · 04/12/2017 16:20

I hate receiving vouchers & can struggle to find anything I want to buy with them. Unless it's Sainsbury's :). or a supermarket that is in my town, at least.

LineysRunner · 04/12/2017 16:31

Spare charger and lead
Earphones
His favourite Lynx don't judge us and shaving foam
Sweets, various, including one of those mega bars of Cadburys
Boxers and socks from somewhere 'designer'
Memory stick
CASH

LineysRunner · 04/12/2017 16:31

ssd · 04/12/2017 18:23

see, those things on Lineys list are things them seem to get whenever, except the mega choc bar....

LineysRunner · 04/12/2017 19:44

I know, it's a bit shit really. But it'll save him some money when he goes back to university and doesn't have to buy them. And he's getting the train back so will gave to carry it.

I'm not very inspired.

He really just wants money tbh.

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 04/12/2017 19:48

DH asked me what I had for Christmas when I was 18. I have absolutely no idea and neither does he.

I had had a full time job for 2+ years at that age though so not a poor student or anything.

I have ordered him a PS4 game that he wants and a jumper so far. Oh and got a selection box.

OP posts:

ssd · 05/12/2017 09:30

I think I'll end up stealing some ideas from Lineys list, I just can't think of anything else

my ds's live at home and I seem to be buying them stuff all the time so really dont know what to do for Christmas

as aid earlier, all ds1 wants is money, ds2 wants a stocking so I'm getting one for ds1 as I dont want him to just get some sweets and an envelope, though that would probably suit him....

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 05/12/2017 09:32

I have just been browsing Not in the High Street. I really need to stop looking.

I have ordered him a top that he may or may not like (he likes the make) from JD sports.

OP posts:

ssd · 05/12/2017 09:52

I got ds1's girlfriend a nice thing from there last year, do they have boys stuff too?

I wanted to buy him a shirt but he told me he wants to pick it himself.....

I got ds2 a top at the weekend but he only likes vintage second hand stuff from certain designers...bloody difficult the pair of them

what happened to the days you could go into the disney shop and get everything?

ssd · 05/12/2017 09:53

sb, where do you get school shirts? ds2 needs new and tesco slim fit isnt cutting it anymore

TheSecondOfHerName · 05/12/2017 09:55

The 17 year old has asked for money to spend on booking tickets for summer festivals.

He'll still be getting a stocking though, and I've put some thought into the contents.

Intercom · 05/12/2017 09:55

How about a gift voucher for "Just Eat" so he can order a takeaway sometime?

Original poster

Sparklingbrook · 05/12/2017 09:56

DS2 (15) is wearing the Banner ones from the uniform shop still. He seems unbothered by cut or style which surprises me.

I yearn for the days you could go to ELC spend £50 get a big present in a huge box, and they would be happy with that and some cheap other stuff.

OP posts:

ssd · 05/12/2017 10:06

oooohhhhh just eat gift voucher is a good call

I too yearn for the power ranger days when a red ranger outfit and a morpher was all they needed, that or a football and a new strip

ofmenandmice · 05/12/2017 15:46

I have boys 19 and 21. Relatives have never sent presents so that hasn't changed as they got older. I will scale it down a little for the older one as I think 21 is a fair cut off for the "big" present.
DS2 is getting an Amazon Echo. A thing which seems to me to have no use or purpose but I know he will absolutely love.
DS1 is getting stuff for his car, a sports holdall, sports equipment.
Both will get a pile of pants and socks, toiletries and chocolate.
Impressed that your DS keeps his dressing gown on Sparkling. Never been known here.

Maryz · 05/12/2017 16:34

Ah, but ssd if you mourn those days you should also remember trying to convince a four year old that the latest hot-wheels ad was a pack of lies exaggerated, that alien eggs didn't grow real aliens, and that Mr Frost DOESN'T FUCKING WORK.

Dressing gowns are compulsory here - due to the arctic conditions in the hall. ds even does his up when it's really cold.

ssd · 05/12/2017 18:31

thats true maryz, I was up at 6am every morning in those days with them, thank God thats over

ssd · 05/12/2017 18:42

and ds2 was in with me for years...

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