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18th birthday present?

Astrid

Veteran

My brother is going to be 18 soon. We siblings decided to buy a present together so that it can be something bigger for this special birthday (ideally for under 100€), but we have no clue what to get him. My parents don't know what to get for him either because when asked he doesn't wish for anything at all. They're probably going to give him money, but that's not something we can do too.

He doesn't really need anything for his hobbies (playing computer games, trumpet and climbing) as far as I know. And he doesn't give any clue whether there's something he'd like to have that he doesn't want to spend money on himself. Although there has to be because he never spends money on anything.

At this moment I'm desperate for at least some suggestion in which direction to look, because I have NO clue. Thanks for looking!

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23 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

Caro in Oz

Veteran

An experience rather than an object? I know people find it hard to buy for me because I don't really want/need anything but I love theatre tickets or movie tickets or similar; especially if it is something that pushes me a little i.e. not something I'd buy for myself. Lessons for something? Massage, exercise classes?

missvee

Veteran

I'm thinking along the same lines as Caro - tickets for a sports event, a mini trip, voucher for some activity ( paintball? ). Something connected to music maybe - any good jazz trumpet players coming to town? That could be a fun evening out for him.

ramya

Veteran

Ticket to a game? Ticket to some place he likes?

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks for the suggestions! I thought about getting him an 'experience' like Caro phrased it, but the problem is that I'd have to find something special enough that is not too far away from home. If he were here in Berlin it would be much easier, unfortunately there just isn't much going on back at home. Movie tickets are too generic, but he wouldn't generally be interested in theatre tickets or something similar. He's not a fan of a specific band or musician either, he only listens to the radio from time to time. I googled a bit and there's a Till Brönner (well known jazz trumpet player in Germany) concert not that far away I could buy tickets for, it's in July. Also there's the problem that all these events are better when you have someone to do them with - he doesn't have a girlfriend and I don't think his friends would be interested in anything 'cultural'.

ETA

I told my sister about the Till Brönner concert and she liked the idea, my mum thought it would be nice too. We might go with that.

ETA2

Forget it, seems like he plays mostly flugelhorn on the new album, that wouldn't be of interest.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

When I can't think of anything else I usually resort to something food related. If that's not an option, what about a new pair of his favorite shoes (we all need replacements at least once a year or so it seems)?

Isabel

Veteran

Is there a place where he could take a one time or two time lesson of something ? Whether it be rock climbing or a musical instrument or dance or break dancing ? Something fun and maybe unusual for him ? A zip line ? A beer making session ? I actually gave that as a present to my husband and father for father's day. They had an absolute blast making beer and then putting a picture of themselves on the bottle. And these are all things that he can do alone.

Gaylene

Veteran

Two ideas that proved useful for me in similar circumstances:

Talk to one, or more, of his closest buddies--or some other person who he sees on a regular basis like his music teacher or climbing coach--who are outside of the immediate family. They may have a different perspective on what he might enjoy.

Pool the money and put it into a "family gift card" that he can draw on in the next year or two. An 18-year-old is entering a stage where his life will be changing in the next few years and having a extra stash of euros could come in handy at a future date, especially if he moves away from home.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Texstyle. Not sure if I can think of something food related... The shoes idea won't work either because he doesn't have favourites I could buy again, he's not interested in clothes and just wears any old pair of sneakers or trekking shoes. I wish he were interested, I'd have a much easier time then!

Thanks Isabel! That beer making session sounds fantastic. I've googled around but I haven't found anything that sounds good and is in the budget so far. Or it's stuff he's already doing or has done in the past anyway.

Thanks Gaylene! I might do that. And I can see how that money would be useful in the next few years, but he's probably already getting money from my parents and I'd just like him to have something else too. I got my DSLR for my 18th birthday and I loved using it for years. I want him to have something he enjoys too.

TraceyLiz65

(website)

Veteran

My husband's siblings have gone togehter and gotten him nice watches for each of the big b'days and it means the world to him!

harmonica

Veteran

Those boys are difficult! I like the "experience" gift, the money-for-later gift and the watch. I'm just dropping off random ideas here: You could make or do something personal for him - like writing him a letter of some of your memories from growing up with him or make a photo album / poster, make a song(if you can sing ;-)) or video for him. Good luck!

rabbit

Veteran

There is a lot of gear associated with rock climbing, and there are places with famous pitches. Gear can often be upgraded for more safety and comfort. Does he climb with someone? If so they could give you ideas or perhaps the name of a shop where a gift certificate would be appreciated, outdoor sports enthusiasts sometimes develop communities around shops in my experience.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Tracey! I do love watches myself and I love the idea, but he has a watch he likes and doesn't want a better one, my parents asked him.

Thanks Harmonica! Something personal is always nice, I agree. He's getting a photo album with pictures of him from birth until now, also decorated with pictures he drew as a child and other stuff. My mum made it, she made one like that for me too. I'm regularly adding pictures, I think at the rate I'm going I should be out of space when I'm thirty. My sister and I also wanted to play a duet, but I'm not sure I'll be able to get enough practice in until then. We'll see.

Thanks Rabbit! I talked with my sister and we're probably going to do just that, get some nice sweater or jacket from an outdoor brand he can wear to climb, on our Scotland trip or just everyday really. His climbing gear is fairly new, I don't think he needs any upgrades yet. He mostly goes climbing with my dad and also sometimes with my sister, but they do have a group for young people too who meet up from time to time.

carter

Veteran

Gift experiences my kids have loved through the years...zip line with a friend, scuba lessons, paintball with some buddies, rafting trip with friends and a guide. My daughter's favorite gift ever was from her boyfriend...a trip to the shooting range with a lesson (she'd give anything to join the CIA;-)). My kids have always preferred experiences to gifts. My son will be 18 in November, so I'm hearting this thread to come back for ideas. He wants to go skydiving...so NOT what I'm going to give him.

Mona

Veteran

My son is turning 16 soon so I am also looking for ideas like this. I will be hearting this thread too.

JAileen

Veteran

iTunes gift card? That's what I've given kids that age for high school graduation. I thought of that because he plays the trumpet, and might like some trumpet recordings.

Also, even though you're going in together, you don't have to put all the money in one gift. You could give several things.

Irene

Veteran

This is for your brother -guy, family member- so it might not apply but the best present I ever got was for my 18th birthday. It was my group of friends'.

They gave me this box full of silly stuff for my coming-of-age. I had a Cosmopolitan magazine, shampoo, condoms, the most hideous earrings ever -I don't know where they got those lol-, stuff like that. I laughed so much, I thought it was super funny. And cheap, too.

Other than something ridiculous like this, I don't know. Does he have a girlfriend? Maybe a nice dinner/weekend for the two of them... or some experience set for him and a friend.

cheryl

Veteran

Since he is a gamer he would probably love a gift card to wherever he buys his games from and maybe a bucket of snacks and goodies to enjoy while playing.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Carter! In our family we don't usually give experiences as a gift, probably because there's not that much on offer that would be really special enough to gift and not too expensive.

Mona, I hope you get some good ideas!

Thanks Jaileen, that's true. We might get several smaller things instead.

Thanks Irene! Not the right thing for my brother, but I love your gift description. Although it would be just right to get him a box full of silly stuff, after he didn't wish for anything... He doesn't have a girlfriend.

Thanks Cheryl! You're probably right, but a gift card to our electronic store reads to me like giving money and I didn't want to do that.

Astrid

Veteran

Just wanted to update this and say that we're going with something similar to what Irene suggested - a box with sweets and different little presents in it. I'm going to go shopping for some of the content later today, I hope it's going to be successful. I want things that are useful, funny and a little unexpected. Something he wouldn't buy for himself. This is revenge because he didn't wish for anything... I hope he likes it!

Ledonna N.

Veteran

Astrid, I know this is late in coming but, you said he play video games. In Chicago we have a gamming center known as Game Stop. I have an 18yr old nephew who is a gamer and I buy gift certificates To game stop he seems to love them that way he can get what he really wants.

nancywalters

Its probably too late for his birthday but how about a nice pair of headphones, a gaming keyboard, a gaming mouse, or a larger monitor. These items will support a "gaming habit" and are things he might not think to buy. Any of these items can cost $100 to several hundred dollars.

Carla

Veteran

We do the experience thing too.

For youngest DS who has a birthday 27 December, we got tickets for him and his bro to a concert (Trans Siberian Orchestra) . We bought plane tickets to Toronto with points from our charge card, and hotel accommodations from frequent use points with the chain. I had subway tokens from a prior trip. A map of Toronto. All got assembled into a binder with printed directions for how to get around to key places. Also, we gave him a whack of cash for meals and shopping. We gave the binder to him on his birthday, put him and his bro on the plane the next day and picked them up at the airport 2 days later. He told us if we wanted to do the same thing for all his future birthdays, he was game!

Eldest DS is interested in cooking, and DH has found a resto that offers cooking classes once a week!!

I think the best presents have a little bit of fantasy fulfillment in them.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks again! The birthday has been and gone, the trip home was a bit of an ordeal, I posted about it here in OffTopic. But the birthday party with family was great! We had wonderful weather so we all could sit outside in the garden until the evening hours. We siblings got him a box with a lot of little presents in it, similar to what Irene suggested. Sweets and some silly stuff (for example a "Best of 96" CD and I bought him a sign that read "It's never too late for a happy childhood"... ) and some useful things (book with cocktail recipes, Tetris mug with the inscription "I love gaming" on it etc.) and some sentimental ones (Picture frame with pics from us siblings for example). That way he had a lot of presents to unwrap where he had no idea what would be in it. He loved it! Especially because he knew what he would get from my parents beforehand. They gave him a model car with money in it (of course he doesn't have to use it that way) and he got a photo album with pictures from him (and family) from birth to majority, mixed in with mementos my mum kept. She did the same for me.

Below is a picture of the birthday boy and myself, please excuse if I'm looking a bit done in. It was the end of the day and I had gotten up at 4 am to get the train home at five (see here).

@Runcarla
This is definitely a great present he will remember always. I once got a similar present: a trip to London on my 13th birthday with my mum, my best friend and her mum. My birthday's in November and I got a present that told me I would be leaving on the trip tomorrow and already was on leave from school! It was totally awesome, I'll always remember it. Oh and my friend also got the trip as a birthday present, but in June already! She wasn't allowed to tell me anything and she didn't.

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