Son turning 18 ideas for gift/celebration?

[Anonymous]

He has a car and doesn’t “need” anything really.

[Anonymous]

We did 18 gifts for DC's 18th birthday. I copied this idea from one I saw online, and DC loved it! Many gifts were very inexpensive, but we also included the "big" gift in the 18. Some gifts related to "privileges" of turning 18 (lottery ticket, sparklers, cigarettes - just kidding :wink, some included things we'd be giving anyway but connected to 18 ($18 gift card to a favorite restaurant, 18 $1 bills, etc.), some were silly, some were more thoughtful (inspirational book type things), some didn't cost anything, and some were nicer. Set your overall budget and go from there! I numbered the gifts to vary what would be opened when and ended with the nicest gift.

[Anonymous]

sponsor him and friends to go to Benihana or sakura. lots of fun!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:sponsor him and friends to go to Benihana or sakura. lots of fun!

That sounds great… for a 12 year old.

[Anonymous]

Could you ask him what he wants? Maybe he's saving for something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We did 18 gifts for DC's 18th birthday. I copied this idea from one I saw online, and DC loved it! Many gifts were very inexpensive, but we also included the "big" gift in the 18. Some gifts related to "privileges" of turning 18 (lottery ticket, sparklers, cigarettes - just kidding :wink, some included things we'd be giving anyway but connected to 18 ($18 gift card to a favorite restaurant, 18 $1 bills, etc.), some were silly, some were more thoughtful (inspirational book type things), some didn't cost anything, and some were nicer. Set your overall budget and go from there! I numbered the gifts to vary what would be opened when and ended with the nicest gift.

DP. Great idea! Could you share what some of the nicer gifts were?

[Anonymous]

A nice watch. It's a timeless gift, and something that he'll appreciate for years.

And DS and his friends are a little different than my generation, at that age. They are a little more into fashion and appearance. I know mine would love a nice accessory like that

[Anonymous]

OMG this is awesome. Mine is turning 18 soon and this is perfect. Thank you DCUM!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A nice watch. It's a timeless gift, and something that he'll appreciate for years.

And DS and his friends are a little different than my generation, at that age. They are a little more into fashion and appearance. I know mine would love a nice accessory like that

We are giving DD an engraved watch for her HS graduation rather than her 18th (which is six months earlier). I feel like 18th birthday is more an experience type of milestone, like a big trip. But people differ.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A nice watch. It's a timeless gift, and something that he'll appreciate for years.

And DS and his friends are a little different than my generation, at that age. They are a little more into fashion and appearance. I know mine would love a nice accessory like that

We are giving DD an engraved watch for her HS graduation rather than her 18th (which is six months earlier). I feel like 18th birthday is more an experience type of milestone, like a big trip. But people differ.

Sure. That's fair.

And like you said, people differ. But spending thousands on a trip for a kid always felt excessive to me. And to be honest, a lot of times, it felt a little disingenuous, especially if the full family is going. Like, is it really a gift to DD, if its a European trip for the whole family? Or is a family vacation serving double duty?

And if is not for the whole family, and you're just sending DD and a friend on a trip somewhere, well, that's just excessive for an 18yo bday gift, IMO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We did 18 gifts for DC's 18th birthday. I copied this idea from one I saw online, and DC loved it! Many gifts were very inexpensive, but we also included the "big" gift in the 18. Some gifts related to "privileges" of turning 18 (lottery ticket, sparklers, cigarettes - just kidding :wink, some included things we'd be giving anyway but connected to 18 ($18 gift card to a favorite restaurant, 18 $1 bills, etc.), some were silly, some were more thoughtful (inspirational book type things), some didn't cost anything, and some were nicer. Set your overall budget and go from there! I numbered the gifts to vary what would be opened when and ended with the nicest gift.

DP. Great idea! Could you share what some of the nicer gifts were?

Sure! DC is a girl, so:
- pair of earrings
- nicer purse
- sterling ring

The purse was the most expensive, but nothing too crazy.

Here's the entire list, if you want any ideas:
- favorite breakfast item for birthday morning
- box of favorite Keurig drink
- motivation book
- favorite candy
- Starbuck's gift card
- fidget for studying
- 6 pack of favorite bottled water
- earrings
- favorite dessert from a local bakery
- gift card to favorite lunch restaurant for exact amount of what she always got (seniors could leave for lunch at her school)
- gum
- lottery tickets
- sparklers
- "control" of her bank account (we made her use an old school registry prior to 18 to learn how to balance a checkbook - the gift was login info for online banking)
- $18 gift card to a slightly nicer restaurant she and her friends love
- ring
- 18 $1 bills (I went to the bank and got brand new bills - wish I'd thought ahead way back when to get them from the year she was born!)
- purse

Obviously, this could be ramped up or down for total cost, and I know some were a stretch (banking login!!), but DD thought it was fun and was excited to see everything wrapped. As you can see, several were things we'd be paying for anyway, so it kept the overall cost of actual gifts to a more reasonable amount.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A nice watch. It's a timeless gift, and something that he'll appreciate for years.

And DS and his friends are a little different than my generation, at that age. They are a little more into fashion and appearance. I know mine would love a nice accessory like that

We are giving DD an engraved watch for her HS graduation rather than her 18th (which is six months earlier). I feel like 18th birthday is more an experience type of milestone, like a big trip. But people differ.

I haven't worn a watch in over a decade. So I'd be so disappointed if my parents gave me this - it would make me feel like despite living with me for 18 years, they didn't know me at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sponsor him and friends to go to Benihana or sakura. lots of fun!

That sounds great… for a 12 year old.

We’ll my DS is turning 17 and that’s where he wants to take his friends. We’ll sit at another table. To each his own.

[Anonymous]

Mine is turning 18 too. And he's getting cash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sponsor him and friends to go to Benihana or sakura. lots of fun!

That sounds great… for a 12 year old.

We’ll my DS is turning 17 and that’s where he wants to take his friends. We’ll sit at another table. To each his own.

Fogo de Chao for a group of 18 yr old is perfect.