$500 in a UTMA account, with an age appropriate book about investing. You’re the custodian, but she decides what to do with it including distributing it as cash if she wants. If she takes it all out immediately, just say yes and nothing else.

Anonymous wrote:Experience/cash.
For my own kids I do investment accounts. They will appreciate if at about age 35.

UGH!

How about lunch and a shopping trip? If you can’t take her, her mom can. Let her pick her own things. Maybe use a VISA gift card, so she can use it again if she doesn’t see exactly what she wants. I’d imagine she will go for clothes, shoes and makeup.

Get real gold jewelry

Experience/cash.
For my own kids I do investment accounts. They will appreciate if at about age 35.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I asked my best friend. My goddaughter wouldn’t share what she really wanted. She’s too polite.

Going into 8th grade. Has a phone. Apple gift card?

So it isn’t your child? This seems inappropriate for a 13 yr old coming from someone that isn’t the parent, and isn’t a college fund contribution

Bike?

Musical instrument?

Why extravagant? Don’t make her uncomfortable

Can you tell us a bit more about her personality/interests?

OP here. I asked my best friend. My goddaughter wouldn’t share what she really wanted. She’s too polite.

Going into 8th grade. Has a phone. Apple gift card?

Ask her if there's something she'd really like. That will mean more than an expensive gift. If you want it to be a surprise maybe something for her sport or hobby. If she's into art maybe get her what supplies she uses a lot like her favorite drawing pencils and sketchbook.

Extravagant is tacky.

Work backwards from something meaningful to fit into budget. Some things are naturally expensive, and nice, but not extravagant, like travel or a first formal dress or (part of) first car for a driver.

I wish. She’s out of state now n a smaller city. Not a lot of art/theater. She’d have to go to Philly for big stores. The gift card she can use online.

An activity?

My 12 year old goddaughter who likes similar things would love tickets to a broadway style show and a nice dinner, or a $500 shopping spree at the mall.

If I had to guess her younger sister will prefer really good hockey tickets at the same age.

Can you go with her to something like this?

My goddaughter is turning 13 next month.

Any ideas on an extravagant gift? By extravagant I mean $500 or less. (Typically I spend about $50-75)

She has Kendra Scott necklaces. Has a few Lululemon pieces (she loves the brand).

Should I just get her a gift card to lululemon? It seems impersonal though.