18th birthday gift suggestions please.....

15 years ago

Hi - I am mostly a lurker, but have learned a lot as a result. When my dd turned 16, I read about great gift ideas here.

Me niece is turning 18 soon and I would like to get her a gift. Typically we exchange $$ or gift cards with nieces and nephews (at their request) - but now she works part-time and has a decent income.

And so, I would like to get her a special gift for her 18th birthday with a budget of $50.-$75.

Aside from jewelry, what have you given (or received) that was special?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Maura

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Comments (11)

sue_va
15 years ago
Assuming she is out of high school, is she going to college?

What are her interests, hobbies, etc?

Good to see lurkers turned posters!

Sue
Maura63
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Sue -

Yes, she will be going to college, and we will also be celebrating her HS graduation - and so another gift. That one I have a better handle on though.

Sadly, I don't know her well enough to know her interests and hobbies. She is a responsible, independent young lady. When she was younger she used to like craft projects -- she enjoys being with her friends and is close to her family. We see her just a few times a year....

...thanks for your reply :-)
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Thanks, everybody. I feel real good about the swimming lessons. Last summer, we (sprites and I) were sitting outside chatting about everything on their minds, and she asked me to measure how tall she was. She finally told me that she had been invited to a friend's swim party and the shallow end was so many inches deep. So we compared her height to the depth of the pool. She also wanted a description of what it felt like to be under water, did it hurt to upen your eyes....could you see? As much as I tried to make it sound like fun, I could tell that she was troubled and anxious. Turns out that she faked the proverbial stomach ache so that ahe didn't have to go. Poor thing, she's so athletic and physically fearless in everything I've seen her do. I think that will love learning how to swim and overcoming her fear. About the cake......SHE will decide what she wants to make. We've done layer cakes, buttercream frosting, she's enamoured with pastry tips, etc. I'll pin her down tomorrow so that I can be sure that I have everything.
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talley_sue_nyc
15 years ago
I've mentioned before my "reference shelf for life" idea--a set of books (buy 'em used) w/ etiquette, homekeeping, financial, medical info.

There are books that compile all those topics together.

Something whose subtext is "you're a grownup now!"

Or, some sort of "tool" for her next stage of life--a PDA (like a Palm, or something), or a really good paper-based planner. (depending how much $ that is, and whether she's got one)
Jodi_SoCal
15 years ago
Speaking of books ... give her a copy of The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason. Excellent, quick read story on how to save money. I've given it to several young people.

Read the reviews at the link below.

Jodi-

Here is a link that might be useful: Richest Man in Babylon
lydia1959
15 years ago
If she's going away to college she might appreciate a personalized blanket. There are people on eBay and probably others you know that can make really neat blankets/quilts from your neice's favorite tee shirts OR they can be made with photos transferred onto cotton squares and made into a quilt.

The only reason I thought of this is because I am getting ready for a garage sale and kept finding all sorts of cute tee shirts that my DD has outgrown (ones from her Girl Scout troop, high school clubs, rock bands she saw in concert, that sort of thing) so I put those all away and someday hope to have a tee-shirt quilt (like the one in the link) made for her.

Here is a link that might be useful: Like this one on eBay
cindyb_va
15 years ago
Since she is college bound, how about a great backpack? Personalize it with her intials/name, or even her college logo, if you know where she is going.
sue_va
15 years ago
Maybe a "Care Package" with a number of small items?

Manicure/pedicure kit, Sewing kit, journals to record her college life, prepaid phone card, GC for MCDs etc., warm sox for daytime or night. You can think of other things I'm sure.

With this, she would probably not get a repeat of other gifts.

Sue
workoutlady
15 years ago
They sell those tools (hammer, screwdriver etc) for women these days - I can't remember the name of them - but the tools are made for a woman's small hands. How about a home made quilt or just a nice quilt for her dorm bed. The beds are extra long in the dorms and so the quilt would need to be extra long or you could give extra long and extra soft sheets for the bed.
socks
15 years ago
Piece of sterling silver jewelry?
babs77
15 years ago
Several suggested a "gift bag" with several items inside. I like that idea. She is starting off on a "new life" -- a gift bag filled with several items suggested is great.
My son (okay a BOY, not a GIRL) for his 18th b-day got "A Can, A Man, A Plan". What an AWESOME cookbook idea that ended up being. In fact, there is one recipe in it that has become a family favorite! I also ended up giving the same cookbook to my nephew when he turned 18. Its a favorite amongst the young!
So...a gift bag filled with "starter" things she'll want/need, like nice soaps, lotions, pampering stuff, etc. I think is a great suggestion including a few things she would not probably buy for herself... And a wonderful, personal note inside from her Aunt about "coming of age" =)
Maura63
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you for all the replies and great suggestions. I guess I was thinking that the 18th birthday gift would be something different than the going-away-to-college theme, since I will also be acknowledging her HS graduation with a college-bound themed gift. What if her birthday was in January? I guess the two really are intertwined, in this case (which will be the same case for my DD a year from now.)

But, again, the suggestions were great ones and between the two occasions, I am sure I can blend practical with sentimental :-)

18th birthday gift suggestions please.....

Comments (11)

sue_va

Maura63
Original Author

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Maura63
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18th birthday gift suggestions please.....

Comments (11)

Maura63Original Author

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