Help with a small present for 13 year old girl

travelgran

As a child I always felt twice the pleasure at receiving money or gift cards, once when I opened my present and found it, a second time when I spent it.

Mojisola

theoretica wrote: »

Actually, yes. I remember the year she arranged (pretty ordinary) chocolates and indeed some hilariously unsuitable presents from other people. You prefer vouchers, I don't

I don't particularly like getting or giving vouchers (prefer cash if I don't know of a suitable present) but I really hate wasting money and giving someone something unsuitable seems a waste to me.

Person_one

theoretica wrote: »

I was brought up in a very non-voucher/money present way and decided very early on they were a mark of the giver (i.e. my great aunt) having not thought about me at all.

Even at that age if I knew I wanted something for the equivalent of £10 it didn't take very long to save up and buy it and I didn't like having to put my own money in on top of the token to buy something I wouldn't have bought otherwise. I guess I am just a very non-token person.

Now that you're (presumably) an adult, have you not thought about this a bit further and realised that sometimes a voucher is given precisely because the giver has thought about the recipient and decided that's the best thing they can offer them?

Its a bit much to expect everybody in our lives to know us intimately enough to get the perfect present every time! Its the thought that counts, and surely its better to be a but more charitable and accept a gift graciously and assume it was given with good intentions? Whether its a voucher or a completely unsuitable 'thing'?

codemonkey

I usually buy my 13 year old niece Primark gift cards. Mainly because she loves Primark, and the bonus is that even a small amount of money goes pretty far in there. She's always very happy to receive it and it's better than getting her something she wont like because even though I once was a 13 year old girl, they seem a little different these days.

Person_one

Oh, and on topic, another reason I'd go for an Amazon voucher is that it might be a wee bit embarrassing for your son to turn up at the party with glittery nail polish or bath bombs!

YORKSHIRELASS

Wow, thanks for all the answers, lots of different opinions there but it seems like an Amazon voucher wrapped up with some choccie might be the way to go.

And actually the last comment is quite a good one, it did occur to me that my son might not want to take something too personal, if you know what I mean. Boys are very funny creatures at this age!

I also now have some good ideas for my god-daughters birthday next year though though so I do appreciate your help.

claire16c

If he does take a girly present surely it would be gift wrapped though?

FatVonD

Have you checked that others are taking presents at all? It seems to be the thing not to in my son's crowd.

If people definitely are then the Vaseline lip tins that someone else mentioned are currently one third off at mr s, so £4.33 for a big tin of three.

Failing that, the Barry m type crackle nail varnish seems popular with both the glam and goth girls.

jellyhead

At around that age my son used to take tubes of pringles (a large selection of flavours) or bags of lollipops, and they were always gratefully received, or so he believes.

Personally I think an Amazon voucher gives the most options, and you can buy nail polish, bath bombs or whatever from Amazon if the recipient doesn't want books or music. itunes vouchers aren't as good because not every household has itunes.

meritaten

this is a lad giving a present to a teen girl who is 'just a friend'. so I think a voucher perfectly acceptable. and Amazon vouchers can be exchanged for many different things according to her likes!