I have a few ideas for my daughter's birthday, but I usually like to get her some smaller things too. It seems like she never likes what I get and I think she'd rather get actual gifts rather than money or gift cards (even if she has to return them). Any thoughts?
If she is a music or online game lover, you can't go wrong with an iTunes or Amazon gift card. Also, a gift certificate or an IOU for her favorite place to go--a nail salon, the bowling alley, movie tickets, escape room, ... I think that kind of money towards an experience she would enjoy with a friend is different from just money or a gift card. For an actual gift, I agree with the others about asking her what she wants. Enjoy the process!
Just ask her.
Where is it written that a gift MUST be a surprise?
Getting her something/anything (even if she has to return it) - is a waste of time and effort for you to get it - and a waste of time for her to go return it.
It costs gas to drive it back to return it at a store or postage/shipping to return it through mail order.
If you know what she wants and she knows you are getting it for her - it's just as nice - less wasteful and aggravating - and it's great if you and she can openly communicate with each other.
I don't attach any shame or thoughts of "it's just no effort" (like this is a bad thing) to gift cards or cash.
Cash is always the right size and color - and no one ever returns it.
An iTunes gift card gets you games/music and/or other useful productive apps.
It's really hard to answer because you don't give any details about your daughter or what she's into (???) so here are a few random ideas:
makeup, jewelry, books, magazine subscriptions, movie passes, tickets to a show, concert or sporting event, itunes gift card or CDs, art supplies, sport stuff, mani pedi, season pass to an amusement park, cute socks, undies, pjs, CASH.
If you really don't want to ask her, and you really don't want to get gift cards, and she really doesn't seem to like what you have picked out so far, I don't think you have too many options! Does she have a good friend or two who might go on a little shopping excursion with you to help you select things? Maybe your daughter would like things her friends picked out for her but appreciate that you took the time to go out and "get educated" by her cool friends?
Has she asked for anything? For her last birthday, all my daughter wanted was a KISS waffle iron. Fortunately, you can get most anything from Amazon in 2 days.
Honestly, I think it comes down to knowing your daughter and what makes her tick.
My 15 yo is big into science and math. Ultimately she'd like to go to med school. For Easter, I bought her an otoscope that projects the images onto her phone. I'm sure not many 15 yos would think that was the coolest thing, but my daughter loved it.
If all else fails, how about gift cards to her favorite clothing store, and she can go shopping with her girlfriend? Is she due for a cell phone upgrade? I don't know any teenager that would turn that down.
What does she say that she wants? I just ask my kids. Sometimes they have something specific in mind before their birthday and sometimes they say that they aren't sure and let me know. My kids know what my birthday budget is and either find something in that price range or ask for cash and put it towards something more expensive. We go through all 4 kids' birthdays in 4 months and they range in age from 12-20. My SD, 20, wanted money towards a plane ticket home for Thanksgiving so that she didn't have to take the bus back from school. My 12 year old is still deciding what he wants. My other 20 year old wanted cash. My 14 year old asked for money towards an expensive pair of sneakers that we bought after combining my gift with gifts from his grandparents.
If you've been surprising her in the past and your surprises have missed the mark, just come out and ask her.
I agree that you should just ask her what she wants. Have her make a list of actual things. You don't have to get all of them and it will still be a surprise if that's what you're wanting, because she won't know which of those things she's getting. Or make a day of it and go shopping together and have her pick something out while you are together.
my teenager nieces and nephews all have amazon wish lists, so when anyone needs to get a birthday or christmas gift for them they can check on amazon and get them whats wanted or needed and they are guaranteed to like it because they picked it
A movie theater gift card so she can go to the movies with friends, gift certificate to a froyo shop so she can go with friends, a gift certificate for a mani pedi or a massage from a local place, concert tickets to her favorite band. If she is into science, a crystal-making kit or a telescope, if she's into hair, you can get her some clip-on extensions and hair ties, taking her to her favorite restaurant for dinner, an experience like a speedboat ride, a road trip together somewhere fun, or cute jewelry from Charming Charlie's or Claire's. Personally, I loved getting Claire's costume jewelry at her age (still do, though I mostly shop at Charming Charlie's now, since it's more mature and age-appropriate).
My daughter is into computers, video games and programming, as well as science, so she likes things like coding software, robotics classes, or anything involving arts, like glass-making or pottery-making. Don't know if your daughter likes that stuff. Music lessons, an instrument if she is into playing, a karaoke machine that she can belt out tunes at home with friends, a new TV for her bedroom if she needs one, new artwork or bedding for her cool teen room if she needs it, a new laptop or cellphone. Virtual reality or laser tag establishments are also popular with kids of all ages, or bowling.
With our teen boys, we just let them pick out what they would like and we put it away. They are more than happy with that. They get what they want, and are still excited on the day.
They each have interests - so we typically do a bit 'interest' gift - they are involved with those somewhat so not really a surprise either.
I know it takes the fun out of it somewhat to have them know ahead of time what they're getting. However, they are also happy. And less moody!
We still do some fun silly gifts because siblings buy for them and it's whatever they want to give. So one of ours is learning to drive and got a toy car. It was cute.
If it were me, I'd do jewelry, decor for room, a fun mug, art supplies, books, journal, nail polish, PJ's, chocolate, flowers, picture frame, new fun sheets, fuzzy slippers, new bag, new sunglasses she's been eyeing, new sandals ...
this sort of question always puzzles me. i have lots of thoughts about what a 15 year old girl might like, but 15 year old girls are not a monolithic block.
i've never met yours. so how would i know better than her own mother?
i ASKED my kids what they wanted. they and i all knew it didn't mean i'd go out and buy whatever was on their list, but it provided a better idea factory than strangers could.
at 15 i wanted rock music, inappropriate clothing, riding lessons, riding clothes, books about horses, posters of rock bands and horses, and a horse.
khairete
S.
