Gift for 13yr old boy

[Starbrite]

DS was invited to a birthday party for a 13 yr old friend. I have a hard enough time finding gifts for my own son, let alone a boy I don't know.

13 is such a hard, awkward age for gift giving. They don't play with toys, I won't buy video games, I don't really know the boy to even know what size clothes he wears, and I don't think he plays any sports. . I'm not opposed to gift cards, but don't want to seem to cheap if I send $15 (which is normally my budget for non-family, non-neighbor, not Best friends).

Any suggestions? Or is a $15 gift card acceptable (and to where)?

 

[jakenjess]

My 13 YO DS loves gift cards! And $15 sounds fine to me. He likes iTunes, GameStop, Target is always good, you can get about anything you want there.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

oh I hear you. I feel foolish when folks ask for gift ideas for DS13. I have NO CLUE, lol.

I think a Target card would be good. A couple of passes to the movie theater? The one thing I can think of that DS and his friends really like (though they all have PLENTY of them at this point!) are the Star Wars and Pirates pocketmodel games. http://www.topps.com/wizkidsgames/ You can get a starter kit of them (something like 4-5 packets of the cards, which is plenty to play a game) for $10-$15 at Target or Walmart. (Comic book stores also carry them.)

 

[mjkacmom]

Ds11 had a party in June, and he got all gc's - $20 mostly, more for close friends. No one gives actually gifts in his age group (but girls do).

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I HEAR YOU 100%! I am already thinking about what to buy fiance's cousin who is 12 or 13 and I want to spend less than $10, maybe even less than 5 is possible!

You see, fiance's aunt regifts, and I would have NO PROBLEM with this if it was practical. My daughter is 4 and for the past 3 years she has been given gifts that were obviously regifts from her daughter. Her 1st b-day a Barbie doll, her 2nd b-day clothing in a size 10!!!! Last Christmas, a HS Musical sweatshirt in a size 14-16...mind you she was 3 going on 4. So, I really try not to spend much on them because I think that is so rude. We live on 1 income until I am done w/ school, so money is tight. I try to get her kiddos something they like but for cheap, like last summer when the Disney Store was having the huge summer sale, I got her daughter HS musical shirts for like $3.00.

Just bothers me so much

 

[semo233]

My daughter is 4 and for the past 3 years she has been given gifts that were obviously regifts from her daughter. Her 1st b-day a Barbie doll, her 2nd b-day clothing in a size 10!!!! Last Christmas, a HS Musical sweatshirt in a size 14-16...mind you she was 3 going on 4. So, I really try not to spend much on them because I think that is so rude.

Thoughtless and rude. Why give a gift that someone can't use? What's the good wishes behind that?

OP: My DD13's friends love Starbucks or Ice Cream shop GC. I also love movie GC that is enough for him and a friend and maybe even some popcorn (although movies are $10.25 per person at our local theater!!)

 

[dawson5]

my 13 yr old still loves nerf guns. I have three boys, 16, 13, 11 (soon to be 12). Our neighbor's grandkids come over (17 & 14) and he has enough nerf guns and bullets that they run all over the house and yard shooting each other with these things. I think it really depends on the child.

My youngest went to a party just last week, he's known the boy for a long time but they don' hang out a lot, so he was unsure what to give him. At their age (11 going on 12) he could be into anything. We gave cash. We weren't sure if he was too big for Toys R Us, not sporty enough for Dick's sporting goods and Target we didn't think had a large enough selection of anything for him. Cash seemed our best option.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Thoughtless and rude. Why give a gift that someone can't use? What's the good wishes behind that?

OP: My DD13's friends love Starbucks or Ice Cream shop GC. I also love movie GC that is enough for him and a friend and maybe even some popcorn (although movies are $10.25 per person at our local theater!!)

Actually, any local food place (ice cream, pizza, Wendys even...) would go over big with my son too, I'd imagine. (FOOD! )

Our theater I think is $9 something, but the town hall sells tickets for $7.25. AAA has discount ones too.

 

[momxx5]

As a mom of boyss 12, 14 & 15, I can tell you that any gift card would be a big hit!!! The are endlessly trying to earn money for iTunes or for the Xbox360 points(purchase a gift card). My boys like Barnes & Noble, the movies and Target. $15 is plenty!!!

 

[sksjasams]

My son loves gift cards. You really can't go wrong with Target. You can put the gift card and a big bag of Skittles or Starburst in a gift bag so that your son will have a package to bring to the party.

 

[shortbun]

My son has been saying 'no gifts' for the last 3 years. He turned 14 last week. Prior to that, we asked for charitable donations to a prechosen fund. Most of his friends do the same. His best friend got him a T-shirt lauding Chuck Norris. It has hilarious statements about Chuck Norris on it regarding his god-like status on earth, lol! If we do need to get a gift for a boy his age, it's always a gift card for Game Stop, I-tunes, Target, Best Buy, Hot Topics - a place we know they'll likely get more and can pool their resources. We spend about $20. Some people spend $10. No one judges.