What do you get an adult son for bday?

[Robindianne]

I need ideas, silly or safe, cheap or spendy, anything and everything, for my son's birthday. I'm hoping something someone suggests - if it's too young or too old or too spendy - will trigger me to think of something else. Thank you for your help. I even read mother's day gift threads for ideas he might like.

Happy Saturday to all!

 

[luvsJack]

For my oldest son, I have bought tickets to see the Atlanta Braves, autographed baseballs, Saints jerseys and this year I got him a Saints Super Bowl shirt.

For my youngest son, I get him tickets to see WWE wrestling, shows at the casinos, or PS3 games.

 

[pediatric-rnp]

We have given the boys money for their birthdays since they were in their teens - it never goes out of style!! We also put some lottery scratch tickets in with their card, so they have something to open. DS-22 is still in college, and can always use cash, and DS-24 has graduated college and has a job, but also has "real-life" expenses now, and is very appreciative of money, which he can then decide how to spend.

 

[Tommys Mommy]

How about gift cards to a movie theater or golf course?

 

[mrsklamc]

thinkgeek.com works for the guys in my life every time.

 

[sydneysmom]

a gift card to Best Buy or Home Depot ( Or Lowe's).....my DH's dream gift !!

 

[MandM-Mom]

Concert tix, gas grill, sports tix

 

[mskayjay]

you need to be a little more specific for me to really help I think. How much do you want to spend and how old is "adult son".

That being said, I can tell you my son says his fav gift we have ever gotten for him is a new wallet that had gift cards for all the fast food resturants, gas cards, gift cards for movies, some nicer restaurants he likes and some cash. It was quite expensive but it was his *big* gift for Christmas that year. You could adjust up or down depending on your own budget and also attach coupons to the restaurant cards to make it go farther.

For my "adult" brother this year for Christmas I did something similar.....got him a gift cert for the drycleaners near his house and wrapped it attached to a hanger with one of their clean covers so he would understand what it was (he is a man!), a massage gift card, a dinner card for one of his fav restaurants, and a few more things like that.

 

[Robindianne]

Thank you for the great ideas.

Son is married, will be 27, snow camper (has everything), biker, hiker, world traveler, healthy eater, lives in a townhouse so no yard but on a preserve so naturey, more conservative than I (hee hee). I think he has all the gear he needs for his outdoor life. I thought about (from reading another thread) a hiking cookbook (to make and dry food to take) but I don't know if that's "it".

Things I've done before: membership to art gallery, dna tester/human genome project, bike stand, camping gear, snowshoes, healthy cooking books, one share of stock.

Hmm. Maybe a sleepsac? He works on yachts doing networking for IT stuff, and at home doing remote IT stuff. Travels to FL, S. Cal, Gibraltar, Quatar, etc. Boss pays for 1st class so slippers and such are free onboard. Sleeps in decent hotels while traveling.

Not a Disney fan but not, not a Disney fan.

 

[SunnieRN]

Twenty to twenty five, or so, I would get him an Ipod if he doesn't have one, with download music gift cards. If he has one, I would think about a stereo for his car.

Twenty five to thirty five or so, I would consider a nice camera, if he has children especially so. Also, if he has a special someone, a weekend away, with a motel room and a gift certificate for dinner would be nice.

Silly could be a night at a hotel, near a beach or amusement park for him and some friends. Wrap up the reservation/ticket in a sand pail or popcorn box etc.

What I often do for my daughter is get all $1 in the amount I am going to give. Roll them individually, tie with ribbon that you can curl, put them in a huge box with a brick or paver stone. Rolling hundreds can be a huge pain in the tushy though!

 

[mrsklamc]

now that I know he's in IT....seriously, thinkgeek.com

 

[MomToOne]

A card.

Seriously, I was thrilled when my parents started doing this and stopped sending cash/presents - I didn't want them stressing over that stuff, and it signalled that they were ready to think of me as an adult and not a child that needed gifts. He's an adult and married. A card to recognize you are thinking of him is enough.

 

[mrsklamc]

A card.

Seriously, I was thrilled when my parents started doing this and stopped sending cash/presents - I didn't want them stressing over that stuff, and it signalled that they were ready to think of me as an adult and not a child that needed gifts. He's an adult and married. A card to recognize you are thinking of him is enough.

I don't think guys think like that.

 

[disluhypno]

A pat on the back and a kick into the real world. Only kidding!

It is so hard to find a good gift for someone. I don't know if it has always been like that, but I know that is what I have experienced in the last couple of years. The easiest route is to just give money, but it sounds as if you might want something a little bit more special--something with substance and feeling, without being too mushy, lol.

 

[MomToOne]

I don't think guys think like that.

Well, my 3 bothers didn't seem to have any problem with the transition - and they would definitely consider themselves "guys".

Honestly, their wives also appreciated my mother stepping back a bit. And at least 2 of the 3 brothers definitely appreciated the tension dropping there a bit - although I admit the 3rd brother is a "Mama's boy" and probably didn't notice that element of things

 

[Sadie22]

I don't think guys think like that.

Mine do. They're earning their own money, doing well, don't need a lot of new stuff and what they want is usually very specific and technical so they buy it themselves. They are all into specific types of puzzles so I have had success with those but otherwise -- a card.

 

[mrsklamc]

I just meant, I don't think they think 'Gosh, I wish my parents wouldn't stress about what to get me.'

 

[powellrj]

I just get my DS a book and cash for his gifts now. I try to listen and see if there are any books he is interested in and go from there. Its become a game almost, what book will mom get this time.

 

[4 Ears]

AAA subscription, he could change a tire if he had to, well maybe? Pay car insurance for a month or 2, DS has a hard time paying that one. Pay cell phone bill for a month...

 

[nunzia]

Thank you for the great ideas.

Son is married, will be 27, snow camper (has everything), biker, hiker, world traveler, healthy eater, lives in a townhouse so no yard but on a preserve so naturey, more conservative than I (hee hee). I think he has all the gear he needs for his outdoor life. I thought about (from reading another thread) a hiking cookbook (to make and dry food to take) but I don't know if that's "it".

Things I've done before: membership to art gallery, dna tester/human genome project, bike stand, camping gear, snowshoes, healthy cooking books, one share of stock.

Hmm. Maybe a sleepsac? He works on yachts doing networking for IT stuff, and at home doing remote IT stuff. Travels to FL, S. Cal, Gibraltar, Quatar, etc. Boss pays for 1st class so slippers and such are free onboard. Sleeps in decent hotels while traveling.

Not a Disney fan but not, not a Disney fan.

Wow..he has it pretty good It sounds like he can buy pretty much everything he wants, so creativity is in order. How about a themed scrapbook from his childhood? Birthdays, trips, etc?. Since he travels so much would he like an E reader to help pass the time or if he already has one a gift card to download books?