Adult children's birthday presents

My son is very keen on environmental issues and the plight of animals. I adopted an animal at a local zoo in his name which gave him free tickets to visit and also went towards helping the animals in the wild. My daughter has two small children so I got her a spa day at a local hotel.

They loved those. Sorry, posted too soon.

A little gift to unwrap and money in a card from us it’s what they want so it’s what we give.

Again a small gift with a 50€ voucher from some suitable commerce. Ikea, the local bookshop, a DIY outlet, the local beauty place ,it's quite fun thinking up something different and relevant each year. Just putting in money seemed so cold as none of them really need it.

DD has favourite salon so I get a voucher from there for a manicure. There's no paper involved - I order it online and they send the voucher to her phone. I can choose when I want the message to arrive, so it arrived as we were 'unwrapping' on Christmas Day this year! Usually add a hand cream to actually unwrap.
DS is a foodie so a hamper of local goodies for him - we put it together ourselves and then he returns the wicker hamper each time for refilling so it would seem to be working for now.
Incidentally none of them want actual cash, so we do bank transfers now. Don't know what the bank makes of my reference tags, but the C know which pot it goes in to. Do the same with GCs - transfer labelled amount into parents accounts.

I pick up ideas over the year from conversations. We all make lists for Christmas, not everything is bought, so always leftover ideas. I’ve never given money.

I do a bank deposit of £1 for each year with and added zero on the zeros. Card includes an open invitation to a meal at a specified venue with the date left open for them within a specified time frame. Happily worked so far (52 & 48) for all of us and I have an extra opportunity of seeing them.

It depends on each individually. DS has a list that gets updated periodically. He likes books and practical things. He got a drill for Christmas/birthday. DD1 sometimes I get her a voucher for Next as she puts all her family before herself and it is a treat to have money to spend on herself. Other than that DSiL offers ideas and sends links. She got a sports bra and headband for running for Christmas and last birthday I got her trainers. DD2 is a single parent so often puts practical things on her list too. Gave her a warm blanket hood thing for her last birthday as her house is draughty.

My sons are both keen cooks, so something food or kitchen related. Paella pan and blow torch have been the last 2 gifts.

I am like * jaxjacky*. I pick up ideas as I go. Tickets for the cinema, or a meal out (with offer of babysitting if appropiate or possible).

In recent years we have gone for experences, from simple ones like above, to days out together.

Reported.

I ask DiL if DS has a birthday list. He usually wants a piece of gear connected to cycling. DD lives with us and gives up a lot of time to helping various members of the family. We usually try to give her a bigger present to take account of this.

I too pick up on conversations through the year. DD1’s new garden is quite minimal and she showed me some planters made by a local chap. He’s working on one for me and will deliver and site it for her, when it’s ready. On the day I’ve got wine, flowers, moisturizer and a Betty’s China mug, as I broke the handle off hers.
I just give DD2 US$ as they’re frequent visitors there.

For my daughter’s birthday a few weeks ago I went over and cleaned her oven. She was more than delighted and it cost me nothing!!

We don’t buy for adults at all. They have all they need, and if they don’t, we help.

I`m going to sound mean compared to most of you, but I just put £10 in a card, then put more thought into their Christmas presents.

My 2nd son is going to be 38 on Saturday. I asked him what he'd like, he said a bottle of port. I've bought a bottle of Taylor's tawny port and a watch that he liked. My husband said it's too much - but as I said, there'll be a time when we can't buy things, so I like to get presents whilst we can.

Son 1 was 40 last summer. We paid for 20 driving lessons (yes, he's a late learner)

We always give cash, but I do ask whether there’s anything they’d particularly like, as well. I wouldn’t buy anything without asking.

This year (dds’ birthdays only a week apart) it was photo frames for one, and a particular perfume for the other.
Plus whatever chocs they like.

I also ask dds whether there’s anything their dh/partner would like. Dd1’s dh once said socks and pants! He never thinks to buy any for himself. So that was nice and easy.

For the dh or partner we’ve often ordered a delivery of beer from a favourite local brewery. That’s been popular, too - SiL once told the delivery chap he must have come to the wrong house but was very pleased to realise it was the right one.