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What to buy grandsons

(62 Posts)
iamali1 Sun 28-Jul-19 10:53:56

I have twin grandsons and would like to buy them something each year along with a personalised letter which I plan to give them when they are 18 (I do this for my granddaughter) but have no idea what to put aside for them in their box. I have jewelry for my granddaughter, but that doesnt seem always appropriate as there will be only so much a boy can wear/use?

iamali1 Sun 28-Jul-19 10:54:36

Any ideas?

vickya Sun 28-Jul-19 11:21:18

What about some kind of savings account? Or do one in cryptocurrency? You could get a wallet like this
www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07FY5R77T/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?psc=1&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8
and learn how to add currency to it. XRP/ripple is cheap but should increase in value. Or bitcoin.

I got one for 13 year old grandson for his birthday and he set it up alone with a little help from dad. Then i sent currency. You can then send some each year. Or if you keep the wallet put some into it. You also need an account on a place like coinbase or bitpanda to buy the currency and then transfer it from there to the wallet.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptocurrency

nanamac77 Sun 28-Jul-19 11:21:41

I'm no financier but what about some kind of annual payment into a small investment fund - something which is guaranteed to grow at least a little until they are 18. I'm sure somebody out there would have some suggestions.

vickymeldrew Sun 28-Jul-19 11:23:18

Premium Bonds

Craftycat Sun 28-Jul-19 11:28:53

I invested some of my pension money into Premiun Bonds- not a huge amount- but hardly a month goes by that I don't get a cheque. Usually £25 but last month 3 x £25.
I think the boys would like to see money coming in all the time & the beauty of bonds is that you never actually lose the original amount & can get it out any time.

H1954 Sun 28-Jul-19 11:44:03

Assuming you are British how about Premium Bonds?

Bluedaisy Sun 28-Jul-19 11:52:49

Lovely idea, how about a St Christopher to keep them safe as jewellery?

midgey Sun 28-Jul-19 11:58:48

What about the current ‘fad’? Not sure what it might be but would make a great memory of childhood. Trouble with Premium Bonds and twins is that it is quite an investment. I was thinking things like those twiddler spinner things and so on.

MawBroonsback Sun 28-Jul-19 12:01:22

I would run a mile from cryptocurrency, bitcoin etc- way too dodgy!
Premium Bonds are straightforward and an excellent idea. I have worked out that I “made” £900+ over the last 12 months with a £30k investment. Better than most ISA’s, although a Junior ISA might also be an idea.
Do boys wear jewellery?

GrannyGravy13 Sun 28-Jul-19 12:06:37

We buy all our GC Premium Bonds every birthday.

N S & I have reduced the minimum investment from £100 down to £25, which opens it up to more investors.

GrannyGravy13 Sun 28-Jul-19 12:07:43

Meant to add please stay away from bitcoin/crypto currency there are a lot of scammers operating in that area.

NotSpaghetti Sun 28-Jul-19 12:12:22

I think you mean actual things...
I don't know your budget or the size of your box - but here's a few ideas:

Silver cufflinks - something they'll appreciate as they are older. Both my adult boys like these.

A netsuke - depending on the young man. One of mine would definitely like these, the other, maybe only in passing.

A not-too-big print by someone amusing (maybe a cartoonist or an artist such as Glen Baxter). If too expensive, Baxter postcard in a plain dark frame.

A pair of whiskey glasses maybe? My 2 clubbed together and bought some fairly expensive Scandinavian ones for a friend's 18th.

vickya Sun 28-Jul-19 12:19:23

Maw I got rid of my premium bonds a few years ago as I had 30k and then fewer but NO wins for a year or two! Yes there are scams with cryptocurrency but also with other forms of investment. An ISA you can keep putting money into is safe.

Grannyjacq1 Sun 28-Jul-19 12:24:38

My parents paid into what they called the 'music fund' every year for the children. This helped to pay for little extras in their life, like piano lessons. Now in their 30s, both really love their music and play several instruments. A superb investment that pays dividends, as, now in their 90s, my parents love listening to their grandchildren play. And they are passing this on to their children now .... the gift that keeps on giving.

BlueBelle Sun 28-Jul-19 12:27:03

I m presuming you mean a small keepsake for each year Why not a pound coin with that years date on for each year or if you don’t think that’s enough go up in coins with the years date on, 2 for second birthday, three for third so on Triuble is by the time they are 18 they won’t be interested in a little keepsake
Premium bonds in small amounts are fairly useless my mum bought me some as a child but they never did anything at all
I started doing this as babies but when I got to 7 grandkids I just couldn’t think of things to put in so they didn’t ever get their envelopes of ‘things’ I don’t regret not completing, as a variety have reached 18 and wouldn’t be a bit interested in these ‘heirlooms’

Sue500 Sun 28-Jul-19 12:29:37

We buy our grandson a scale model car for each birthday to be kept, not played with so by the time he’s 18 he’ll have a whole collection.
Our granddaughter gets a Harrods Bear again not to be played with.
We felt that if we just bought them toys they get thrown away, broken etc. and nothing to show for 18 birthdays.

Tigertooth Sun 28-Jul-19 12:35:56

Special edition coins? Nice coloured 50p’s - I got mine the Peter rabbit and the Paddington. Older ones as they grow.

EllanVannin Sun 28-Jul-19 12:38:30

Premium Bonds I'd say. They're safe and you can add to them. Less fuss and worry too.

oldmom Sun 28-Jul-19 12:41:19

Why not just get the poor kids real presents?

My son is 6. He remembers every gift his Granny has ever given him, and is deeply grateful for them all. He thinks it's wonderful that someone other than Mom and Dad loves him enough to never forget his birthday.

Each to his own, but to give a young child something that looks like a toy but isn't to be played with is just cruel.

Give something good quality and long-lasting. Wooden toys, good quality books. My son's wooden train set from his Granny with still be there when I have grandchildren.

When they turn 18, then give them something THEY want. Something that's meaningful or valuable to them.

BlueBelle Sun 28-Jul-19 13:03:46

oldmom she does give them presents if I ve read it correctly she just wants a little addition as a keepsake to put away each year and give them when they are 18
Trouble is by the time they re 18 most boys don’t have a ‘ah how sweet’ bone in their body and probably won’t look twice at 18 toy cars or a girl at 18 teddy bears (how do you give them without them playing with them sue ) I ve seen those Harrods bears they are pretty big to have 18 of them when you’re getting ready to leave home But I guess you know your grand kids and I m sure they will love them

notanan2 Sun 28-Jul-19 13:06:33

I wouldnt want jewellery or trinkets.

Gold/silver coins
Sellable gold jewellery
A savings account etc

notanan2 Sun 28-Jul-19 13:07:57

Also at 18 I flat shared which meant moving around a lot. No storage space for anything other than clothes and pot & pans. Not an age for "collectables" IMO

quizqueen Sun 28-Jul-19 13:19:36

You could save £2 and 50p coins with different reverse design; there's several produced for each year. Be careful though that your choice in jewellery may not be to the taste of your granddaughter when she is an adult so coins may be best for both.

notanan2 Sun 28-Jul-19 13:31:01

A coin collection was the last thing I would have wanted to move with me ever 6 months as a flat sharing 18yr old!

Gold/silver coins that I could have convertef into savings/a deposit/a car etc would have been good though.