Money or gifts for birthdays?
By Lena Kovadlo
@lovebuglena (43080)
Staten Island, New York
December 22, 2023 5:12pm CST
My nephew turned 16 this week and his party is tomorrow. He is into photography and has an iPhone so I thought of getting him an iPhone photography book. The book shows how to take stunning images with an iPhone.
I asked my cousin if my nephew would like something like this and her response was:
Don’t get anything like this he has mind of his own. Not sure why she said that.
I ended up not getting the book since she said no to it. Should I have gotten it anyway? Maybe he would have liked it?
Don’t know what else to get so will just stuff $100 into an envelope, which I didn’t want to do. I don’t want to get him something he won’t like. And I don’t have time to go look for anything anyway.
To me, there is no thought behind it when someone writes a check or puts money into an envelope. And the gift is not personal. Also, you can’t give a small amount or people may think you’re cheap.
With an actual gift—if it’s something nice—people won’t question its cost. And you don’t have to worry about how much you spent on it or that it may not be expensive enough. Also, it’s fun and exciting to rip into the wrapping paper and see what’s inside.
11 people like this
9 responses
@kaylachan (57897)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Dec
I would've gifted it to him anyway. He might've loved it.
4 people like this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
Too late for that now unfortunately.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
And if I still had time to get the book I wonder how that would be taken if I was told not to get it but I would have gotten it anyway.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40568)
• United States
23 Dec
I think the book would have been perfect. But what do I know, lol.
2 people like this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
You may be right. I wonder what he’d say if I told him about the book.
2 people like this
@AmbiePam (85628)
• United States
23 Dec
I’m more of a gift person like you. My sister is more of a money person. I love thinking of something someone might like, and seeing their face when they open it, like you alluded to. What you wanted to get him was a great idea, but at least you have the assurance he will appreciate the hundred dollars.
Is it me, or was it rude for her to actually tell you not to get him that?
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
I hope he will appreciate the money. And will get himself something nice.
Not sure if it was rude or not but it was a bit shocking to see that. Still trying to figure out why she said that.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (86774)
• United States
23 Dec
It would be hard to buy for a 16 year old these days.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Dec
Definitely requires time and research.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325983)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Dec
I agree with everything you say but buying for teenagers is a nightmare. I guess your nephew just has his own ideas about what sort of book he'd like. Once it wasn't really 'done' to give money but most people seem to be over that now.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
We can get a gift receipt here and if a person doesn’t like what they got for some reason they can exchange it for something else or get store credit.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
In our circle, usually people give an envelope with money in it when going to restaurant but I don’t think that it’s a must. I see nothing wrong with giving an actual gift when going to a restaurant. Though one of my cousins said that usually people give money and then the person whose birthday it is uses it to pay for the restaurant. Maybe that is the case.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156584)
• United States
23 Dec
With a 16-year-old I think you made the right choice. It's hard to figure out what he might like.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Dec
Had I decided to get him something ahead of time would have been easier.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
25 Dec
@LadyDuck should’ve probably never asked and gotten the book anyway, along with a gift receipt.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
24 Dec
Yeah. Perhaps I should’ve gotten it anyway and gave a gift receipt.
1 person likes this
@Michellekidwell (29260)
• Sonora, California
22 Dec
For me it's based on the person for my Dad, I 'll send him an Amazon gift card, because he's hard to shop for, but I do like to shop for fits too...
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43080)
• Staten Island, New York
23 Dec
Gift card is not a bad idea if it’s not tied to a specific store with only specific things being sold. But something like Amazon is good. Way more options when wanting to buy something as they sell pretty much anything you can think of.
1 person likes this
