My grandson is about to turn 21 and I need help/ideas for a present. He doesn't have a job, a car or a drivers licence. He's only interest seems to be gaming. He is kind and helpful when asked and has great parents and siblings. I'm looking for genuine sensible ideas - no smart arse replies please..Thanks in advance.
21st Birthday Present for a Male
Jassy45 on 28/04/2018 - 07:25
Last edited 28/04/2018 - 07:26
Last edited 28/04/2018 - 07:26
Comments
Hand or head?
Yes.
why not both?
just get him a lappie and by lappie I don't mean laptop
what is your budget?
Up to $300. Maybe more if other family members want to buy a joint present. We bought his older brother who is flat ting a Wber and accessories a few of us chipped in for that.
.does he have a passport? ticket to NZ runs at ~$250. he'd need to get together spending money.
A pair of scissors to cut the cord and $298 for board.
Encourage him to get his Ls (book the test for him) and buy him a few driving lessons in advance. You might be springing this on him but it’s a skill he will be thankful for when he gets older. Also it might mean he’ll go out more!
Thanks. I have thought about that. It's certainly a very useful skill
Try Defensive driving courses for racv
Good idea but probably need to have licence first
You do need a license but you can do it on your Ls! No harm asking if they can do it unlicensed, you can drive on a racetrack without even your Ls.
I did it with Driver Dynamics through a groupon deal or similar and really enjoyed it. Teaches you a lot about the limits of your car and yourself - also the importance of ABS. It is a bit of fun too so he may even get in to cars after it.
I always like cars and was a bit of a gaming addict until 18ish, now my life revolves around cars and it is a lot more rewarding and you meet a lot more people.
I’m mixed on this. I did one felt it was a waste of time. A lot of common knowledge and stuff you learn during the Ls process. YMMV.
Alternatively there's also the motorcycle learners course. Instant independence and much cheaper than a car. Requires you to be much more sensible and have some road sense obviously.
ArchibHis family have be n encouraging to try and get aj job but your suggestion doesn't help me re a present
Why are you typing with one hand?
How about a classical wrist watch?
It's something I thought of as well. Thanks.
They are great memories specially when they timeless classical watches.
Why would you want a watch that didn't have the time?
I'll see myself out…They are great, I've still got mine from 20 years ago. Don't wear it any more but lasts and brings back memories..
In saying that. He doesn't need a watch. He doesn't have a job and just spends his time gaming. He doesn't need to know the time.
I got a nice mechanical watch for my 30th. Don't think I would have appreciated something like a watch at 21. However, op has a budget of $300 and even the cheapest mechanical watches start at $1200 or so for a Swiss. Maybe cheaper for a Japanese or German. They work forever, mine is almost 10 years old, I wear it every day and still looks great and have not spent a cent on it since getting it.
Something he will keep forever I think rather than a steam voucher or game or video card. Everything gets turned over so quick these days and new tech of today is old worthless junk tomorrow.
You can get plenty of nice mechanical watches for under $200 AUD by Seiko, Orient.
the Russians used to cheap as well, but now they are most likely outside of OP's budget.
getting them serviced/repaired is a b!tch too, most of the local watch makers wouldn't touch them.
Agreed. Popular entry level mechanical watches are Orient Bambino, Seiko SARB033 (now discontinued) and Tissot Visodate (~$350 on sale). I think a nice mechanical wristwatch from his grandfather is a great meaningful gift that your grandson can enjoy for decades to come.
tissot visodate is also around 300 to five hundred dollars. A good swiss mechanical watch.
I can up the budget for a really good idea and other family members would chip in for a great present
$1200!!!
I'm currently wearing a nice looking mens automatic watch, with citizen movement, and a sapphire glass. It cost me $53.
$53 for a mechanical watch is a true OzBargin!
Swiss watches can go for up to $100k+ if you have cash to burn. Most hold their value, I can get back a bit more than what mine cost 10 years ago including inflation.
Perhaps a watch is a worthy investment over say crypto or high yielding vehicles??
@Craysee: It's the true ozbargain spirit, but it's not actually that out of the ordinary.
Here's one from just a few days ago for ~$70
Tissot visodate or Hamilton Jazzmaster are both nice Swiss watches that are just outside your pricerange if you find a bargain online. I bought my son a Glycine Swiss watch off Massdrop for his 21st present
If he is a kind of nerd or into tech, I believe he would like to choose one specific watch, classic or not, if he wants one.
I think that's a lot of money to spend on something too personal that he might not want. I generally don't like wristwatches, and I haven't wear one for 20 years. Just recently I decided to try again, but I am only doing that because I found one specific watch that I like, after a lot of research… :)
I'd probably not value a wristwatch when I was 21, and that'd be very sad if someone had spent a lot of money buying a gift that is supposed to be nice but that I don't like at all.
People are different.
More ideas
A)someone I know did 21 presents from childhood memories
b) trip to the ancestral country if you have one or Europe
c) deposit for car/ home
Less sentimental ones
d) tickets to Gamers show they are mainly in SF
e) if looking to be a tradie, buying a tool kit
f) gaming monitors
None of these would come anywhere near the $300 budget.
I must be typing then… when the "limit" was posted above
Kogan has got gaming monitors (144hz) for $199+shipping
He left off g) high yield AMG
only if he was working for Westpac… but he isn't
Gram of coke and a voucher for a brothel.
you obviously haven't bought cocaine recently, nor visited a brothel.
Erm it's been a while since I was 21
*meth/VR - budget solved
A truly timeless present which will surely give him fond memories until at least his 22nd birthday, maybe 24th if you're lucky.
It's difficult. My son turns 21 later in the year and he is a gamer too.
The problem with buying something in that arena is, if your son is like mine he knows WAY more about what he wants, and what is good value, than I do.
It sounds a bit impersonal but I am thinking of cash…I dont have money to waste on stuff my kids dont want, so I ask them what they want for Xmas and Birthdays well ahead of time, and get it.
This
This, or set a budget and let them choose from the shops. Works miracles and no unwanted presents etc.
Or just get something with receipt and he can return it if he doesn't want it. Pay with cash, so the store can refund in cash as well.
Grandma, the smartarse responses are the ones you're after here.
Whatever your senses deem as outrageous are the only ones with any potential of being a good gift. It's a paradox known as being two generations senior.
Pretty much this. Although there are a few exceptions (a quality mechanical watch has been suggested, and would be a gift that could appeal to almost any generation).
Steam gift card. He'll love you for it.
The amount of games he will never play with a $300 gift card…
The truth is strong in this one.
She said gamer, not necessarily PC gamer.
Horrible idea. Can buy keys online for much cheaper and end up with 5x more games than buying on Steam.
so really just give 300 bucks cash =)
Dude, this is OzBargain. As if anyone buys games on Steam that aren't 75% off or more. Steam sales are cheaper than key sites.
Not necessarily. Good key sites keep track of prices and adjust with Steam sales most of the time. During Steam sales, I tend to get my games a further 5% cheaper from certain key sites. And let's not assume her grandson is on OzB, especially considering her description of him.
Probably only making his current situation worse. Something getting him off the games and interacting face to face with other people would probably be better.
What if he/she/ze does not wish to be labelled as a man but has "biological tendencies" of a male?
You must be a hit at the dinner table.
Anything else you want to get off your men/women chest (or is that male/female chest??)
Are you a 21 year old gay, tall, blonde male? Then I assume you get this often enough to be peeved about it.
Glad you're worrying about the important stuff.
My pet peeve is when my students write.
by only tying them to a graphic communicate medium forces them away from other representative mediums.
assessment by writing is misogynistic oppression as it involuntarily pushed upon student by white, 50+, males. i.e. fascists who are called "teachers".
it's basically rape.
Pet peeve when somone forgets to use a full stop.
Where?
First line doesn't need it as it's quoting the post title.
Second line is ok, both sentences have full stops. The second one has the full stop within the quotation marks, perfectly fine.
Third line, now that's just being picky.
Truly awful is that extra comma: 'Sounds to me like, "21st Birthday…', just ugh. Not too keen on those semi-colons later in the sentence either.
Now the content, sheesh. Trolling or idiotic, so hard to tell.
wtf did I just read!
I think you were reading Ozbargain comments
Police are notorious for this.
You're doing your students a disservice then: the first entry in the dictionary for "male" is its noun form.
Male is also a noun.
I hope you don’t teach English…
Driving lessons are the best present. He is going to regret not learning to drive while he lives at home.
I never learned to drive at home, I moved out age 18 to live on campus at university, where there was no need for a car as everything was in walking or cycling distance. But after that I really regretted it since driving lessons were so expensive, I couldn't buy enough to learn when I tried and then I would give up and forget what I learned. I finally learned to drive age 30. Make sure he learns to drive now, if he is 21 he will be leaving home soon and stuck out in the world with no way to transport himself and no way to cheaply learn (parents).
Tongue in cheek mode on
A 21 year old that's maybe obsessed with gaming, won't look for work, no license, car (or income to get such) leaving home? You gotta be kidding, who'd cook clean maybe assist to pay his bills give him free food, electricity maybe free internet if he moved?
Tongue in cheek mode off
When I was in a similar position my grandad bought me a caravan, and I was moved into the driveway to be more independent >.<
Gotta ask. Did you have a license and a car with towbar at the time? Were they hinting it's time to move away ? LOL
You HAVE left home now? LOL
@stormii: caravan? Aren't those like $30,000 plus damn son all I got was done money and maybe some alcohol a watch and a wallet and a swiss pocket knife utility thing tool oh and love lots of love can't put a price on love :D
Sounds exactly like my youngest…
Sounds like my oldest.
Sounds like my middlest
He might be studying.
if he is 21 he will be leaving home soon
"He doesn't have a job, a car or a drivers licence. He's only interest seems to be gaming"
This man child is going no where fast.
No need to move out and buy a house when you can just stay at home gaming 24/7 bill and responsibility free.He lives this grandmothers place pays minimum board ans stays up at night playing games. I'm leaning to wards driving lessons as a gift. Helpful in the long run if he ever gets a job and car.
Given how many jobs require a full license, it really is a good idea to get one as soon as possible.
Even if he doesn't use it much on provisional license, it will come in handy in his mid 20s.
He might leave, he might not, and you might want him around, or you might not. But if he isn't with his parents, and presuming there's a good relationship with the grandparents, there's a good chance he will be driving everyone to appointments sooner or later.
My 2c.
+1 Driving lessons. Can get a job as uber - not a bad earner.
there's a good chance he will be driving everyone to appointments sooner or later.
hehe - clever.
In terms of games, it might be an idea to say something like:
"you know those games you play- whats the point?" (if he answers higher levels or something, say no -I mean in the real world).
Nothing harsh or heavy - sometimes it can be just an idea that awakens people.
Definitely driving lessons. Im 21, gamer but moved out at 18 & looking for my second job now! I wish my parents forced the lessons on me when I was on my final high school years as getting ANY job without it is very hard. It was my own laziness & a close call with death that caused me to drag my feet, my only regret is not getting it sooner. My parents brought me up to be independent but being addicted to the computer has slowed my ability to develop/learn to the point I removed the gaming aspect from it.
It's certainly practical, but I wouldn't appreciate a gift I would eventually buy for myself out of necessity. Gifts should be about extravagance.
Maybe a ticket for a holiday somewhere? (or a voucher for an airline) so he can do some travelling (eg Asia cos it's cheap… Some places)
This kid has no job and plays games all day, I doubt he can budget for a holiday.
Why do you automatically assume he is incompetent? My friend was a jobless gamer all through high school and uni and is now a well paid doctor (and still a gamer).
He may not want to travel? Being away from his obsession and life of comfort may not be too pleasant for him?
This is a great idea if the kid can get some funds for a travel budget. If there is anything that will make a person grow up it's seeing the world outside your bedroom
Archi on 28/04/2018 - 07:29 Comment score below threshold.
