Your Guide When Buying For Teens This Christmas
Are you interested in buying gifts for your teens this Christmas? While it is often fun, if expensive, to buy gifts for younger children, getting presents for teens can be a tad more stressful. This is why it’s always going to be in your best interest to make sure that you have a solid plan that you can follow. With that in mind, here are some of our recommendations when you are buying gifts for teens this year.
Avoid Clothes
One of the things you should try and avoid when it comes to buying for teens is clothes. Unless you know them exceedingly well, then you don’t want to get them an item of clothing they will never wear. This is not only a waste of your money, but you may feel bad that they can’t utilize what you got for them. If you are insistent on getting clothes for teenagers, then it is much better to find out where they shop and get them a gift voucher; that way, they can choose their own clothes with your money. Alternatively, placing some cash in their Christmas card is another way you can ensure they get clothes they are happy with.
Look At Tech
Teens can be incredibly difficult to buy for, especially if all they are interested in is playing on technology. You can use this to your advantage and invest in the latest tech as their gift. The teen recipient will love you forever if you get them something they are actually interested in. This could be the latest pair of earphones from Sony or the newest brand of iPhone. If they have mentioned wanting something then be sure to listen to them and try your best to get the right thing. One issue you can run into with technology is that the teenagers might never want to leave the house. There is technology that they can use outdoors. A great example of this is the Gotrax E-scooters. They can impress their friends by riding to school on it after the Christmas holidays are over.
Explore The Latest Trends
There will always be a list that is released before Christmas detailing all the latest trends that teens are interested in. These are fantastic if you are ever stuck for ideas, as they will tell you what people are interested in and what they might like. These trend-setter lists will usually have a range of budgets available, so don’t worry about needing to spend a small fortune. If you have a set budget in mind, then there will be something on these listicles for you. Alternatively, you can always rely on teenagers to inspire you with the latest trends. They will chat with their friends about what is coming out, or they may hint by sending you messages.
Check The Reviews
Before you buy anything for Christmas or otherwise, it is best to check out the reviews. Around special occasions, there are lots of companies that bring out toys that may not be as good as others. It is also extremely common for these cheaper alternatives to break quicker or malfunction. In order to avoid this, you can shop around for reviews, a simple online check can tell you everything you need to know about the products you are looking for. For instance, you might have been asked for a brand-new iPad for Christmas. There is nothing better than the top brands, especially if you want longevity with your gifts. Head into stores and speak to some experts if you are concerned about which ones to buy. They will be able to tell you about any common issues that crop up in reviews.
Pre-Order To Avoid Disaster
Another option we recommend you keep in mind is the concept of pre-ordering. While must-have gifts don’t always sell out just before the festive season, this has been known to occur, and that will leave you hunting across eBay for the ultimate tech that your teen wants. Everyone remembers the nightmare of the PS5 launch, and no one wants to relive it. So, keep an eye on pre-orders and make sure that you check whether anything your kid wants is going to be difficult to grab around Christmas time. It’s far better to secure a purchase and avoid disappointment instead of struggling with stress just before the 24th.
Have Fun With Money
People often shy away from gifting money, but with teens, it can be one of the best options. Why is this? Well, there are certain things that you can’t buy for teens without risking a massive error in judgment. Remember what we said about clothes. Money is a safer choice, and you can still have fun with this. You can wrap it up in different boxes, and there will be some excitement as kids discover how much they have been gifted. Older children love this, and you can always mix in some great little presents that they might just adore.
You can even send them on a scavenger hunt for the cash. Do tread with caution here, though. Whether your kids love or hate this idea will largely depend on their unique personalities.
Remember Their Age
Do remember their age when you are purchasing presents. We’re not talking about whether a product is appropriate, but we’ll get to that later. Instead, it’s important that you don’t buy anything that is going to be embarrassing or awkward for your teen to open. Ultimately, this is all about knowing what they like and don’t like. It’s possible that they’ve grown out of something that you thought they were still interested in. This is a classic parenting mistake. If you have any doubts, then it’s always best to check the list and make sure that you are sticking to their requests as closely as you can.
Check If It’s Appropriate
Next, you should think about whether the items that they have asked for are suitable for their age or if there is anything that isn’t appropriate. This is always a major concern if you are purchasing games for younger teens. For instance, while the latest Spider-Man game may seem like it’s suitable for older kids, it does have a scene where a character taken over by an alien bites the head off a villain. As such, it may not be advised for 13-year-olds, but would probably be fine for any child over sixteen. This is another reason why it’s always best to check the reviews and make sure that you know exactly what you are buying before you commit to a purchase.
Read: 5 LAST MINUTE AWESOME GIFTS FOR YOUR PERSON
Go Big On Black Friday
The biggest shopping event of the year is right around the corner. We’re referring to Black Friday, and you better believe that all the top brands are ready to give you great items at unbeatable discounts. However, while the marketing might seem enticing, it’s always worth shopping around. Some stores raise their prices a little earlier and then drop them for Black Friday. So, essentially, you’re paying the same amount you usually would on products. Alternatively, you could find that they only drop items that aren’t selling. This is why it’s always worth waiting to do a little more research before you commit to a must-buy purchase of a specific present.
Give Them A Gift Event
Next, you could explore options that are an alternative to the traditional gift. One option could be a gift event instead of a tech item or a similar present that they can unwrap. Gift events could include tickets to concerts or special activities, such as driving a sports car around a track. There are lots of choices like this available from different companies. The best part? They tend to go on sale around Black Friday, which means that you can always get the ideal choice for any teen at a slight discount.
Respect Their Wishes
Finally, you should make sure that you are respecting their personal wishes. Unlike younger children, teens will often know exactly what they want for Christmas, and it’s worth keeping this in mind whenever you are purchasing them presents or advising others what to get them. In other words, you need to stick to the list that they provide. This can help you avoid issues with wasting money and getting things that your children don’t really want or won’t appreciate. If you are worried about expensive items, then it’s important to make sure that you start buying early. September is often the best time to start planning Christmas shopping.
We hope you found this article helpful and that it gave you some amazing ideas on what you can get that troublesome teen in your life. Remember, you might think they are difficult to buy for, but if you think of their interests and hobbies, then you can’t go wrong. If you struggle for ideas, don’t be afraid to ask them what they would like. Nobody is ever too old to make a Christmas list!
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