30th Birthday gift ideas? (M,30 London, UK)

Posted by Available_Title_3434@reddit | AskABrit | View on Reddit | 32 comments

Hi reddit,

Apologies in advance but this is very much a first world problem here. I am a 29y male born and bred Londoner turning 30 soon. I am receiving an enormous amount of pressure from family members on what gift I would like to receive as cash is pretty much flat out refused.

However, I don’t yearn for much at all and am hyper-conscious about my spending as every penny I have is used to try and save for a deposit and am a big believer in refraining from buying tat or anything that is not of good quality.

Budget would generally be around £500-1k and any advice or suggestions would be incredibly appreciated.

Kind regards,

A stressed out birthday boy

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loxima@reddit

Get things that will be good for your new place. What in your life could use upgrading? What’s something that you’d like to have in your own place, that you would be especially happy to not have to swap out for a better version in a few years (with London mortgages, there may not be the money to swap out or upgrade some things significantly).

It’s boring, but a really good cordless vacuum is my most used wedding present. Or a good dehumidifier is a life changer. For something maybe more fun / that feels more “gifty”, a really nice coffee maker could be a shout.

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According-Let3541@reddit

A really nice watch. Bonus if it’s engraved on the back.

A decent watch doesn’t have to be flashy, will last a lifetime and look good with every outfit.

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chipscheeseandbeans@reddit

Kitchen gadgets that you can start using now but will also be handy for your new place when you move in?

Air fryer? Coffee machine? Fancy knife set?

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PureObsidianUnicorn@reddit

A nice camera. I think it’s an awesome ‘big present’ that’ll allow u to share the gift with your family for years to come. I got a fujifilm for my 40th from my dad and will cherish it as a sentiment as well as a tool to capture life.

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jamesbest7@reddit

Idk what you like? If you really refrain from spending money think of something, try n think of something you have always kinda thought about getting but could never bring yourself to spend your own money on.

Personally for me it would be like a PS5 and some gift cards.

If you don’t have one, I’d really recommend a Steam Deck and maybe some Steam gift cards.

If that kind of stuff ain’t your thing or you can’t think of what you want, maybe just pick something you need and save yourself from having to spend your own money on it in the future. For example; clothes or things for your car/house/apt, etc.

Edit: or footy tickets or some sort of experience, like a show/concert/event.

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HumorPsychological60@reddit

I always ask for a donation to my local food bank. I'm not in need of anything I can't buy for myself so I figured it was a good use of money people would otherwise spend on me

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Fearless-Dust-2073@reddit

Reject peer pressure, tell them you don't want or need anything currently and just spending some time together as a family (if you want to do that) would be lovely. Times are hard so chances are that money would be better spent on practical things, or doing something nice together. If they're desperate to just spend money on you, a holiday together in the new year might be a nice way that they can feel like they've treated you and you get to spend some quality time. Again, assuming you want that.

Otherwise, something that will hold its value fairly well that you can sell once they've forgotten about it.

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Mental_Body_5496@reddit

Lego sets - store in mint condition good resale value !

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LouisePoet@reddit

If you've been really focused on saving, you deserve a holiday! 500-1000 is ideal for an all inclusive stay somewhere warm and sunny as it gets even darker.

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LycheeMangoJamun@reddit

Start a ‘bottom drawer’ of lovely necessary things to keep stashed away until you’re in your own house. Beautiful bed linen, nice mugs and glasses, Le Creuset dishes, really good kitchen knives, Microplanes etc. It will save you having to buy them later down the line, and when you get to use them in your own home it will be a lovely daily reminder of your loved ones.

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PastorParcel@reddit

£500-1k? That's about 10-15 year's worth of birthdays for me!

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ShopGirl182@reddit

Do you like tattoos? 1k would get you something pretty sick and they're a good investment in the sense they last forever lol.

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Diligent-Incident-49@reddit

Accept that family and friends want to mark the special event so may I suggest experience days which make good memories).

We’ve got to an age where it’s becoming increasingly difficult to purchase items so concert tickets, theatre/ show/ standup comedy tickets or experience days such as flight simulator, indoor sky diving, car driving experiences or VR sessions, are always welcome.

Also it’s an opportunity to share the experience with someone if they also share the same interest and they end up purchasing a ticket for themselves too!

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JuicyPineapples53@reddit

Hi,

I also posted a near identical thread on Sunday [29M] albeit with a significantly smaller budget and was suggested some good things including: Lego, vouchers for a spa break, fancy cooking equipment and ingredients [mentioned I like to spend time in the kitchen] amongst others.

I bought my house two years ago and if I was in your position then, [big birthday and big budget] I'd have asked for a variety of gift cards that I could use once I'd bought my new house for example: John Lewis for furnishing and accessories, Next for some candles, Dunelm for soft furnishings like cushions, bedding, blankets, Amazon to go towards "bits n bobs" you didn't think of before, a voucher for your favourite restaurant or a mixed restaurant one so you can treat yourself once you've moved in and money is a bit tighter, one for a supermarket for your first "Big Shop" etc. Basically allows you to buy some nice things and treat yourself to celebrate the achievement of buying a gaff without having to open your wallet.

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Holiday-Poet-406@reddit

That's a good night out in London.

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No-Willingness-4097@reddit

Stocks and shares.

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signol_@reddit

Lego.

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IAmLaureline@reddit

The new Death Starlooks awesome.

But then I'm a sixty year old woman so I may have a different taste in gifts.

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PassiveTheme@reddit

You're avoiding spending but your parents want to spend money on you. Is there anything that you would have bought yourself if it wasn't so expensive? Or maybe a nicer version of something you have. This is the perfect chance to get something that you wouldn't spend your own money on but would quite like to have.

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United-Cucumber9942@reddit

Dine out gift card so you can socialise and have meals out. They cover so many places including coffee shops so can have some lovely meals and also just grab a lunch/sandwich/coffee on the go.

People love you and want to treat you so think of a couple of places for gift cards that would mean something and provide you a bit of a break promising frugally (cinema, meals out, clothing, homewards or diy) and would help with your endgame of house hunting.

Happy birthday, hope you have a lovely time

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AreaMiserable9187@reddit

Perhaps an experience or a trip?

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Weaksoul@reddit

Yeah this would be my go to - if you are being frugal, luxuries like travel are hard to justify but at the same time, for me, they're the thing that makes life worth while, the thing that creates lasting memories.

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Krzykat350@reddit

A gift card to a local supermarket so you can save on groceries for a bit or treat yourself to some luxuries that you wouldn't buy.

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Bettie16@reddit

If you like cinema, how about a year of cinema membership? It normally includes 5 films a month and savings on snacks too, if that's up your street.

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AdrenalineAnxiety@reddit

Technology that you might have had to buy yourself in the future so it's kinda like cash as it's saving you money in the long run, but also you could go for an upgrade or something you wouldn't usually splurge on?

New phone, new laptop, fitness watch, headphones etc. etc.

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knotatwist@reddit

I don't mean this as an insult but -

If you're hyper aware of spending and saving everything for a house - are you actually not wanting anything or have you just not allowed yourself to entertain the idea of anything non-essential or luxury?

It's ok to have treats for your big birthday, especially when they won't deplete your savings because it's coming from someone else!

Anyway, suggestions:

Hobby items: laptop, games console, expensive board games, first edition favourite book, fancy Lego set

Experience items: a holiday/trip, concert tickets, fancy dinner gift voucher, national trust pass

Lifestyle: gym payments, new trainers, great quality coat, water flosser, bike

Home: coffee machine, robot vacuum, TV, piece of art, new mattress

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Something that you wouldn't have bought, but could give you moments of joy during the week

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