View 18th birthday presents

Choosing 18th birthday presents

Of all the milestone birthdays the 18th birthday is the first major one. Viewed as the doorway between childhood and adulthood, this is a birthday that most people will celebrate. For many this means a big party whilst for others it is a more personal affair marked with celebrations for family and close friends. Traditionally people tend to give presents that can be kept as a reminder of this birthday although there are a lot of other options. So, what kinds of 18th birthday gifts are most popular at the moment?

Popular 18th birthday presents

Reaching the age of 18 has always been seen as THE transitional birthday between childhood and adulthood. Some people therefore like to stick with the tradition of giving the 'key to the door' here in some form of gift. This key signifies that the recipient has reached adulthood. Others, however, feel that a key motif is more appropriately reserved for the 21st.

Given that many people treasure their 18th birthday presents as keepsakes through the years, it is appropriate to give personalised gifts for this birthday. You can, for example, give a gift with a simple general engraving that says 'Happy 18th Birthday' or you can have a gift inscribed with an additional message personal to the recipient.

18 is also the legal age to drink in most pubs and clubs in the UK so alcohol is often given as a gift here -- for example, some people will give a good quality bottle of champagne or wine. Bottles can come in presentation boxes and caskets that can be given with or without a personalised message or inscription. Related gifts include glassware such as champagne flutes and wine glasses which, once again, can be customised to mark the 18th birthday if you so wish. Tankards and hip flasks may also be an option for an 18th birthday present.

For many, the gift of jewellery is seen as appropriate for an 18th birthday present. A young man, for example, may appreciate a set of cufflinks and tie pin set, whilst a young woman may enjoy some other form of jewellery. Since most 18 year olds are on a tight budget, these luxury items will be all the more appreciated. If you are looking for something unusual that is also a long-lasting gift, you may want to think about buying an acre of land on the moon or perhaps naming a star after them. You can even make them a Lord or Lady by buying them the title to some Scottish Highlands land. These 18th birthday presents are both unusual and will last a lifetime.

Photo frames and albums are also a nice touch for an 18th birthday gift and they can, again, be further personalised by the addition of some photos that mark the recipient's life and perhaps a relevant inscription. As an alternative, particularly in this age of digital cameras, you could consider giving an 18th birthday photo album, a photo printer -- and then take photos at the party so they can print them and store them in the album. If you're feeling really generous, you could even add a digital photo frame into the mix!

Another good way of commemorating this milestone birthday is to give a newspaper that dates to the day of their birth -- or a newspaper book. A newspaper book generally contains a paper from the birth date and specially collated headlines from the birth year in a keepsake book. Football supporters may also appreciate a football book which highlights the history and news features of their favourite football club.

Of all the milestone birthdays, the 18th is perhaps the most emotive. No two people are identical and a well thought out 18th birthday present must factor in the recipient's likes, dislikes -- and existing possessions! With a little thought and creativity, you should be able to find that elusive gift. View 18th birthday presents