<p>The title says it all! I’m the aunt who buys everyone the same thing! There are 8 young men ages 13-20. Their interests are tech, music, sports.</p>
<p>I’m looking for gift ideas in the $18-$28 price range. In the past I’ve given texting gloves, SmartWool socks, Ski Hats, keychain/bottle openers from Fossil, geeky t-shirts, charging stations. </p>
<p>I will add a small gift card if I feel I haven’t spent enough but really don’t want to give gift cards as the main gift.</p>
<p>For some, almost anything from thinkgeek.com would work. For the ones who play video games, gift cards to Game Stop or some place like it. Some guys like those fedora hats-can be found at Target or even Walmart. Coffee drinkers might like a “coffee gift basket” of flavored creamers, toppings, a mug or two or even just a gift card to their favorite coffee place-those specialty drinks add up. My son doesn’t wear crazy socks, but his sister do, so I think that’s a matter of taste. But for him anything electronic or puzzles are a hit, as are tools or gift cards for them.</p>
<p>I’ve bought several of the Lands End or LLBean fleece pullovers (“quarter-zip”) for my son… they’re usually around $20. He wears them a lot so I think he likes them.</p>
<p>terwitt-or people obsessed with Star Wars, Star Trek, or anything like that. H shows me something on the site at least once a week. He lived and breathed Star Wars as a kid. Good for geeks of any kind, really and in all price ranges. </p>
<p>I LOVE The bubble wrap calendars and am going to order one for D2 - she was the bubble-wrap lover as a kid.</p>
<p>And I really like the shark socks - am thinking they would work for D1 who always gets together with her friends and plans a big party for Shark Week.</p>
<p>Some ideas I’ve seen go down well speaking as a male:</p>
<p>Find out what music groups(especially indie groups) or movies and get the albums or get gift cards to enable them to get what they want. For music, most will be fine with lossy digital downloads like mp3s or apple itunes downloads though a minority with “golden ears” or hardcore audio geeks may desire CDs/vinyls or lossless digital downloads(flac, ape, etc).</p>
<p>Mix CDs/cassettes for those into retro musical formats. :)</p>
<p>Starbucks giftcards/refills.</p>
<p>Gift certificates to restaurants, especially ones which cater to hearty appetites. :)</p>
<p>The powerbanks I slipped into their Xmas stockings last year were a hit. S2 mentioned that at his athletic away-games, his team mates even ask to use his powerbank to power up their phones. </p>
<p>OK, what about the young man who has pretty much whatever he wants and needs and the money to buy the rest? What do I give him? I plan to just take him out to meals, which is what we do when we see him in his area or he flies to see us. I have returned tons of gifts I’ve bought him, as has H. I also give him edibles. Have gifted him with a phone and pay the monthly plan for all of us on the family plan. Have already gotten him a micro leatherman and nail scissors (both of which he likes). I am at a loss for the rest of the gifts, as he has a better handle on what’s available, good prices and what he wants and can use. He has tons of headphones, a nice piece of luggage (which he does use regularly), and buys what he likes.</p>
<p>@HImom - How about paying for experiences such as concert tickets, sporting events, travel, museum memberships, etc. depending on what his interests are. Books you enjoyed that he might as well or classic old movies that he might not have seen.</p>