18th Birthday Gift for a Girl: Choose by Who She Is

Before you go looking for a specific thing, try to sum up in one sentence what's happening in her life right now. More often than not, the gift falls right out of that sentence.

Money is the most common 18th birthday gift from the wider family, and there's nothing wrong with that — it just helps to hand it over with a purpose. A note in the envelope saying what it's for works well (“towards your first bond”, “for a trip once school is over”), or you can put it into a savings account she opens herself, since by now she can open and run an account without her parents. For a step-by-step guide to giving a larger sum, see How to give money so it doesn't vanish in a weekend.

A practical note: if you're planning to give a larger amount, check the local rules on gifts within the family first.

A symbol of adulthood gets used up over time — driving lessons turn into a licence, money into a bond. What stays in the drawer is the thing with a message. That's why it's worth adding something small and personal to every “big” gift: a letter, a card with a line you've been saying to her since she was little, or a memento.

If someone has been keeping a letter written when she was a child, now is the time to hand it over — how to do it, even if you're starting late, is covered in our article on time capsules and letters to the future. A fun extra could be an illustrated book with her as the heroine: it's made from a single photo, so if you use a childhood picture, she'll see her little self in the story, and you can write your own message on the first page. It probably won't be the main 18th birthday gift, but it goes nicely with an envelope or a piece of jewellery.

For what to write in a book dedication in general, see Book dedications: what to write, ready-to-copy messages and common mistakes.

Short messages for a card, a book or an envelope. Change the name and add one specific memory — that's what turns a generic line into a personal one.

Less than you'd think. For boys and girls alike, what matters is personality and what's going on in their life right now, not gender. The difference tends to be in how they receive the gift: boys more often appreciate something practical or money and put a heartfelt letter aside “for later”, while girls usually welcome the personal touch straight away. Don't take that as a rule, though — sentimental boys and practical girls are everywhere.

For sons we have a separate guide, 18th birthday gift for a son: money, paperwork and a keepsake, and you'll find card messages for both in 18th birthday wishes.

Legal adulthood at 18, the tax rules on gifts within the family and the voting age are all set by the law where you live. Before a larger gift, it's worth checking them with an official source or a financial adviser.