Birthday gifts

Birthday gifts: how to choose well and get it right

Updated 20 October 2026

Age, relationship and interests shape the choice

A gift for a friend's 30th and a gift for a colleague are very different things. For someone close, something linked to their interest works best: a board game for a gamer, a thermos mug for someone who travels a lot, a kit for a hobby they love. For people you don't know well, choose neutral, practical options.

Round dates such as 30, 40 or 50 are usually marked more generously. Personalised things and gifts with a story fit here: a named mug, a photo book, engraving.

If your budget is small, a little thing with character wins: coffee of their favourite blend, a hobby kit, a book with an inscription. An expensive item that misses their taste pleases less than a small but fitting one.

It is also good to agree with the other guests who gives what, so you don't end up with two identical gifts.

What to put in your request

• For whom — a friend, mother, colleague, girlfriend, brother;
• Age — how old they are turning;
• Interests — games, sport, cooking, travel, reading;
• Gift idea — a board game, a gadget, a set, a gift voucher;
• Personalisation — name, date, text, photo;
• Date of the celebration — by when you need the gift;
• Delivery city — where you will receive it or whom to send it to;
• Budget, if you want to name one.

Example: “I need a gift for a friend's 30th birthday, he is a gamer. I'm thinking of a board game or a named mug. Gqeberha, needed by 12 November, budget up to R 590.”

How searching works in BlaBlaPrice

You write one request, and gift sellers reply in the chat: what they offer, what it costs, when they will deliver. This helps when you don't know what to choose: different sellers give different ideas, and you see them together. They see where they stand among the others, so they compete on terms. Your phone is hidden. Details are on the page “How it works”.

How to compare offers

• Check what is in the set: a “set” from different sellers can contain different numbers of items.
• For personalised gifts, ask how many days making takes.
• For gadgets and games, ask about the warranty and what's in the box.
• Ask whether you can add gift wrapping and a card.

Common mistakes

Ordering a personalised gift at the last moment: engraving or printing takes a few days. Another mistake is choosing by price without checking the quality and contents. And people often forget to give the delivery city when the celebration is in another city.

See also gifts for men, gifts for women and handmade gifts.