One of the best things parents can do for their teen sons is set them up to be financially independent.
There are many ways to do this, one of which is through the joy of Christmas presents.
We’ve rounded up the top 10 good Christmas gifts for teen boys that we think will be real winners this holiday season.
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10 Good Christmas Gifts for Teen Boys
Teen boys love a good challenge, which is what they’ll get with this puzzle box. It’s constructed from a natural pine wood and has an attractive rich walnut stain.
Parents can place cash, gift cards or even a nice watch inside the secret compartment.
When you surprise your teen with this unique box, you’ll find yourself having just as much fun watching them try to solve the puzzle and open it as they are having trying to figure out what’s inside!
Teen boys are ready to ditch their Spiderman and other superhero wallets for one that looks more grown up.
At this stage, they may also have a debit card, license, or store loyalty card to keep handy as well.
This Nike Basic Wallet has the traditional bi-fold design and offers six slots to hold cards and various forms of ID.
It also features a bill pocket and a zipper pocket for change or car or house keys. Since it’s construction is high-quality, you can count on it lasting a long time.
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey
There’s a reason this book has become so popular and made it to the New York Times best seller list.
The book helps teens identify their goals and dreams and then develop a plan and habits that will make those goals and dreams become a reality.
The steps in this book are easy-to-follow and timeless, so your son can pass the book on to his siblings later on.
Another reason I feel this book belongs on our Top 10 Good Christmas Gifts for Teen Boys list is that it features stories from other teens.
These stories are compelling and sure to grab your son’s attention and inspire him to take action toward financial independence and success in many other areas of his life.
4. World Currency Set – Treasure Chest With 1 lb. Foreign Currency
This treasure chest comes with 1 pound of real money from around the globe.
It’s a great way to introduce teens to international finance, while also building a coin collection that will grow in value over the years.
Parents can use this good Christmas gift for teen boys to talk about things like currency exchange rates and the value of a dollar.
The present may also inspire teens to research the culture and history behind each coin.
5. Dave Ramsey’s ACT Your Wage! Board Game
Teens need to learn how to live within their means, build an emergency fund, and work toward becoming debt free.
This board game for the family makes putting these concepts into practice a bit more fun.
Plus, what teen doesn’t love a little competition between siblings, parents, and friends?
Instead of purchasing your teen boy a video game, get him a gift card to GameStop.
This way, he gets to practice having a set budget (the card amount) and choosing items that fall within that budget.
I remember one time my daughter wanted an item. I told her she had a gift card and could buy it herself.
She said, “I don’t want to spend my money on that.” I didn’t buy it for her.
It was a great lesson for her to evaluate whether something was worth the money she had or not.
She made a wiser choice with her gift card, which of course, made me proud (although not so proud she didn’t mind wasting my money on the item – but that was a lesson for another day).
7. Cryptex Da Vinci Code Mini Cryptex Lock Puzzle Boxes with Hidden Compartments
If you’re looking for a unique way to give cash that’s a bit more complex than the wooden box above, this Da Vinci Code-inspired puzzle container is an excellent option.
You get the set the puzzle container with your own 5-digit passcode, as well as fill the container with anything you desire.
You can offer your son a few clues that will hint at the code and then let him get to work.
My kids love gifts like this and you’ll find this puzzle container can be reused again and again.
Perhaps you can even make a tradition out of gifting it to a different family member each holiday.
8. Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens: The Secrets about Money–That You Don’t Learn in School!
Rich Dad Poor Dad was a huge success for adults, which is why I’m so glad the author, Robert T. Kiyosaki, made a version for teens.
This book makes learning about money fun, and since it’s pocket-size, it makes for an excellent Christmas stocking stuffer for teen boys.
9. Lefree Digital Counting Money Jar
Teen boys aren’t interested in piggy banks shaped like a pig, which is why this money jar is a better Christmas gift.
The jar itself is transparent, so teens can visibly see how many coins they have in the bank. Once the jar is full, parents can help their teens learn how to make a deposit in a savings account.
Even though the jar has a simple design, it’s electronic and able to keep a running tally of the total amount deposited. All you need are a few AAA batteries!
10. Money Bank Deposit Bag With Zipper
There are several reasons I think this set of money bags makes an excellent addition to our top 10 good Christmas gifts for teen boys list.
First, the pouches come in a set of seven, each of which is in a fun bright color.
Second, the pouches are great for teaching teens the envelope system of budgeting.
The pouches have labels in the center, so teens can designate one for savings, one for car expenses, one for college, one for gifts for family, etc.
Of course, teens can also use the money bags to collect earnings from side gigs, like shoveling snow, selling crafts, or mowing lawns.
The money can easily be transported to the bank in the bags when a deposit is ready to be made.
If you have younger children at home, you may want to check out or previous blog post:
10 Awesome Christmas Gifts for Kids – Make Learning About Money Fun
I have a 12 year old son that would be interested in some of these gifts. I have been thinking about what to get him for Christmas and I appreciate these ideas. Even though he’s not quite a teenager I do believe he would like the puzzle box or the digital money jar. I didn’t know that Robert K. wrote a book specifically for teenagers either. Just this morning my kids and I were talking about how you don’t learn about money in schools- perfect timing!
So glad you found the list useful! I totally agree that the puzzle box and digital money jar would be perfect for a 12-year-old also!
I like how you combine unique gifts with teaching a lesson. Plus, some of these are pretty cool like the puzzle boxes. I don’t have sons (but my youngest daughter would love the puzzle boxes, too), but I would have enjoyed these gifts when I was a kid. And, I totally agree with you on teaching your kids to be financially independent. I taught that lesson to my daughters and now, as adults, they make wise financial decisions.
I think your daughters would love the puzzle boxes! Several of these gifts are definitely gender neutral.
These are some great gift ideas.
Rich dad, poor dad is a great read.?
Yes, I agree! Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a must-read. Thanks for your feedback!
These are all great gifts for teen boys to encourage them toward developing good habits that will serve them well in the financial area. . “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey is an excellent book. I had never heard of the World Currency Set before or “Act Your Wage”. Any “Rich Dad Poor Dad” book is valuable as well. These are all excellent items that I will share with family and friends.
Yes, it’s so important to encourage good financial habits in teens! Glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for the share!
I really enjoyed reading your article, as teen boys can be super difficult to buy for. The different types of lock boxes were a unique suggestion and would provide a nice challenge. The “7 Habits” book was also a great pick. My son’s class actually used that as a textbook for part of one course on personal development. All these ideas are a great way to help teach a young man some valuable life lessons. Thanks for sharing.
I’m so excited to hear that your son’s school took the time to teach those healthy habits! Our schools down here don’t, and many others don’t as well. This gives me hope. Thanks for the comment!
What fantastic gifts for a teen boy. I have to admit I’m at a loss to think about what to buy my nephews when Christmas and birthdays roll around. I can see several items that would really interest my nephew as he loves puzzles. Also, I’m delighted that Robert Kiyosaki wrote a book for teens based around his best-selling book, I will be getting that too.
Great review and choices, thanks.
Great! I know your nephew will love the puzzles and the book.
These are all wonderful idea options. With the festive season coming up, I need to know what gifts I can get for my nephews. This article is just up on my alley. I will be sure to bookmark it and come back to it closer to Christmas. Thank you for this lovely post
I’m sure your nephews will love anything from this list! Don’t forget to make sure you order with enough time for shipping. 🙂
I love the ideas in this post. It would be great if education on finances was taught in high school. Being a parent, it is also their responsibility for training as well.
You have an excellent variety of gifts for Christmas or other times of the year as well! I hope my grandson has access to some of these resources when he becomes a teen.
I was wanting to look further into Dave Ramsey, Rich Dad Poor Dad for Teens, and Sean Covey for Teens, However clicking on the link did not take me there. Perhaps you could look into that.
All the best!
Thank you for alerting me to this. The links worked for the written product title, but they somehow got mixed up on the images. All fixed now if you’d like to check out those books!
I really liked your article good Christmas gifts for teen boys. I think they would all be great gifts, but my favorites were the Da Vinci Code-inspired puzzle container. I just thought it looked pretty cool. And the lefree counting money jar. A good way to actually see how much change will add up. I agree these are great gift for younger teens.
I’m so glad you loved the list. I really had a lot of fun putting it together with my nephews in mind. My favorite is the Da Vinci Code-inspired puzzle as well. It’s just different and sure to capture the attention of any boy that is fascinated by mystery and adventure.
Alicia, I love your article, and I assure you that these gifts would make many adults happy, not just teenagers!
Teaching kids about money management is one of the greatest gifts you can give them in life, now that Christmas is approaching you have given me a lot of great tips!
So glad you enjoyed the tips Miriam! I totally agree that as an adult, I’d even enjoy getting many of the gifts on this list!