Retirement gifts are a rare challenge for many. Gift-giving is difficult enough, and it’s made harder when trying to find a personally relevant item for someone you may only know in a professional capacity. And even if you are close, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration demands extra attention.
If you are stressing over finding a truly meaningful retirement gift, this article is full of tips and ideas to point you in the right direction.
How to Give a Retirement Gift That’s Meaningful
The right gift is subjective, so there is no specific answer that will be meaningful for the retiree in your life. However, there are some key principles that will lead you to an appropriate gift.
A retirement gift needs to be thoughtful, something that speaks to the individual’s personality, desires or needs. This is a major change in their lives, so not just any gift will do. When you need to think of unique, thoughtful gifts for someone stepping into retirement, here are a few helpful criteria to follow.
Choose Thoughtful Gifts That Are Meaningful and/or Memorable
A retirement gift should be useful, either emotionally or practically. A lot of people like to give token gestures, like trophies, but these really only serve to diminish the moment. Giving something with little real value is often taken as a reflection of your feelings toward the individual.
Experiential or practical gifts are excellent examples of thoughtful gifts. People entering retirement are often excited but uncertain, so an experience is the perfect way to transition them into this new life stage. Giving them an amazing vacation or tickets to a show is a positive way to introduce them to retirement.
A unique experience is also memorable, a gift that keeps on giving. It offers new perspectives and growth, openness to new adventures and stories to share. Plus, you do not have to splurge on creating these experiences. Planning, playing to your strengths and taking time to think about what that person might enjoy is all you need.
In general, we find it best to avoid token gestures or gag gifts. A joke, no matter how clever, will probably not make a lasting memory. Practical gifts, however, can be a great addition to an individual’s post-career lifestyle.
Being thoughtful means knowing the person and getting them something that fits their definition of value. As they enter their post-career lifestyle, gifting something they can use every day eases the transition and shows how much you care.
Put Effort Into the Presentation
Like the gift itself, the presentation should be well-planned. Try to present your gift in a way that surprises or makes the moment itself memorable. Putting in the effort to communicate your appreciation for the retiree, doing your best to honor them and their well-earned retirement.
Best Retirement Gifts
Buying a retirement gift comes down to knowing the person’s interests and what they want out of their retirement. If they do want to take the opportunity to travel, for example, you can book them their first tickets. Use your intuition and try to be creative to make your present stand out from the drab and traditional.
To help you start thinking in the right direction, here are some great gift ideas that are sure to gain some excitement.
Something For A New Or Existing Hobby
Retirement is the time to explore passions and new experiences. It’s a time of self-discovery, or re-discovery, in this new chapter of life. Giving a retiree a gift that compliments the extra leisure time they have will make retirement that much better.
Fitbit Versa 2 Health and Fitness Smartwatch
The Fitbit Versa 2 is a great gift for the active retiree, and just about anyone who could use a personal assistant on hand. It gives you rich health information you expect from Fitbit to help you optimize your sleep schedule, plan workouts and track progress. The Versa 2 goes a step further by adding music streaming, weather and news alerts and smart home controls to power other devices.
Callaway Golf Men’s Strata Complete Set
Retirement and golf go hand-in-hand. If the retiree you know is excited to try their hand at golf, this Callaway set is beginner-friendly, high-quality and an overall great value.
PLUSINNO Fishing Rod and Reel Combos
Fishing is a popular retirement hobby, enjoyed for its relaxing return to nature and excitement over the occasional catch. When you want to jump in, there is a lot of gear required to get the most out of the experience. You can ease the burden and make fishing irresistible with this complete rod, reel and lure set. Made of durable components and sporting a variety of lures and neat carrying case, this collection can work for any fishing setting, whether freshwater or saltwater.
Crosley Cruiser Deluxe Vintage 3-Speed Bluetooth Suitcase Turntable
This vinyl turntable adds style and function to a home. Available in a range of different patterns and colors, gifting a Crosley Cruiser that matches the decor honors the retiree’s design sensibilities.
There is a certain feeling of nostalgia that comes with vinyl. A visceral response is a sign of a good gift and a timeless piece like this can create it.
Gamblin Artist Oil Colors Introductory Set, Multi, 37 ml
Retirement is a time for getting creative as well. Buying art lessons or signing a retiree up for classes is a great idea for helping them embrace their artistic passion. Likewise, this complete introductory set of oil paints equips the retiree in your life to find their inner Bob Ross.
Retirement Gift For A Book Lover
Many people entering retirement find it the perfect time to catch up on their reading. For book lovers, these thoughtful retirement gifts promote their pursuit of reading and relaxation.
Kindle Paperwhite – Now Waterproof with 2x the Storage
Kindle is easy on the eyes and able to access all the bestsellers, new novels and classics to keep a never ending supply of fresh reads. The new Paperwhite comes with features like audiobook access through Audible and a waterproof shell for worry-free reading on the dock.
The Telomere Effect: A Revolutionary Approach to Living
Show retirees how to get the most out of their retirement with this revolutionary approach to recapturing youth. This science-backed guide shows older individuals how to shed years, increase energy and vitality and live longer through specific lifestyle changes and psychological techniques.
Lifespan: Why We Age―and Why We Don’t Have To
Dr. David Sinclair is a leading authority on genetics and age-related decline. In this book, Dr. Sinclair approaches aging as a curable disease. With a look into unique emergent technologies and personal habits, we learn how to eat, exercise and live for a longer, healthier retirement.
The New Yorker Print Magazine Subscription
Whether it is the premium writing or renowned comics, anyone can find a reason to love
The New Yorker. A subscription is an excellent way to continually supply exceptional news articles, reviews and humor.
Retirement Gift For Travellers
Travel is the ultimate goal for many retirees and easily the most memorable way to honor their journey. Try these great gifts for those sporting a strong wanderlust.
The New York Times 36 Hours: 150 Weekends in the USA & Canada
This ultimate travel guide for the RV’ing retiree takes you through all of the USA and Canada. Packed full of expertly crafted itineraries, this book provides the most enriching experiences from coast to coast.
Road Trip Travel Journal
As they make their memories, give your retiree a place to store them. This travel journal gives roadtrippers an opportunity to scrapbook, make albums and record adventures. Filling out its pages gives them a fun way to craft fond, lasting stories to share.
Panasonic LUMIX ZS80 20.3MP Digital Camera
A high-quality point-and-shoot camera takes the guesswork out of perfectly capturing the moment. The Panasonic LUMIX ZS80 offers clear detail in exceptional color from far away and up close. It can even record 4K video, so they can enjoy the experience again and again.
Retirement Gift To Celebrate Years Of Hard Work
A nice practical gift to make life easier after work is a great way of honoring a retiree’s accomplishments. Explore gifts like these to give them value day in and day out.
Koolatron WC12DZ, Dual Zone Thermoelectric Cooler 12 Bottle Capacity
More than a mini-fridge, a wine cooler is an invitation to really relax in retirement. With this 12 bottle thermoelectric cooler, their favorite bottle is always on hand and perfectly chilled.
Hamilton Beach 2-Way Brewer Coffee Maker
A good coffee maker is a life saver in the wee hours. Give your retiree a daily reminder of your appreciation with this single-serve/full pot combo coffee maker.
Premium Whiskey Stones Gift Set
Offer an air of elitism with this premium whiskey stones set, complete with whiskey balls, stone coasters, whiskey glasses and tongs. This set will undoubtedly take drinks with company to another level.
Bose Home Speaker 500
Bose is the premier supplier of household sound solutions, with innovative tech creating superior performance. Impress your retiree and give them a truly useful everyday solution through its Bluetooth connectivity, Alexa services and music apps.
Other Special Retirement Gift Ideas
Maintaining a strong connection is a meaningful gift by itself. Give retirees special access to company events or invite them to regular lunches with you and friends. Time is valuable, and offering yours is a strong gesture.
Retirement is a massive life change, and it deserves to be honored with a thoughtful, personally meaningful gift. Follow these tips and you are sure to give the retiree that’s important in your life something they will treasure. For more tips like this, be sure to follow our blog today.