Retirement Gifts

Types of Retirement Gifts

Gifts generally fall into one of several categories based on their design and intention. While not all gifts can easily be categorized, knowing the different types of gifts available can help individuals shop for the retiree with an idea in mind.

• Novelty Gifts: These items – t-shirts, mugs, hats, loving cups, etc. – generally offer a humorous sentiment proudly proclaiming retirement. Novelty items may also include a selection of “over the hill” merchandise that ties in age with the ending of a career.
• Personalized Gifts: Engraving or embroidering a personal sentiment on a gift makes it especially meaningful. Popular personalized items include clocks, watches, plaques, and picture frames, though more unique items such as golf balls, pillows, and trophies can also be personalized.
• Commemorative Gifts: These items are specifically designed to honor the years of service a retiree has committed to the company or organization. Often personalized with the company logo, individual’s title, and years of service, commemorative items include plaques, paperweights, certificates of achievement, and other awards.
• Hobby Gifts: These items are more likely to be presented between friends or relatives and relate to the individual’s hobbies – which they will now be able to indulge in more frequently because they have retired. Popular hobby gifts include golf balls, gardening tools, scrapbooking supplies, magazine subscriptions, and collectible retirement-oriented figurines.
• Relaxation Gifts: Retirement is an era of relaxation, and gifts such as a hammock, pillow, reclining deck chair, luxury robe, slippers, or spa treatments help new retirees indulge right from the onset of their retirement.
• Travel Gifts: Many seniors opt for extensive travel after they have retired, and travel-related gifts are always appropriate tokens of appreciation. Personalized luggage tags, carry-on luggage, destination guidebooks, and tour vouchers are perfect choices.
• Collaborative Gifts: When an individual retires from a community setting such as a large office or organization where they contributed to a large staff, collaborative gifts that everyone can contribute to are a great option. Gift baskets allow everyone to purchase a small token, or a certificate of appreciation with multiple good will messages and signatures can keep everyone involved.

When friends or relatives offer retirement gifts, themed options may not be the best choices. To simply honor an individual about their recent retirement from the day-to-day workforce, simple gifts may be the best option, such as:

• Dinner or movie gift certificates.
• A bottle of wine.
• Flower, balloon, or cookie bouquets.
• Service vouchers for lawn care or housekeeping.
• Event tickets for concerts, games, or plays.

Choosing the Best Gift

The best gift for a retired senior is one that does two things: honors their retirement and honors their personality. By choosing a gift that ties in to their former career as well as their personal preferences, it is possible to meaningfully honor both their individuality and their years of service. To learn which gifts are most appropriate, investigate what their post-retirement plans are; many retirees are more than happy to discuss enjoyable plans with coworkers and friends. At the same time, be sure to choose a gift they will enjoy, without malice about their good fortune. By matching up their personality with the gift, they can enjoy the token for far longer than just the first few days of their retirement.

Presenting Retirement Gifts

Many offices host individual retirement parties for outgoing employees, and collaborative or company gifts are best presented there. If the gift is from a single individual, however, it may be best to present it at a different time when other coworkers will not feel awkward. Gifts from family and friends can be presented at a celebratory dinner or anytime after the retirement is official. Typically, retirement gifts are presented within a few weeks of the individual’s last day of work, and delaying any longer will make the gift seem like an afterthought.

The Best Gift of All

The best gift of all for a retiring senior is knowing that their career and service were appreciated. After putting in years and decades of dedicated work, a thoughtful retirement gift can demonstrate the appreciation not only for their work, but also for their personality and individuality, and that token of friendship will last far longer than the span of their career.