Top 5 Retirement Gift Ideas

When looking for retirement gifts, there’s one simple rule to keep in mind above all else. What will the retiree do with his spare time? Everyone chooses to spend their retirement differently, and finding out what your friend, relative, or co-worker has planned for their newly found free time will point you in the right direction. However, there are some very popular and practical alternatives that in 2010 are appearing at the top of retirees’ wish lists.

• Technology Don’t be so surprised, even Grandma has Facebook nowadays! It turns out that retirees are delighted to have time to stay connected via the Internet with old friends and family. They send emails, upload photos, and even create travel blogs to share with their loved ones. A new gadget helps a retiree feel young and stay young. An extremely popular device for retirees in 2010 is an e-reader. Instead of buying a generic gift card from a bookstore, consider an e-reader as a nice gift for your retiree. They will be able to take their library with them everywhere, including plane flights, and they will be able to buy books from anywhere they want. The latest e-readers are lightweight, easy to use, and can store massive amounts of e-books. Plus, eBooks are significantly less expensive than the latest hardcover books, so your retiree will be able to keep their retirement funds limited. It’s not just a practical gift, but a highly desired one.
• gift certificates Maybe you know someone who is nearing retirement, but you’re not close enough to them to pick out a gift you know they’ll enjoy. A gift card, along with a pretty card, is a great alternative. However, those who have worked long enough to reach retirement have probably also acquired many things during their lives. Instead of going for a traditional gift card, where an item is the end result of the gift, try selecting a gift card for an experience or activity the retiree might enjoy. If you like thrills, look for a skydiving or rock climbing gift certificate. If they enjoy a refined environment, perhaps vouchers to a play or ballet would be appropriate. You can get gift cards or gift certificates for almost anything, so use your imagination and the knowledge you have about the person retiring. Certificates for fine dining, movie theaters, dance studios, spas, and golf courses are just a few of the endless options.
• luxury gifts Once you retire, the money you have is generally limited and requires some serious planning and budgeting to stretch it to the max. Many people enter retirement with very little funds to lead the lifestyle they would have liked to enjoy while receiving their paycheck, except that they lacked the time available. Not surprisingly, retirees love to receive the gift of these luxuries. Your retiree might love a day spa or massage coupon, or maybe a golf coupon or fancy dinner. Alternatively, consider a pricey bottle of wine, a gift basket of foreign delicacies, or a collection of exotic coffee and tea blends. A little time to splurge on the finer things in life is something anyone can and will enjoy.
• travel gifts Unless you have a job that requires extensive travel, most people don’t get to experience the world until they retire. If you’re lucky, you’ve been planning a retirement budget to include the travel expenses you plan to incur in retirement. However, if you are shopping for someone who is nearing retirement and planning to travel, then a gift to help them on their journey may be more appreciated. Luggage pieces, passport wallets, and luggage tags make useful gifts. Go a step further and consider digital cameras, mini trip computers, journals and scrapbooks, and language guides as unconventional aids to enjoying, capturing, sharing, and remembering your trips.
• hobby gifts When listening to hobby gifts, you may think of golf clubs and scrapbooking accessories. While these may still be top hobbies for some retirees, today’s workforce is heading toward retirement as a much more modern idea of ​​hobbies. Digital photography, video editing, sculpture and painting, and even scuba diving are closer to the direction today’s retirees are taking. The hobbies your retiree is interested in are likely not your average standard activities. Find out what your personal passion really is, and if it’s something you’re unfamiliar with, be sure to seek the advice of a sales representative or do an internet search before making your final selection.