A good retirement gift is for the time they finally have. After years of working weeks, most people have a list of things they have been waiting to do: the garden, a hobby, a trip, or simply putting their feet up. The best gift helps with one of them.
What retirees really want
Ask what they are looking forward to. Some people retire with a plan for every day; others want to slow down first. A gift for a hobby they already love shows you listened, while a gift for relaxing suits someone who has worked hard for a long time.
For a colleague, a shared gift from the team can stretch to something bigger, like a comfortable outdoor chair. For a parent or partner, think about how their days will change: more time in the garden, more trips, more time with grandchildren.
Before you choose, ask yourself
- What are they most looking forward to?
- Do they love the garden, a sport or a craft?
- Are they planning to travel?
Retirement gift ideas
Time in the garden
For the gardener. A suits someone with big plans for the garden, a brings visitors to watch from the window, and a pair of suits the birdwatcher or the walker.
Time to relax
For putting their feet up. A suits the deck or the garden, a suits a favourite armchair, and a is a slow, satisfying project for a reader.
Time for a hobby
For the long afternoons. A jigsaw puzzle suits someone who likes a quiet challenge, a keeps a golfer's eye in between rounds, and a cookbook suits someone with more time for the kitchen.
Time to travel
For the trips they have been saving for. suits someone about to see the world, and a makes the long flights easier.
Something to do
Retirement is time to finally do the trip. A , an , or a gives them a first adventure of the new chapter.