10 Unique Retirement Gift Ideas

Although traditional gifts such as a watch or an engraved plaque are a safe choice for a retiring coworker or friend, a more personalized present that reflects the individual’s personality could be more memorable in the long run.

• Help retirees embrace their newfound free time with a gift that reflects their hobbies, such as clubs for golf fanatics or art supplies for creative types.
  
  
• Give helpful travel accessories: luggage with personalized tags, an organizer for electronics and cords, or a gas card for those long postretirement road trips.
  
  
• Retirees have more time to enjoy life, so why clutter up their homes with more stuff when an evening out might be more enjoyable. Consider concert and sporting event tickets.

• Is your coworker a sports fanatic with a silly streak? You could use your colleague’s image for a customized bobblehead of their favorite baseball team or get a superhero bobblehead created in their likeness.

• For more adventurous types, a helicopter ride over their favorite city or local landmark makes for an exciting group gift.
  
  
• Does the retiree have musical inclinations? Singing, music or dance lessons could hit just the right note.
  
  
• Philanthropic retirees will appreciate a donation to their favorite charity in their name.

• A retirement survival kit with novelty or gag gifts could perk up the office retirement party.
  
  
• A membership to a delivery service such as a wine or cheese club will give your friend a gift to look forward to each month.
  
  
• For some colleagues, the personal touch may be more appropriate. Show your appreciation of their efforts through scrapbooks, photo albums or a video tribute with highlights of their career.

A personalized gift can express how much you appreciate retirees’ service while giving them special memories to take with them in the next phase of their life.

Also of Interest

• SAVING FOR RETIREMENT: Use AARP's Retirement Calculator