Retirement is not only a big transition in the retiree’s life it is also a time of celebration and happy memories.  When trying to find the perfect retirement gift one must pick something that fits into their lifestyle, helps them pursue hobbies and enjoy their new found freedom. 

Look for gifts that are original or suggest your ideas to other co-workers for more expensive items.  Remember that the company also gives retirement gifts and depending on how well the company values its employees is usually a pretty good indicator for the kind of gift the individual will be receiving.  Items like:  awards and plaques, ornaments, paperweights, valet key fobs, desk clocks, luggage tags, passport holders, mugs and even pen sets are all very nice personalized retirement gifts, don’t get me wrong, but lets face it, they are all rather generic and may or may not be used or displayed by the retiree. 

However thoughtful a gift may be, it’s always best to find items the retiree can use and will appreciate.  That’s why a retiree generally appreciates their co-workers gifts over the gift they receive from a company.  Some companies do however go above and beyond and will give stocks and bonds which is something every retiree can appreciate even if they are a novice.  Other companies have been known to give timepieces, crystal decanter sets or even big ticket items like timeshares or club memberships in recognition of years of service. 

Giving the retiree something to look forward to in my humble opinion is the best gift to give.  Tickets to an upcoming concert, play or sporting event can be very exciting; also I found a getaway vacation booklet that lets the retiree pick their vacation.  Other items can include golfing accessories like: divot took and ball marker, shoe bag, personalized golf balls, golf shadow box, or valuables pouch.  Even fishing gear and hunting gear can be given and if you’re unsure as to which item they will want, a gift certificate is always appreciated and is not as impersonal as some people may think.  Better to let the retiree pick the item they really want then to give them something they’ll end up returning or worse already have. 

My second favorite kind of gift to give for retirement is anything that can be personalized yet still fits into their lifestyle.  There are so many gift choices out there it’s hard to list all of them here.  Here are just a few unique ideas that are memorable, fun and sure to be used and appreciated.  A poker chip set for those who love to play cards, folding beach chairs or towels for relaxing at the beach,  a throw blanket for lounging or sitting in front of a fireplace, wine carriers or totes, bar signs for the game room or home bar, crystal glassware, stemware and decanters sets to add the finishing touches to any home bar, an engraved guest book plate, T-shirts, sweatshirts, hats, a vacation booklet full of vacation ideas to keep entertained during those retirement years and even a framed retirement poem are some of the items I found when looking online which are all available in a wide variety of styles, colors and themes to fit all personality types.  I even found gift baskets full of bath supplies, wine, beer and coffee along with a neat record recorder that allows all those baby boomers to record their favorite records onto a CD. 

With so many choices out there it’s hard to pick just one.  I always check out any company I find on the internet through the BBB (Better Business Bureau) for my own piece of mind.  Plus I like to do repeat business when shopping online as some companies give a repeat customer discount and best of all with gas prices the way they are I can shop in the privacy of my own home and have the gift delivered to me or the retiree saving me gas, time, and stress.

If the office has decided to go in on a gift together be sure to include your input as well as consider other ideas, then decide on the best choice for that individual.  When trying to find the perfect gift you can be rest assured that you’ll never go wrong if you buy a gift that the retiree wants, can use and will enjoy.  A few well placed questions can be all the inspiration you need to give a great gift that will be both memorable and treasured.  Happy Shopping



By: Angelique Ellerman

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one you know retires, you’ll want to find a meaningful gift to mark the occasion. After all, when a friend or family member leaves their life’s work and begins a new chapter in their life, it’s something to celebrate!

Think of what you know about the person. Did they like the career they’re leaving? What do they do in their spare time? Do they like to golf? Do they plan on traveling in the near future? Do they like to entertain? The answers to these questions will give you some quality leads to find a memorable gift especially for them. Notice what kind of taste they have about things. Rustic? Classic? Elegant?

Once you have the clues, it’s time for the hunt. The internet is a great source of gifts. You can shop when it’s convenient for you. No more store hours. No traffic and no fighting for a parking space. You may find even better savings on gifts online than in the brick-and-mortar store. You may even find an offer online for free shipping. That’s cheaper than buying gas for the car to go shopping! In some instances, you can even save paying the sales tax.

One idea for the retiree would be a personalized gift. Someone who plans to use their now greatly expanded free time to entertain might enjoy a bar set or glassware bearing their monogram. Perhaps an engraved platter with a quote or their retirement date would remind them of the day.

Along that same theme would be monogrammed wine glasses and some wine or champagne for a toast. And who can ever have enough beautiful vases to display the flowers from the garden in which the recipient can now spend more time. A gift of art would also be welcome for the person who appreciates beauty.

A golf gift is a great idea and personalized is even better. There’s something about pride of ownership that is displayed with a personalized gift. If travel is in the plans, a travel kit or personalized passport case is something that will show that you want them to enjoy their travels.

A favorite gift is an engraved photo frame with a meaningful photo. Your choice of photo means there are so many options, funny, sweet, or thoughtful. You’ll also find that you’ll be able to customize your gift with a choice of frame material.

There are so many options with a personalized gift. This will be a gift that was created especially for the guest of honor. It wasn’t just pulled off a shelf. Thought went into its selection and the message that it will convey. Isn’t that the type of gift that you want to give? The hard part will be narrowing the options down to one!

Article Source: RSI-RGI1 Retirement Gift Ideas

By: Gen Wright

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Has a friend, colleague or someone from your family retired from work? If you are a nodding to a ‘YES’, then gifting him or her something could be a perfect idea for making retirement enjoyable. These gifts can be given to a person when he or she has attained retirement so that they could enjoy their life ahead. These bequests could be anything from new glass-frames, rocking chair, or any other thing that could make their life ahead more comfortable. It is to be noted that the choice of retirement gifts should be taken in consideration of the interests as well as hobbies of an individual.

 

To locate retirement gifts, you can look around in the shops nearby your home or even go online to pick gifts. In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, wherein hardly anyone has enough time to spend ample time in the shops shuffling from one to the other, online accessibility does offer a perfect approach to avail these gifts. Retirement gifts are usually given in the farewell parties that are thrown in order to mark the departure from the hustle-bustle of work into the life wherein you could live life as per your choice.

 

In fact, in the recent years the emergence of online services providers for retirement gifts has seen a drastic increase. The huge number of online services providers on one hand gives a tough time to the customers in selecting one, and on the other offers a wide range of variety to choose from. Go online, and search through the internet for options of retirement gifts, wherein you would get a long list of services providers. It is advisable to scan through the various options presented by them, and then make your decisions. These gifts can be personalized as well as unique in accordance to your particular tastes.

 

Yet another advantage of making a purchase online for these gifts is ‘cost-effectiveness’. This is possible owing to the fact, that there is an on-going competition amongst the online services providers to out-do the other, which can lead you find affordable prices for gifts.



By: Rays Smith

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Unlike women, who prefer lifetime membership at spas or having a ticket in a trip across the world, men simply have different tastes when it comes to retirement gifts. Unlike the opposite sex, who wants to be pampered and to be bathed by luxury, men simply want something that affirms their virility.

Men simply want nothing more than to be a young and energetic man again. In other words, a good retirement gift must make them almost kind of like relive those times.

Some Tips

When it comes to sports, nothing says “still playable by old people” other than the century-old sport, golf. So gifts like personalized golf sets (if he’s left handed, give a customized golf set for left-handed men), monogrammed golf balls and gloves are perfect gifts not only to encourage him to be active once again, it also helps when it contributes to his declining health.

If golf sets are a tad too expensive, you may opt for squash or tennis racquets along with customized polo shirts with the family logo (if they have one). What is important is that you rekindle the sports loving gent inside of him. These kind of gifts always work—has anyone heard of a man who doesn’t watch ESPN or isn’t addicted to Monday night Football or Friday night Basketball?

A good alternative to sports-related gifts are expensive alcohol. The brands don’t have to be too extravagant. A huge bottle of J&B or the commonplace Blue Label Johnnie Walker may suffice. It is always good to let him remember the good old times in the bar where he and his friends can do no better than drink the night away. But giving these kinds of gifts doesn’t mean you’re promoting that again, most men have a wine or alcohol collection stored away in a cabinet, or for the true aficionado, cabinets.

Or it could be as simple as planning a retirement/”bachelor” party for him, where he could simply have a good time with friends, chatting and drinking the night away and enjoying their other company at the gentlemen’s club.

No matter what your gift may be, make sure that is true to the fact that it’ll make the retiree feel as young as possible.

Alternatives

With these general guidelines, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one should forsake personalized gifts. One should always take into account the personality and interests of the retiree. If he loves to read about current events and blogs about it in the internet, then probably a lifetime subscription to The Economist or The Wall Street Journal will be a perfect fit for him. One mustn’t forget that very important and universal rule: suit the gift to his tastes.

Conclusion

Making retirees forget about everything about their age and the limitations that come with it must the premise behind your gift-giving decisions to these retirees. Once you find the perfect blend wherein you mix sports, leisure and fun, then rest assured that you have found the best gift possible for him.

If you can’t, just follow the rule which has stood the test of time: find out what his interests are, and give a gift based on that information. In the end, it’s all about knowing what the person wants and giving it to him.



By: Robert Hunter

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