I am an awful gift giver.

Awful.

I have zero creativity and I hate shopping.

Janel, on the other hand, is a GREAT gift giver.  She is the type that will research the recipient, look for new and unusual ideas, and then nail it when it comes to how the recipient will respond.

So it is she who I will go to when it comes to ideas for retirement gifts.  As someone who specializes in retirees and pre-retirees, this is a topic that comes up often.

To start with, let’s be clear about what NOT to give: a miniature porcelain animal or a book “you know they’ll love” tops the list found here.  Re-gifts are a definite no-no.

Of course, as this other person writes, “when the impulse hits to buy a retiree a T-shirt scrawled with ‘retired but not expired’, just keep on walking. Unless the person you’re buying for is under the age of 16, chances are your wordy retirement present will end up as a dust rag.”

That being said, retirement IS a big deal… so, find the best retirement gift. Of all the life transitions that merit gifts — graduation, marriage and the birth of a baby — retirement might be the most significant change and the least celebrated.

To start, you probably want to decide what approach you want to take with your gift, whether it be classic, utility, personal or just a gag. Everyone is different, so try to think about what is important to the person retiring rather than what most people traditionally gift.

You probably can guess some traditional retirement gift ideas, but it may be particularly thoughtful to give the retiree something that commemorates the work that they did. This idea will require some creativity and effort on your part. However, examples might include:

  • A framed map of a salesperson’s territory
  • A framed listing of their major accomplishments on the job
  • A trophy engraved with their name and dates of service
  • A bronzed or mounted item that was significant to the work they did
  • A wrench for a plumber
  • A pen or keyboard for an executive
  • The nozzle from a firehose for a firefighter
  • A throw pillow made from their favorite tie or a part of their uniform

Studies show that retirement is indeed awesome.  But, it can be stressful worrying about money.

That’s where I come in.  If you or any of your friends have ANY questions about how to take the stress out of retirement, CLICK HERE to schedule a time.  I’ll be happy to talk.

And I might even get you a gift.