If you have a friend or coworker who’s retiring, skip the basic gifts and get her something unique. Depending on what her interests and plans for the futre are, there are plenty of thoughtful gifts that you can get that will be more appreciated than the typical retirement gifts that everyone gets.
These don’t have to be directly retirement-related, either, it can be a more personal gift to reflect your personal relationship.
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Personalized bracelet or necklace.
Birthstone jewelry from Shokh Jewelry
is a nice retirement gift for someone who’s a grandparent, since they’ll be able to spend more time with the grandkids now! Add stones for each grandchild, or for whichever family members you want to include.
DIY memory photo book.
Give a crafter retiree some junk journal paper supplies so that she can make her own memory books.
These supplies from The Scrapologist are fun and she always has new assortments to choose from.
Home decor gifts.
Simply LaMayed has many choices for home decor gifts under $50.
Someone who’s retiring will probably start working on her home decor and organizing, so this is a nice touch to add to the front door.
Luxury soap set.
Botany Barn makes handmade soap gift sets that include a range of scents, so there’s something that will appeal to everyone in this one. Handmade soap is a good gift that’s also not something that she’ll have to store or find a place for, so that’s a bonus!
Spa gift certificate.
Give your retiring friends a gift certificate to a spa, plus a home-spa eye mask so that she can carry on the relaxation at home.
Natural Body Comfort’s eye masks are nice gifts that she can use for both hot and cold spa treatments at home. They come in different colors and patterns, so you’ll be able to find one that coordinates with her taste.
Personalized wine glasses.
You can get wine glasses that are customized with a name or photo engraving like these from Glass Island Designs. Leave them name-less or add a name under the dsign to personalize them.
Luxury robe.
A luxurious, fluffy robe is a nice gift for someone who’s about to be able to spend a lot more time lounging, if that’s what they want to do! Find some pretty ones on Amazon here: Luxury Bathrobes for Women (#ad)
Kindle or e-reader.
A Kindle or another type of E-reader is a great gift for someone who enjoys getting fast access to millions of books. You can see Kindles on Amazon here: Kindle e-reader (#ad)
You can also buy a gift membership for Kindle Unlimited on Amazon for a variety of months here: Kindle Unlimited memberships (#ad)
Gourmet gift basket.
Find gourmet gift baskets at a local deli, or put one together from a grocery store. Everyone likes snacks, and if the lady who’s retiring is a fan of a certian type of food, you can make it themed.
Wine and cheese set.
Another food gift, wine and cheese is a gift that’s good because it’s something that can be given, but it doesn’t need to be stored. My grandmother loved “gifts that go away,” so if the retiree is someone who doesn’t need more stuff, food is a good option.
Customized cutting board.
Give the retiree a customized cutting board that you can have made to order from JariJade Creations.
Personalized luggage tags.
For someone who’s planning to travel more, personalized luggage tags would be a useful gift.
Handwritten recipe book.
Have all of your coworkers write down one of their favorite recipes and put them together in a binder. This is a thoughtful and collaborative gift that your retiring coworker will be able to use to remember the office!
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Cute stationery.
A set of friendship postcards from Ila and Alice is a lovely way to remind your retiring friend just how much she means to you.
Give her the set so she can use in her journal or scrapbook, or mail her one a week for a surprise reminder in her mailbox about just how much she is missed at work!
Personalized calendar.
You can put your own personalized calendar together on Zazzle…Just upload your photos and choose the template to add them to.
Cooking class voucher.
Give your retiring friend a cooking class, and if you want to have some fun yourself, sign up to go with her!
Charitable donation in her name.
Get a collection at the office and make a donation to a charity that your coworker supports. This is a thoughful gift that will help an organization and honor your coworker at the same time.
Luxury bath set.
If you want to give your coworker a little spa-style luxury, the Sudsy Goat Soapery has bath salts, bath bombs, and luxury soap priced well below $10.
Personalized journal.
For someone who enjoys writing or journaling, these journals from Snappy Sisters Shoppe are unique and better than a regular notebook. They’re pretty and would be a nice retirement gift.
Craft kits or art supplies.
Get your friend a bead and sequin ornament kit from Holidays Lane. They’re fun to put together, and she can give the finished ornaments to her friends for gifts.
Yoga mat and accessories.
If your retiring friend belongs to a gym, get her a yoga mat and accessories that she can use to try a yoga class now that she’ll have more free time.
Pretty coffee mug.
This pretty modern mug from Motor City Design Works features a slanted shape and a peach-colored geometric design.
Travel guidebook set.
Travel guidebooks or books about specific countries are a good gift for someone who plans to travel more in retirement.
Personalized garden stone.
For someone who enjoys gardening, get a custom-engraved garden stone with the date of her retirement on it! I checked with Kelly, owner of Kimmer and Company, and she said that while she usually does pet memorial stones, she could do memorial stones for the “end of an era” of a career if someone wanted one! Send her a message on her website here: Kimmer and Company
Embroidered pillow.
A personalized pillow cover with a monogram will fit in with any decor. Make it a family name letter, or if the woman who’s retiring is single, put her first initial on the pillow cover.
Subscription to Audible.
If the retiree likes podcasts or audiobooks, a gift membership to Audible would be something she’ll enjoy. Amazon has so many different books and podcasts to choose from, she’ll be able to find something that she likes.
Click here to buy gift memberships to Audible on Amazon for 1 month,3 months, 6 months, or 1 year.
Cute apron.
For someone who’s looking forward to being in the kitchen more during retirement, a cute apron like this one from Katrushka Home Fashion would fit the bill for a good retirement present.
Handmade kitchen pottery.
This handmade ceramic herb stripper is a great gift for a retiree who loves to cook with fresh herbs straight from the garden.
Personalized photo frame.
You can order personalized photo frames, or design your own, on Zazzle. Upload your own designs or photos for the frames, then add text and place your order to have a totally unique gift.
Retirement-themed t-shirt.
One thing about retiring is that you can wear what you want and be casual about it. This quilter t-shirt by Sew Many Quilty Things would be a fun addition to a quilter’s wardrobe, and it will be a conversation starter for sure.
For more gifts for people who like to sew, click here.
Custom small purse.
Tracey Lipman has a cat lover collection, which includes handmade purses, phone bags, and other accessories.
Decorative wall art.
A fun wall art option would be a macrame wall hanging from Wires And Knots. These are handmade and she also sells kits, so you can give her a DIY project to make one if you want to do that.
Monogrammed towel set.
You can find a wide assortment of monogrammed towel sets on Amazon. Add a monogram or text and get them in a variety of colors. Click to see towels on Amazon (#ad)
Luxury watch.
A gold watch is a traditional retirement gift, so getting her a watch is a nice way to give a nod to that. You can find a lot of nice watch styles on Amazon (#ad)
Fitness tracker.
A Fitbit or other type of fitness tracker can be a fun gift for someone who wants to start spending more time at the gym. You can find them on Amazon. (#ad) in a variety of colors.
Customized water bottle.
A personalized water bottle or tumbler is a useful present, and you can get it in multiple colors.
Travel journal.
Get a personalized travel journal on Zazzle. There are plenty of styles available that are designed by individual artists, and you can add a name or destination to the cover to make it custom.
Decorative garden art.
This unique stained glass spinning suncatcher turns and reflects the light as it rotates and spins. The photo doesn’t do it justice, click on over to the website to see the video! It’s a unique piece that’s handmade by Tina of Bello Glass.
Custom puzzle with her photo.
Get a custom puzzle made from any photo you want to add on Zazzle. You can upload a photo from the workplace, or one of the retiree herself.
Elegant stationery set.
Get a custom-designed stationery set or writing paper from the artists’ selections on Zazzle. Add a name or just go with the artwork that the designers have added.
Luxury silk scarf.
If your retiring friend likes to travel, or go out in the sun, give her a scarf to brighten her vacation travel hat or to enjoy on her everyday outings!
Handmade quilt.
Tahoe Quilts makes unique lap quilts that would be both useful and a pretty addition to brighten up a living room.
Personalized keychain.
This floral keychain has a monogram that can be personalized when you order it. It has pink, red, and white flowers and is a pretty accessory to help someone stay organized.
Custom artwork of her home.
A custom drawing of the retiree’s house is a nice gift…You can find artists to do them for you on Etsy.
Gourmet tea set.
For a truly individual gift mug, go with a handmade ceramic cup from Hester’s Studio. The selection in the mugs section changes as the designs change, so check them out and get them while you can!
These should be filled with a bag of loose-leaf tea, a tea strainer, and a little jar of honey to sweeten it.
Personalized planners or notebooks.
Retirement might seem to be the time when you can slow down, but it’s not unusual for retirees to be way busier than they thought they’d be! This pretty floral annual planner has space to write down everything you need to remember to do. It’s undated, and you can customize the cover to add your name, change the year, or add any text that you’d like to.
Monogrammed handbag or tote bag.
Kailey’s Monogram has a lot of useful gifts that can be customized with embroidered names and monograms.
Nice wine accessories.
If your friend is a wine lover, custom wine accessories would be a good gift. Get a high-quality corkscrew and wine glasses with a bottle of wine to go with them.
Engraved keepsake box.
A nice, engraved box to keep jewelry or keepsakes in is a gift that can be displayed in the retiree’s home. Get an engraver to add her name to it to make it really custom.
Subscription to a music service.
For a retiree who loves music, consider the gift of a music service subscription. Amazon has one, and you can find others online.
Memory jar filled with notes.
Have all of the coworkers write a little word of advice for a fun retirement, and put the notes in a mason jar with a decorated lid. Your coworker can read them one a month or on whatever schedule you assign.
Monogrammed cosmetic bag
Give the retiree a red monogrammed make up bag fill filled with her favorite sweets and gifts to celebrate the day she’s set free from the world of work!
High-end binoculars for bird watching.
Get some binoculars, a bird feeder, and some birdseed to give your coworker the materials to set up a birdwatching station in her yard!
Personalized garden tools.
If the retiree has a garden that she’s planning on working in, get some garden tools in her favorite color. You can find sets on Amazon (#ad) that include a bag, the tools, and gloves.
Luxury scented candle
If the retiree likes fragrances and candles, the ones from Sixth Spice are all-natural, handmade, and very affordable.
Gourmet spice set.
Get a spice rack and fill it with jars of dried herbs for the woman who’s looking forward to cooking a lot during ertirement.
Personalized champagne glasses.
Get the retiree some customized champagne glasses like the ones from Dreamin Bohemian. These are painted with flowers, but she has multiple types of designs to choose from.
Embroidered kitchen towels.
These pretty kitchen towels will be a decorative and useful gift for someone who’s retiring and spending more time at home.
Customized golf balls.
Custom golf balls are a fun gift, and you can make them yourself or buy them pre-designed from Zazzle. Just upload a photo, add your text, and you’re all set!
Custom wall clock.
A cute wall clock that you can get personalized will be a welcome gift for the retiree who’s going to have more time to spend at home doing projects. You can get this one or design your own on Zazzle.
To see gifts for people who you don’t know very well, click here.
Ceramic and leather vase.
This large ceramic vase with leather handles by Hesters Studio looks wonderful with fresh flowers and will be a beautiful addition to the modern kitchen or living room.
Decorative tray.
Having a small tray to put things on and to corral small items is a good idea for anyone who needs to keep track of things. This cute strawberry tray can also be personalized in the Artisan Shopper Zazzle shop, so you can add a name or a message on the surface before it’s printed and sent to you.
Monogrammed passport holder.
If the retiree is going to be traveling, a custom passport folder is a good gift. add a crossbody bag that she can wear to keep everything secure. See them on Amazon (#ad)
Subscription to a meal kit.
Giving the gift of a meal kit subscription is fun and will take the pressure of figuring out “what’s for dinner” off of your friend. She’ll be able to enjoy being retired and not having to worry about that for a while.
Custom pillow with grandkids’ names.
A personalized grandchildren pillow cover with the grandkids’ names makes a nice decor item.
Personalized golf towel.
Get personalized golf towels on Zazzle. You can design your own or add your own details to the designs that are available for editing.
Handcrafted jewelry dish.
Cheryl Kumiski Glass has one-of-a-kind trinket dishes in her Etsy shop like this dichroic glass dish. This would be great as a key dish or a coin dish for a dresser or desk.
Personalized birdhouse.
A birdhouse that’s built to look like your friend’s house, or like a little cottage, is a nice gift for a birdwatcher or a gardener. You can find custom birdhouses on Etsy.