Retirement can be a bittersweet experience. On the one hand, your coworker, friend, or relative is finally getting to kick back and relax, enjoying their golden years, after a life of hard work. 

On the other hand, they may also be saying goodbye to a job they’ve held for years, work they love, and coworkers they appreciate. At the very least, it’s the end of an old chapter. 

So, buying a retirement gift is a good way to show your friend that you care about them and you wish them well on their next adventure. Let’s take a look at a few tips to help buy the perfect retirement gift. 

Know Your Audience 

The obvious way to buy the right gift is to know your audience. Knowing your coworker’s likes, dislikes, and hobbies is a good way to ensure that you by a gift they’ll appreciate. 

If you don’t know your coworker well enough, maybe try to subtly find out what sort of gifts they’d like. 

What To Buy? 

So, what should you buy? It’s always a good idea to include a card or letter in the retirement gift. That’s where you can more about how much your coworker means to you.

• Classics 

There are a lot of “classic” gifts that you can buy. For example, an expensive watch is the classic retirement gift, although you might want to buy something a little different, possibly related to your work. Chocolates, alcohol, food hampers, and flowers are all classic retirement gifts. 

• Funny gifts 

Sometimes a funny gift is absolutely the right choice. Mugs with puns or sarcastic comments, funny trophies, and jewelry are all solid choices if your coworker has a healthy sense of humor. Funny retirement shirts are an especially good idea. They’re funny, of course, but also practical – who doesn’t wear t-shirts? 

T-shirts are also reasonably priced gifts. You may not have the budget to buy an expensive gift, but a funny t-shirt is a practical, amusing gift that won’t break the bank. 

• Something Meaningful 

If you and your coworker were especially close – or even if you’re a student and your favorite teacher is retiring, for example – you may want to give a meaningful gift. This could include personalized items, scrapbooks, memory boxes, inside jokes, and other personal items that make for a meaningful gift that your coworker, friend, or teacher will treasure forever.

If In Doubt…

If you really have no idea what to buy or don’t have the budget to spend on a present that won’t be appreciated, feel free to speak honestly with your coworker about what they’d like. It might be that there’s something they would particularly like for a retirement gift, but feel like it would be rude to ask. 

Failing that, gift cards, a bit of money in cards, and surprise parties (yes, those count!) are all perfectly suitable retirement gifts. The main thing is that you don’t let your friend and coworker go without letting them know how much they mean to you. 

Published by HOLR Magazine.