Sunday, January 22, 2012

Gifts for Baby Boomers and Retirees

Photos are a thoughtful
gift for Baby Boomers!
Have you ever thought about how hard it is to buy gifts for Baby Boomers and retirees?  Most of us have trouble coming up with ideas for our Baby Boomer or retired spouses and friends.  Imagine how much more difficult it is for our children and grandchildren to come up with gift ideas for us.

Below are some suggestions that will help anyone who is trying to come up with gift ideas for retirees or anyone who is over the age of 50.

Photo Gifts for Baby Boomers

One ideal present that is sure to please is a photo gift.  This can consist of a framed family photo, a family history loving compiled into a photo album, or a favorite photo that has been printed onto an apron or coffee mug. There are lots of places where you can purchase gifts like this online.

If you are interested in some specific ideas about where to buy personalized photo gifts, you might want to check out my InfoBarrel article, "Thoughtful Photo Gifts for Mothers Day."  It gives you the names of several stores, as well as a variety of useful websites.

There are a number of excellent reasons why you may want to give a photo gift.  In fact, in a pamphlet I received from Prevention Magazine, they reported that researchers had discovered that looking at personal photos was one of the best natural mood enhancers.  Amazingly, spending time looking at personal photos worked better at elevating your mood than chocolate, wine, TV or music.  So, not only are you giving them a gift they'll love at the moment, but it will elevate their mood every time they look at it.  It's hard to find a better gift than that!

Hobby Gifts for Baby Boomers

Many people are struggle to afford their favorite hobbies after they retire because of the expense.  There are several ways you can help out.  You could have them give you a personal "wish list" or add items to a wish list to a website such as Amazon.  Then, you would know exactly which gifts they would most appreciate.  Or, if you would rather, you could give them a gift certificate to their favorite shop.  You could even give them a gift certificate to a place like a golf course or to go to a similar facility for a special day enjoying their favorite hobby.  Whatever decision you make, you know you will be giving them a gift that will delight them, as well as one they will enjoy over and over again, as long as they pursue their hobby.

Birthstone Jewelry Gifts for Baby Boomers

Grandparents often enjoy receiving a necklace, pendant or ring that has the birthstones of all their grandchildren.  It it a wonderful reminder of these beloved children, and an charming conversation piece.  In other words, when asked about their jewelry, they can use it as an opportunity to tell their friends a little about each of their grandchildren.  This is a piece of jewelry that they are certain to love!  If you aren't sure about what birthstones go with each month, you may want to read my InfoBarrel article, "Top 12 Birthstones and Their Historical Meaning."

Nostalgia Gifts for Baby Boomers

Another idea for Baby Boomers is to give them gifts that make it easier for them to recall their youth.  When I bought my husband an iPod for Christmas a few years ago, one of our daughters flew down from San Francisco to Southern California to help my husband load some of his favorite music from his teens and to show him how to use it.  Not only did we enjoy the impromptu visit from her, but he now loves using his iPod to listen to some of his favorite old music.

The Gift of Time

The above paragraph reminds me that one of the most precious gifts you can give a retiree is the gift of your time.  You could take them to lunch or to a movie.  Offer to take them shopping.  Spend the day with them at the beach or enjoying a sport or activity together.

You might also to perform some chores that need to be done around their house ... whether it is raking leaves, cleaning the gutter, trimming the hedges or painting a room.  Even giving their house a thorough cleaning could be an appreciated gift.

The Gift of Services

What if you would like to help out with those services mentioned above, but you cannot because of your own time constraints or physical health.  Why not give the gift of a service.  Hire a window washer, maid service, lawn service, or other helper for a day.

Many senior citizens would appreciate these types of helpful gifts ... whether you perform them yourself or pay someone else to do them!


More Useful Information for Baby Boomers

If you are over 50, and you are either retired or hoping to retire someday, use the tabs or pull down menu to find links to hundreds of additional articles about where to retire, family relationships, financial planning, health concerns and more.

You are reading from the blog: http://www.baby-boomer-retirement.com

photo courtesy of morguefile.com

3 comments:

  1. These are great ideas. Besides working with an Amazon wish list, an Amazon gift card is especially valuable. Amazon carries almost anything you might need right down to the smallest components for almost any hobby.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you for your comments about finding gifts for baby boomers. You are right that the Amazon gift cards are great for someone who has an interest in hobbies. Your site is also a great source of hobby and craft ideas. Interested readers can find it at: http://www.domestic-divaonline.com

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  2. Some of my Mom's favorite gifts ever - and I mean EVER - have been simple photo gifts, which can be handmade or ordered. Mugs, blankets, t-shirts, you name it! Thanks for the ideas!
    -Kurt
    Seniorly.com

    ReplyDelete

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