Retirement is a huge milestone. No more of the 9-to-5 grind. No more Sunday Scaries. It’s time to relax and enjoy well-earned free time.
That’s why people say the biggest gift you can receive at retirement is retirement itself.
Nonetheless, you still want to celebrate someone’s success with a thoughtful retirement gift.
But what is a typical or appropriate gift? What should you get for a coworker who is retiring?
If you’re feeling stumped, and want to give something other than gold watches and golf clubs, you’re in the right place.
Keep reading to find out:
- What to get a colleague who is retiring
- What is a typical retirement gift?
- 12 best retirement gifts for him and her to buy as a group
- How much people usually spend on retirement gifts
- How to choose a thoughtful retirement gift
- Group gift ideas for the important people in your life
- How to collect money for a group gift with Braid Money Pools
- How do you ask for a retirement gift?
What to get a colleague who is retiring
Coworkers aren’t just fellow employees. They’re people you spend a lot of time with; maybe even more time than your family.
In your work together, they don't just implement strategies and meet deadlines with you.
Colleagues listen to your weekend war stories every Monday. They commiserate about endless Zoom meetings. They go with you on every Starbucks run.
In other words, coworkers turn the 9-to-5 grind into something palatable - even enjoyable.
Chances are, there are people who feel the same way as you do. Whether you all work remotely or in an office, you can acknowledge your retiring coworker with a group gift.
What is a typical retirement gift?
There’s a long list of typical retirement gifts: golf clubs, gold watches, fishing poles, wine glasses, t-shirts, totes, etc.
But you’re not interested in the typical. You’re on the hunt for something thoughtful; something they’ll cherish or want to use as soon as retirement starts.
How much money should you spend on a retirement gift?
People usually spend between $10 and $50 on a retirement gift. That might seem low, but when everyone pitches in, you can show your appreciation with a higher-value item and no one has to break the bank.
Check out these thoughtful group gift ideas. They’re a great way to celebrate someone’s hard work without being cheesy.
12 best retirement gifts for him and her to buy as a group
Retirement gifts are as unique as the people you give them to. Wondering which gift is the one? It's the one your retiree will appreciate.
Scroll down for gifts that you can give to anyone.
1. Sports tickets
If work always keeps them from seeing a late game or traveling to see their favorite team, pool money with others, and purchase box tickets. They’ll love it.
2. Sommelier certification
Do they have a knack for enology? Perhaps they’d like to become a certified sommelier and explore the world of wine further?
3. Travel gifts
Are they itching to add more stamps to their passport? Or, see every national park in the country? Help your newly-retired friend or relative tick destinations off their bucket list with travel gifts like airfare, luggage sets, travel books, or engraved leather passport covers.
4. Memberships
For ardent fans of the arts and sciences, giving an annual membership to local science and history museums, botanical gardens, philharmonic orchestras, jazz societies, zoos, or aquariums is a smart way to fill their retirement with many exciting excursions.
5. Gardening gifts
Retirement can feel surreal. Help them feel grounded in their favorite habitat: the garden.
Put their green thumb to good use with a set of gardening tools, a curated collection of heirloom seeds, a gardening book, or terra cotta vases for their lemon trees.
6. Cast iron teapot with loose teas
If they prefer coffee over tea, gifting a high-quality teapot with a variety of loose teas is a lovely thought. Every time they brew a pot, they’ll think of the good times you shared.
Start a free Braid Money Pool to collect money from your coworkers and buy a thoughtful retirement gift here.
7. Elegant pen and paper
Is the retiree a gifted writer? Give them the gift of an enviable pen and silky smooth paper for all of their creative musings.
8. Personalized jewelry
Send your co-worker off in style. Whether they like silver, gold, or mixed metals, immortalize your inside jokes with name pendants, engravings, or charms on a necklace or bracelet they can wear long after retirement.
9. Show tickets
Give an enchanting gift with tickets to a ballet performance, broadway musical, orchestral concert, or favorite 80s band. What better way to kick off retirement than to sit back, relax, and revel in a little magic?
10. Monthly book subscription
Instead of giving one gift for them to open, give a monthly book subscription so they have a new read every month. It’s a nice way to keep the celebratory mood alive in a way that bookish individuals appreciate.
11. High-quality camera
Do they love to snap photos of people, places, and things? Pool your money with others and gift a top-rated camera so they can photograph their favorite subjects.
12. In-person classes
Now that they have time to pursue their own interests, support them with classes in their favorite subject.
Consider popular class ideas, like cooking, pottery, flying lessons, dancing lessons, painting, or calligraphy. Which one would excite them most?
Retirement leaves people with a lot of free time. These gift ideas can turn free time into enriching me-time.
Ready to start your free Braid Money Pool? Click here to start collecting funds for your group gift.
Questions to help you find a thoughtful retirement gift
You might have found the perfect retirement gift in the lists above.
But in case you’re still on the fence, here are nine questions to narrow down your choices and figure out a winning gift.
- What do they love to talk about? What topics light them up?
- Does this gift match their passions, interests, or hobbies?
- What do they do (or want to do) in their free time?
- How do they like to unwind?
- Does this gift help them enjoy their hobbies to the fullest?
- How do you (realistically) see them using this gift?
- Would this gift make them feel extra special?
- Is this a gift they will be excited to use as soon as their career is over?
- Is this an experience they can do with other people?
Are you supposed to give a retirement gift?
Retirement gifts aren’t obligatory. But it’s good manners to give one.
They’re not just a kind way to mark someone’s success. It’s a way to show how much you value and appreciate them.
Now that you know exactly how to choose a thoughtful gift, find out how to collect everyone’s contributions money with Braid Money Pools and pay for it as a group.
How to use Braid Money Pools for a retirement gift
Once you decide on “the” retirement gift, use Braid Money Pools to pool money and secure an awesome gift.
Here’s how in 3 easy steps:
1. Start your free Braid Money Pool
Braid Pools are where you can collect, manage, and spend money as a group. With Braid, you can set up a free pool and start collecting funds in a matter of minutes.
2. Share your personalized pool link with friends, family, co-workers, etc.
Personalize your pool link with a picture of the retiree and a brief description of your pool. What is your group gift? What date do you need everyone’s money by?
3. Collect gift money
It’s easy to contribute to the pool. Your coworkers, family members, or friends just need your personalized pool link.
With this link, they can put money in the pool with their debit cards. They don't have to download Braid or pay any fees. It’s quick and easy.
Want to set up your pool now? Click here to get started.
Why is Braid the best way to collect money for retirement gifts?
Get notifications when people contribute
Instant notifications help you keep track of everyone’s contributions and collect payments in a timely manner.
This allows you to purchase a retirement gift in time for the party or last day of work.
Keep gift money separate from your bank account
It can be stressful keeping money for a retirement gift organized and separate from your own.
With Braid, you don’t have to deal with this problem because the money never mixes with your personal account.
It stays in your Braid Money Pool until you’re ready to give it as a gift or buy the retirement gift.
Buy a retirement gift with your free Braid card
Every Braid Money Pool comes with a free digital debit card, and you can use it to buy a retirement gift directly from the pool.
The Braid card can be used everywhere Mastercard is accepted and there are no transaction fees.
If you share spending with other pool admin, you can set spending limits to ensure everyone stays on budget.
Give money as a gift
If the retiree would most appreciate receiving money, use Braid to give a financial gift.
Once you collect everyone’s contributions, create a new pool and transfer these funds to the pool.
Personalize it with a celebratory image and write a message expressing everyone’s well-wishes.
When it comes time to “give” them the gift, send them an invite to the pool where they can download Braid and join the pool to get their cash gift.
From there, they can access and spend pool funds with their free debit card or transfer them to a personal account.
Your Braid Money Pool is free to use
There are no maintenance fees, monthly fees, transaction fees, or overdraft fees.
This means you keep 100% of the funds collected for a retirement gift.
Start your free money pool and collect money for a retirement gift today!
How do you ask for a retirement gift?
Are you retiring soon? We’d be remiss to end this post without talking about how you can ask for a retirement gift in a tasteful, tactful way.
If family or coworkers are starting to ask you what to get, consider suggesting money. These tips can help:
- Start a free Braid Money Pool so everyone can put their financial gift in your safe online wallet
- Share how you plan to spend your gift: a trip, a home renovation, etc.
- Explain that gifting money saves everyone time and money. They get to contribute in a matter of minutes and you get to invest in exactly what you enjoy, putting their money to good use
- In lieu of retirement gifts, let them know you’re collecting donations for a cause or charity
- If you’d like to avoid the faff of a retirement party, offer them the alternative of gifting money instead
Retirement is an exciting opportunity to celebrate years of hard work and dedication. It’s also an opportunity to show your appreciation with a thoughtful retirement gift.
