Retirement is quite a momentous occasion for parents, a time to honor their dedication and support. In this article, I’ll explore some of my thoughtful gift ideas to make their retirement special.
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The list kicks off with a funny prank gift for a retiring parent. Going into retirement means more free time for other activities, including playing golf. There is some equipment that a person needs for this sport, and one of the most important ones is the balls. Spoiler alert: these aren’t ordinary golf balls.
This set includes 3 balls that resemble those used for golf, but they are for pranks. The material is brittle, and each ball will disintegrate upon impact. They are filled with fine powder, so once they shatter, there’ll be a cloud of smoke around whoever holds the golf club. You can wrap these in a nice package and make sure not to tell anyone what to expect.
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When people retire, they introduce a lot more free time in their lives. Some use them for various activities around the house, while others spend their days on their smartphones. Listing through social media can be fun unless you’re sitting across from your parent, who pays more attention to the phone. This is where the phone jail cell can help.
To be fair, it’s more of a gift for other people if your parent is the one who’s always scrolling on the phone. It’s designed to hold up to 6 phones, so you can use it over family dinner and ensure that no one is using their phone. There’s a locking mechanism designed so that only the person with the key can open it. The bars are made so that even smaller phones won’t be able to “escape.”
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Many parents have two offices or at least two desks. The one at work and one at home. After retirement, the one at work goes to someone else, and your parent is left with no work but still has the office desk at home. This is why the Zen garden can be a great gift idea for a retiring parent.
Its primary purpose is to relax anyone who’s in front of it. Sure, your parent may not have too much stress retired, but that doesn’t make this gift a poor choice. The package includes a bamboo tray measuring 10 inches in diameter, 6 stones, 2 rakes, sand, and a ceramic mountain. It’s not a personalized retirement gift like some of the others you’ll find on this list, but that doesn’t make it a poor choice.
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After years of work for a company or companies, a parent is eager to retire, not for the pension, but for a bit of relaxing time. Some parents use that for travel, which gives me an idea for this next gift. It’s not something your parent can use, but it’s funny and thoughtful at the same time.
Like most cartoon-style gifts you’ll find, to get this one made, you’ll need to send a photo of your parent. In return, you’ll get a caricature of a person sitting on the beach with a yacht in the background. There’s a “Happy retirement” message to commemorate the occasion. The finished design is a digital file, meaning you’ll need to print it and put it in a frame.
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Many of these gifts you’ll see on today’s list are aimed at both parents. With that said, some are better suited for one parent, at least in many cases, which is the case with this one. Even though I wouldn’t exclude mothers from the beer-loving group, this gift idea is primarily for a father who’s about to retire.
Of course, I’m talking about a beet mug, but it’s not an ordinary one. There’s a message engraved on the front that says, “This beer tastes a lot like I’m not going to work tomorrow.” It’s most effective if you give this to your father on his last day at work. As for the mug, it’s a standard one. It’s made from glass with a single-handle design and can hold 15 oz of liquid.
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Parents have a ton of duties as we grow up, ranging from raising us properly to providing food on the table. When it comes to food-related items, one of the most commonly used things is a cutting board, which makes for a great retirement gift for a parent.
This one is made from natural hardwood, and it comes in several wood flavors, like walnut, mahogany, or bamboo, and comes in several size options. It’s coated with a food-grade mineral oil and glue, making it 100% food-safe. As for the design, there’s a quote saying, “Eat, drink, and be retired” with an option to add a name below it. It’s cute and thoughtful, and I’m sure your retired parent will appreciate the gesture.
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Regardless of the occasion, flowers are often a very considerable gift idea. Even though it’s mostly aimed at mothers, I know many men who are into it. With that in mind, instead of a bouquet, why not do something better for your recently retired parent? Something like a flower box.
“Never underestimate the difference you made and the lives you touched. Congratulations on your retirement!” is a charming message that any parent would love to see on a gift. The box measures 12 by 5 by 3.5 inches, meaning it can hold 3 small jars. There’s also an option to customize the last sentence in the message, making it even more personalized. Combine this with a set of your parent’s favorite flowers, and you have a winning combination.
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They say that people have a lot more free time to relax once they retire. There are many things that can help with that, and one of the many I can think of is bird watching. Attracting the birds can sometimes be tricky, which is where my next gift idea can help.
The bird feeder is designed to resemble an old-styled lantern, made for your parent to hang it somewhere in the yard or the balcony. There’s a lid on the top, which is used for filling it with seeds that go in the bottom tray, keeping it full at all times. The message reads, “Retirement isn’t the end of the road, it’s the beginning of the open highway” with the option to add a custom message below it. It’s sweet and cute, and I’m sure your parent will love it.
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Unlike most of the gifts you’ll see on this list, this next one is aimed at mothers. Women like to wear jewelry, and mothers tend to cherish these kinds of gifts if they are from their children. This is why my next retirement idea is especially thoughtful.
To be fair, any kind of bracelet is a good option, but this one is better. It’s a retirement bracelet with a few pendants that make it all that more special. The star of the show is the “happy retirement” one, followed by the initial, which can be the first letter of her or your name. Adding a pearl or a birthstone is also possible, making it even more personalized. As for the size, the circumference is large enough to fit a 7 to 8-inch wrist comfortably.
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I already mentioned one board on this list, but this one is a bit different. Sure, it can be used for cutting, but as a cheese board, it has a slightly different purpose. With this in mind, this gift idea is perfect if you have a retiring parent who’s a cheese lover. If I’m honest, I’d retire tomorrow if someone would be willing to retire tomorrow if someone wants to get this for me.
The cheese board is the perfect addition to a small and fancy cheese presentation for gatherings. It’s made from bamboo, measures 13 by 13 inches, and is 2 inches thick with a groove on the side for nuts and crackers. The best feature lies in the hidden drawer that holds 4 cheese knives. In the center, you can add a customized design to celebrate your parent’s retirement.
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Many people will say that T-shirts are becoming a cliché gift, but I’m afraid I have to disagree. The regular ones may fall in this category, but going for an interesting design can be beneficial. First, the person who receives it will surely like it, and the second one is that it’s not one of those off-the-shelf options. This is why I’m including a retirement t-shirt on this list.
The best part about this option is that it’s unisex, meaning that it’s suitable for moms and dads. It comes in 7 color options, and the material depends on which color you go for. The solid colors are 100% cotton, the light grey is 90/10 cotton/polyester, and the dark grey is 52/48 cotton/polyester. As for sizes, it ranges from XS to 4XL, so there’s a lot of flexibility here. The best part is the message that reads, “The legend has retired.”
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For many people, retirement can be a day when they get to say goodbye to all that hard work put into working in their position. Regardless if we’re talking about one company or multiple, people want to remember those times, and your parents aren’t an exception. This means that my next gift idea can be an excellent choice.
The retirement board is a plaque made from 5/8-inch-thick birch wood designed to act as a reminder of how long your parent spent working in their life. There are 3 size options to choose from: 8 by 8 inches, 12 by 12 inches, and 16 by 16 inches, depending on how big you want it to be. Also, you have 6 color options, so you can choose the one that suits your parent’s home interior colors. You have 3 customization options to add to it: the number of years, which also gets converted into days, the retirement year, and the name of your parent.
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You often see retired parents in movies sitting at home or on the porch with a mug drinking coffee or tea. Well, this doesn’t happen only in movies, as people in the real world also do this, which is a good idea for you. If you have a parent about to retire, here’s a funny and practical gift idea.
Many will say that a mug isn’t a particularly thoughtful retirement gift, and I would agree, but this isn’t an ordinary mug. Yes, the design is straightforward – a cylindrical shape with a single handle. The mug is made from ceramic and can hold 11 oz of liquid, which is pretty standard. What isn’t standard is the message. The message on the mud reads, “F*cking quitter. I mean happy retirement” which is hilarious. I’m sure your parent would love it and would be eager to show this to friends and family.
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There are many types of retirement gifts that you can get for your parent, but the funny ones are always the ones that catch your eye. The best part about some of them is that apart from the humorous factor, there is some real-world application. That’s the case with my next gift idea.
For most people, a candle has two purposes – the fragrance and how it looks, but in this case, there is a third one. The message on the candle reads, “Smells like it’s not your problem anymore. Happy retirement” which is a very clever pun if you think about it. As for the candle, it’s a standard glass jar, meaning that it’s reusable after it burns. Your parent will have around 50 hours of burn time and can enjoy the gentle fragrance of lavender.
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Commemorating the year spent in service of a job is something every parent does at a certain point. The memories are the freshest in the days weeks after retirement, so there is a way to help your parent in this situation. My recommendation for that is a plaque.
The plaque is made from acrylic, meaning it’s see-through, including the base stand. It measures 4 inches in diameter, so it’s large enough for your parent to use it as an ornament on the coffee table or a shelf. There’s a message engraved on the back that reads, “Never underestimate the difference you made and the lives you touched. Happy Retirement” which I think is sweet. The best part about the design and use of the material is that the message stands out when some light hits the acrylic.
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Whenever someone retires, the amount of available time increases drastically. No work means that there are at least 8 hours in the day for other activities, such as sitting on the couch or the patio. With winter just around the corner, this gives me an idea for another retirement gift for a parent.
I present to you the retirement blanket. To be fair, it’s just like a regular blanket in terms of its use case, but there is something that other blankets don’t have. This blanket is a funny take on retirement rules, explaining to your parent everything that needs to happen after the last day at work, naturally, in a funny manner. As for the blanket, it’s made from polyester, and it comes in two size options: 60 by 50 inches and 80 by 60 inches.
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I mentioned a retirement gift for mothers, so I don’t want to leave the fathers out of the picture. If I’m being honest, I know a lot of mothers who are into whiskey, so we can call this a unisex gift option to some degree. Of course, I’m talking about a retirement whiskey glass.
The glass features a traditional design with a cylindrical shape and a thick bottom. It holds 11 oz of liquid, which is the sweet spot for any whiskey glass. The package comes with the glass, a slate coaster, and 4 granite stones to keep the drink cool, packed in an elegant wooden box that can be used to store the items. No retirement gift would be complete without the famous quote, “The legend has retired.”
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There is a saying that once your father retires, he begins to wear a baseball cap. I’m not sure about the validity of this claim, but I am sure he’ll love this next gift idea. Similar to the previous gift idea, it’s oriented more toward fathers, but you can see mothers wearing them.
Of course, I’m talking about a baseball cap. There’s nothing special about this one, and it’s very similar to most of the ones your father already has around the home. With the adjustable back closure, the circumference ranges from 21.63 to 23.22 inches, so it’s a one-size-fits-most. The front of the hat features the message “Retired since 2023” and I’m sure your dad will wear it proudly, knowing it’s a gift from you.
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You may notice at this point that I keep mentioning how retired people have too much free time on their hands. With no need to go to work, it means that out of the 24 hours, there are 2/3 reserved for some activities. Deciding what to do can be a struggle for the recently retired parent, which is where this gift comes into play.
The gift idea in question is a decider dice, which is a combination of funny and useful gift. On the one hand, you have the funny aspect, which revolves around the fact that your parent won’t know what to do with all that extra time. On the other, it’s practical. Each of the 6 sides outlines some kind of activity, so it can help. The best part is that one of the recommendations is to take a nap, which is what many retired people do.
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For many people, retirement is the day they can start their resting journey after decades of work. Regardless of how dedicated a person is, retirement may feel like a release, which is why many people celebrate it. Your mother could very well fall in this category, so the retirement party deserves a bit of bling.
With this in mind, crowning your mother as officially retired is something that I’m sure she’ll love. This gift includes a tiara and a sash, just like what the Miss Universe winners get. The tiara features a message saying “Retired 2023” and the sash has the message “officially Retired” printed on the front. Both are universal and come in sizes that would fit most women. Honestly, this gift isn’t about how well it fits; it’s about celebrating the first day of retirement in a funny way.
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When it comes to retirement gifts for parents, there are plenty of options to go for. Most people like to go with a sensible one that serves some kind of purpose, but where’s the fun in that? My next gift idea is more on the funny side, and even though there is a very important use case for it, I doubt any parent with a good sense of humor would want to do that.
Toilet paper is something you get from the market, not as a gift. That’s true, but this is not an ordinary toilet paper roll. Each sheet is printed with a funny design, and the message reads, “Happy retirement. Holy s*it, the legend has retired”. The package includes a single roll of 3-ply toilet paper, which I don’t think would make a difference. This gift is something that would be a shame if used.
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The younger generation knows the term bookmark as something on a browser. On the other hand, a parent about to retire knows that a bookmark is used for books, giving me an idea for a great retirement gift. Ideally, your parent would need to be a book lover for this one, but I’m sure it can serve as an ornament.
This gift idea is one of the sweet ones, evident from the message on it. It reads, “Happy retirement, enjoy the next chapter” which is a clever combination of retirement as a chapter and a book chapter. It’s made from stainless steel, which is a rare sight when it comes to bookmarks. On the top, there’s a small chain with a pendant with the retirement year engraved on it. It comes in silver or rose gold, so you’ll probably choose the color based on which parent is retiring.
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There are many ways in which people like to relax, and sitting on the balcony or the porch at night is one of them. Considering that you’ll soon have a retiring parent at home, you can help make the experience even more relaxing. One of the many ways in which you can do this is with a wind chime.
This is an excellent gift idea mainly because of how soothing the sounds from the wind chimes are. Since it’s a retiring gift, there is a small pendant on the bottom with a message: “Never underestimate the difference you made and the liver you touched” which isn’t the first time you’ve seen it on this list. Regardless, it will be a constant reminder of the retirement gift you got for your mother or father. As for the chime, it features an elegant design, and it comes in a shiny silver color only.
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I often see many colleagues getting together to get a watch for an employee who’s about to retire. It’s a nice gesture and a great reminder of the time spent in that company. Duplicating gifts isn’t really my thing, but when I saw this watch, I knew I had to include it. It’s a must-have, especially if we’re talking about someone who loves whiskey.
Yes, that’s right, it’s a whiskey-themed wristwatch, something I haven’t seen before. The wristband is made from aged wood used in whiskey barrels, using stainless steel links to keep it sturdy. It features a classic black dial face with white numbers and a crown shaped like a cork. If you ask me, this would be a perfect retirement gift, especially if you have it engraved on the bottom.
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There are all kinds of working positions, and some of them are more physically demanding than others. Sitting in the office is one thing, but doing 10 or 20 thousand steps daily can be exhausting. If your parent is one of those people, then I’m sure she or he is eager to retire. This also means you should be eager to get them this gift for the retirement party.
A foot tub isn’t something revolutionary. It’s a tub made for soaking feet, something that any parent would love to have, especially in retirement. With that said, this isn’t any ordinary feet tub. It’s made from teak wood and measures 11 inches in diameter and 5.5 inches in height. This means men’s feet up to 7.5, and women’s feet up to 9 will fit comfortably.
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Many people say retirement can be boring, and I’ll take their word for it even though I haven’t experienced it. Having more free time each day means you’d need to find other activities, and having a journal can help. This is why my next gift idea is perfect if you have a retiring parent.
This is an empty-lined notebook, meaning your parent can keep a journal, write notes, recipes, to-do lists, and much more. There are 120 pages, which is more than enough before it’s filled out. Each page measures 6 by 9, making it slightly larger than an A5. It’s the sweet spot between compact enough to be portable and large enough to have plenty of writing space. The best part is on the front with the message that reads “Goodbye tension. Hello pension”.
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If you ask me, wine is the best gift for many occasions. It’s that special gift for housewarming, birthdays, and many other situations, including your parent’s retirement. With that said, don’t you think a bottle of wine is too generic? I do, which is why I recommend combining it with a custom wine label.
Since it’s a custom wine label for retirement, the message on the label is for that occasion. “Pairs well with Retirement. Congratulations!” may seem a bit formal, but no parent would remain indifferent to a gift like this. The package includes 5 labels, so you are welcome to get a few more wines. Each measures 3.75 by 4.75 inches, meaning they’ll fit most wine bottles. They are easy to apply, and the best part is that they are water resistant, so you won’t have to worry about any kind of damage.
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There are tons of gift ideas that aren’t just for show. Take coasters, for example. They are a great addition to any home because most people aim for cute ones, and they help keep stains from the table. When you combine both of these with a parent’s retirement, you get an excellent idea for a gift that any parent would love.
The retirement coasters come in a pack of 6, each with a different design. Naturally, each one is retirement-related, so they are on-topic. They measure a little over 4 inches in diameter, meaning they can accommodate any glass, including the bigger beer mugs. On the bottom, they feature a thick cork that prevents slipping and protects the surface from scratches. The package also includes a black metal coaster holder, designed with rounded edges, aiming to eliminate scratches on any surface.
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Many of the products so far were for both parents, but I don’t think this is one of them. Statistically, I believe that fathers are more into fishing than mothers, so I’m going to assume that this is a male-oriented gift idea. Let’s be honest, fishing is an excellent pastime for retired fathers, so why not use that and get yours a fishing hook?
I’m not a fishing guru, so I’m going to say that it looks like a standard fishing hook, measuring 3 by 1.1 inches. The thing I’d like to talk about is the retirement part, which is the piece of stainless steel that’s hanging on the hook. It’s a two-sided design, and the message on the front says, “This legend has retired” and the one on the back is “Happy retirement. Enjoy every moment, you have earned it”.
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Considering that the previous gift idea was for a father, you’re probably thinking that this one is for your mother. It’s not, and there are two good reasons for that. The first one is that fathers cook, regardless of whether they are retired or not. The second one is the more important and has much to do with the message printed on the apron.
Your father may be retired, but he’s not done working. “I thought I retired, but now I just work for my wife” is a funny way of congratulating your father’s retirement from one of his job positions. The apron is black and measures 29.5 inches in length from the neck and 26.7 inches wide. Thanks to the adjustable straps, it’s a one-size-fits-all option. There are also two pockets, so your retired father can keep the kitchen “tools” close.
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Retirement is a big deal for many people for various reasons. Some are eager for it, while others are concerned about what they’ll do with all that extra time. Getting a sensible retirement gift for a parent is the best thing you can do. With that said, why not spice things up with something funny and partially true?
This gift idea is a warning sign, similar to those beware of dog ones, but it’s aimed at retired parents. The sign says, “Retired person on premises. Knows everything and has plenty of time to tell it” which is true. Your parent may know everything before, but after retirement, there’s more time to tell it. It’s a metal sign, measuring 8 by 12 inches, with 4 pre-drilled holes for your parent to hang it.
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I mentioned plenty of gift ideas for retiring fathers, so I’ll also try to cover the mothers. Women like jewelry, so I feel like this is a good retirement gift option for your mother. Keep in mind that it’s not the flashiest thing you can get, but I think that it’s thoughtful enough, which is why I’m including it on this list.
The necklace has a pretty simple but elegant design, at least for the pendant. It’s a relatively small one, measuring around 0.8 by 0.6 inches, and it’s made from silver with zirconia in the middle. There’s a “happy retirement” message on the side. As for the chain, it’s a standard design, measuring around 21 inches in length, so I’m sure it will fit most women out there.
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A common advice you’ll get from many people is that reading a book helps pass the time and I agree. When it comes to retired parents, things can get a bit more problematic because they don’t know what else to do. Getting a book for your retired parent is good, but getting a retirement book is even better.
The book in question is called “Retirement: The First 365 Days: Advice, Opinions, and Observations on Retirement” and I think the title is pretty self-explanatory. It will help your parent cope with having no work duties and how to remain proactive. To make it more readable, there is a funny aspect to it, but at the end of the day, it’s written to help.
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There are plenty of gift ideas, and clocks are among the more desired ones. They are designed to tell the time, and most of them are designed to look pretty. The combined practical and visual aspects are two reasons I’d recommend getting one for a retiring parent. You can probably guess what the third one is.
Naturally, a retirement gift won’t be a retirement gift without a message. With this clock, you have the option to write a custom message of up to 500 characters on the back. The design is elegantly antique if that makes sense. It resembles a stopwatch attached to a dome, which also acts as a stand. The clock is 8.25 inches high, so it’s large enough to for people to see it and turn it around to read the message.
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I wanted to have the last entry be something sensible, but I decided to end this list with a bang. It’s a similarly styled gift to the cheese board, so it’s a good choice for parties. Since we’re talking about the retirement of a parent, it also adheres to the theme.
You won’t be disappointed to find that my last gift idea is a tequila board. It’s made from 1/2 inch birch plywood and measures 7 by 10 inches. There are 4 cutouts for tequila shot glasses, as well as one for the garnish bowl and a salt ring. The clean space in the middle is reserved for the laser-engraved message that reads, “Retired young at heart, slightly older in some places.”
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