9 holiday gift ideas for retirees over $50
(MoneyWatch) Want to buy a gift for one of your older friends or relatives that says you really care? Here are gift ideas that cost over $50, as a follow-up to my last post with gift ideas under $50. If you really want to spoil them, give them one gift from this list and a few from the prior list.
1. A Kindle, iPad, or other electronic reading device. These have a multitude of advantages. For the elderly with arthritic hands, these readers are easier to handle than conventional books. If your gift recipients are sight challenged, you can show them how to adjust the font size. They can also buy books from the comfort of their own homes. If it has a built-in camera, your recipient can Skype with their grandkids from home. It introduces them to a whole world of technology.
2. A coupon for a session with a professional retirement planner. This can be particularly valuable for someone who doesn't know how to get started planning for retirement. Make sure the planner is independent and doesn't sell investments or insurance. The Garrett Planning Network is one such financial planning network with a national list of planners who only consult by the hour.
3. A "date" out – dinner, a trip to a movie, concert, or play. Staying active and social is even more critical as we age. So help your favorite relative by taking them out on the town. This is a particularly thoughtful gift for people who don't get out much and value the gift of your time. (This was one of my mother's favorite gifts.)
4. Dance lessons. These offer an opportunity for great exercise and great fun. Your recipient will also meet new people, and for married couples, it's a wonderful way to rekindle the romance. (Husbands: Get the hint! This works better than jewelry, and it's a lot cheaper. I can personally attest to the success of this gift.) Dancing is also rated highly as an activity to keep you mentally sharp in your later years.
5. A gym membership, some walking shoes, or anything else that might get someone out of the house. Help your gift recipient kick-start an exercise habit with the gift of exercise gear. Regular exercise is critical to keeping healthy in your later years.
6. Local, fresh produce. On the subject of kick-starting a healthy habit, why not help those you love eat more fruits and vegetables to improve their health? You can arrange for regular delivery of locally grown seasonal fruits and vegetables through a community-supported agriculture (CSA) program. It's win-win, as you'll help local farmers in the process.
7. Budgeting software, such as that offered by Quicken. When you're working, one of the biggest obstacles to saving for retirement is freeing up money from your budget. And during retirement, you need to make every dollar count. Budgeting software can help with both of these goals. Hint: If your loved one is technically challenged, include a coupon for free help from you.
8. Fulfill a long-held dream. Have you ever heard your friend or relative say wistfully, "I've always wanted to ..." Why not help make their dream come true? Years ago, my son reintroduced me to aikido, a martial art that I had studied in college, as he often heard how I wanted to study it again. I enjoyed aikido for 15 years and can't thank him enough for getting me to try it again.
9. A donation in the name of your relative or friend to his or her favorite charity. For those people you know who really don't need or want anything, a donation to their favorite charity, made in their name, is a thoughtful gift.
If you have more great ideas for the older person on your list, please help our readers by sending in your favorite holiday gift ideas in the comment section below.
Help someone live long and prosper this holiday season!
Steve Vernon
View all articles by Steve Vernon on CBS MoneyWatch»
Steve Vernon helped large employers design and manage their retirement programs for more than 35 years as a consulting actuary. Now he's a research scholar for the Stanford Center on Longevity, where he helps collect, direct and disseminate research that will improve the financial security of seniors. He's also president of Rest-of-Life Communications, delivers retirement planning workshops
and authored Retirement Game-Changers: Strategies for a Healthy, Financially Secure and Fulfilling Long Life and Money for Life: Turn Your IRA and 401(k) Into a Lifetime Retirement Paycheck.
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