Hi Folks,
I’m alway hearing people say that it is so difficult to buy gifts for retirees. Well, it shouldn’t be. Actually retirees are the easiest people to buy for.
This website has a few articles about gifts for retirees – see a list of some of them below – but I thought it would be good if I added a few more suggestions from some excellent sources - retirees. So here goes.
- Gifts for retirees do not have to be expensive. These folks have been around for quite awhile (and can see right through you) and would much rather have a thoughtful, useful gift than something that costs a lot but is of no value to them. Most retirees are not impressed by expensive gifts unless it’s something they really want.
- Books. Not just any book or best seller. Find out what books they really like (ask them and listen close). When my dad retired I discovered that he still enjoyed westerns although he hadn’t read one in years. So trips with him to the library and rummaging through flea markets and book sales looking for westerns was as great a gift as I could give him.
- For the golfer. How about a Victorinox Swiss Army Knife that has a divot repair tool, shoe cleaner and ball marker. Or a golf course GPS.
- Check out your retiree friend’s camera. Most of my retiree friends have rinky-dink little items that just barely qualify as a camera. Buy them a nice, easy to use camera… and include a bag.
- Hobbies. Don’t get me wound up on this one. Many retirees have had deep seated interests in a hobby for years but haven’t had the time to pursue it. Back to my dad. . . here was a rugged, rough construction guy but when he went with my wife and I to a craft show he fell in love with macrame (that was back a few years ago). He spent the rest of his days happy as a lark making all sorts of macrame items. Heck he even started selling them with lots of success. And we never had another problem buying gifts for him. So look around and ask around to discover what your retiree friend enjoys doing or would enjoy learning to do. Wow, what a great opportunity to help someone discover a latent talent.
- Gardening. As we grow older some of the things we enjoy doing or would enjoy doing becomes more difficult. Gardening is one of those. So introduce your retiree to container, square foot and raised bed gardening. (this is not gardening for seniors. Countless thousands of folks practice raised bed and square foot gardening from children on up) Buy them a copy of Mel Bartholomew’s Square Foot Gardening and if they have a computer sign them up for the Container Gardening and Square Foot Gardening websites. The links are in the right sidebar of this blog. Then you will have years of gifts to buy: tools, supplies, more books.
- This next area is a little tricky but I’ll mention it briefly. I have a major article coming out on this soon. Games! Games are not only fun but are good for keeping retiree’s brains sharp and healthy. Some seniors love all sorts of games, some like some games and many more hate games. So it’s your job to find out what sort of games they like or may like. But, if it is a new game don’t just wrap the thing and give it to them – help them learn it and participate in it with them. I’m not going to go there but you would be surprised at how many seniors love computer games. I’ll tell you about some of my retired friends that play computer games in my upcoming article. But books of crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles, books of suduko are good starters.
- For the lady retiree, a spa package.
- An E-reader and a gift certificate for a couple of books.
- Computer lessons at a local college. Not only will they learn more, but have an opportunity to meet new people.
- Certificates for car washes at their favorite car wash place. Or how about a gift certificate for a car detailing.
- Retirees love gift certificates and gift cards. Give them one and watch them beam. Here are a few to consider:
- Tickets to an upcoming sporting event, concert or play.
- Gift certificate for a movie theatre, concert hall, arena so they can choose their own events.
- Gift card to their favorite restaurant.
- Gift card to their hair dresser. (men and women).
- Gift card to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books-a-Million.
Read more…
Hi Folks,
A few weeks ago I wrote about a website that I had located, designed specifically to help non-tech-savvy seniors, http://www.retirement-on-a-budget.com/a-web-site-for-non-tech-savvy-seniors/.
I have had lots of visitors to that page since I first published it which would seem to indicate that there are lots of seniors out there who would like to know more about computers and the internet.
Read more…
Hi Folks,
Your Social Security Benefits will increase by 3.6% in 2012 but you will not see all of it.
The Social Security Administration has announced that monthly Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 60 million Americans will increase 3.6 percent in 2012. However many retirees will not see all of the increase because Medicare Part B premiums will rise by $3.50 a month for most seniors. Monthly Medicare Part B payments will now be $99.90.
Your Medicare Part B payment is deducted from your Social Security check.
Read more…
Hi Folks,
Most Christmases my wife puts together a collection of useful and do-it-yourself type items for the fellows on her Christmas list - me, our son-in-law and some of the other men on her list. Nothing expensive, just thoughtful, fun little items we can all use. One year it was car stuff: Rain-X, special interior cleaner, polishing cloths, a small flashlight, etc. One year it was stuff to maintain our stereo equipment and TVs. It’s always fun to open a box with a collection of small useful items in it but I never thought of it as a “Christmas Gift Basket“ and I’ll bet she hasn’t either.
For the guys it wouldn’t have to be a basket. A small tool box, a bucket or a hundred other interesting containers would be great. And for the ladies a basket would be fine or something else more cleaver.
Read more…
Categories:
GIFT GIVING Tags:
Hi Folks,
Have you had your flu shot this year? I’m surprised at the number of seniors I ask that have not gotten theirs. Most say they have just put it off, some say they don’t get flu shots and a few say the shots give them the flu. Whatever! The fact remains that the flu is deadly to seniors – no matter how healthy and fit we are. So why take a chance? A flu shot is no guarantee that you won’t get the flu but it does improve your chances of not catching it.
Stay Well,
Woody
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Hi Folks,
This page is primarily for folks planning retirement – not for those already in retirement or seniors still working and not yet retired.
A Retirement Calculator is a very important long-range planning tool designed to help you determine how much money you will need in retirement. No one planning for retirement should be without one or two. There are many good retirement calculators available on the internet.
Read more…
Hi Folks,
We have always heard that laughter is the best medicine and now many studies are proving this to be true - laughter is important for good health. Have you had a good laugh today?
Here are just a few of the findings on: Read more…
Hi Folks,
If you are a regular visitor to my sites you know that I believe that retirement is a gift, an exciting time of your life that should be filled with activities, purpose, opportunities and a chance to do what you want to do. No bosses to please, no deadlines to meet, no quotas to fill – except your own. A gift that millions of people around the world are dreaming about.
If you are retired (or planning retirement) please don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to really experience life and do some of the things you didn’t have time for when you were employed.
Read more…
Hi Folks,
Where do you keep your wills and birth certificates? Where do you keep your insurance policies? How about your certificate of deposits?
Most folks would say you should keep these documents in a safety deposit box. But that is only partially correct. Some documents should not be kept in a safety deposit box!
You should not keep the originals of your living wills, medical directives, funeral and burial wishes, wills and powers of attorney in a safety deposit box - anything you might need at the last moment. These items should be kept in a fireproof box or safe in your home or a place where you can get access to them immediately. These are items that you will need immediately when the need arises and don’t have the time to wait for the bank to open. Also some states require a court order to open the safety deposit box of a deceased person.
Read more…
Categories:
INFORMED SENIORS Tags:
Hi Folks,
Do you fall into one of these groups:
- I had to retire - company downsized, layed-off
- I wanted to retire but now I would like to work again.
- My retirement income is not enough, I need to find a job to provide additional income.
Well, no matter what the reason, if you are considering going back to work there is good news; it seems that employment for seniors will be plentiful.
Read more…
