Great Retirement Gifts for the Newly Retired Person

When selecting a retirement gift, one should consider the person's hobbies and interests. Does she like to travel? Is gardening his passion? Is there something that this person has always wanted to do but was too busy until now to pursue it? Maybe the thought of retirement leaves the person feeling lost. Maybe the new retiree has no idea what to do with his or her newfound time. The following gifts should make a person's entry into the world of retirement a more pleasant and exciting one.

Travel Related Retirement Gifts
With the luxury of time to travel, a retiree will appreciate travel gifts and accessories. How about a new luggage set? Choose luggage that is not only attractive but ergonomic as well. If the newly retired person is expected to become a frequent flyer, a luggage set with wheels and an extendable handle will make transportation from gate to gate less physically demanding. If you envision the new retiree taking trips in a RV for cross country travel or for camping trips, a rolling duffle or backpack may be more appropriate than a rolling suitcase. For a more personal touch, some manufacturers allow you to add monogramming to their luggage. Luggage tags and personalized passport holders make great gifts as well; they come in all sorts of colors and materials including leather.

Another great gift for the international traveler would be a translation dictionary that would help the person communicate on their overseas excursion. Electronic translators and electronic dictionaries are available as well.

If your newly retired gift recipient wants to travel but isn't sure where to go, a gift subscription to a magazine like Travel and Leisure would make a great gift.

Health Related Retirement Gifts
While the new retiree was working hard in the work force, maybe he or she did not have time to exercise. Retirement is a great time to reinforce good exercise habits. A gym membership would make an excellent gift. Choose a gym where the new member can get a free consultation with a physical trainer. The new retiree can learn how to perform new exercises correctly and will be less likely to land in the doctor's office because of a torn ligament or sprained ankle.

If the new retiree prefers to stay home and exercise, a dumbbell set and a few exercise videos are an excellent option. Make sure the exercise videos include a good instructional video and are appropriate to the new retiree's fitness level. Exercise gear such as a tracksuit, water bottle or new athletic shoes would make a great gift as well.

Dance lessons as a gift are a sneaky way to add some health and fitness into a newly retired person's life. As the retiree has fun learning the waltz or cha-cha, he or she will be getting a great cardio and strength-training workout at the same time.

Hobby and Fun Related Retirement Gifts
Gift certificates or paid tuition for interest related classes would make a great gift for the newly retired person. Many cities offer continuing education classes that are fairly inexpensive to take. There is a wide array of classes to choose from depending on the retiree's hobbies or interest. Woodworking, watercolor, real estate and investing, photography, computer, writing and gourmet cooking classes are just a few of the many options available.

Buying accessories that go along with the newly retired person's hobbies make thoughtful gifts as well. For example, if the retiree loves to golf, why not buy him or her a monogrammed golf accessories bag? A knitting enthusiast would appreciate the luxury of cashmere yarn in beautiful colors. Gift subscriptions to interest or hobby related magazines such as Popular Woodworking would make a great gift as well.

Thinking games make another great retirement gift. Buying a beautiful chess set or deluxe Scrabble set for the new retiree will give the person something fun to do that exercises the mind as well.

Other Retirement Gifts
Some people have a more difficult time transitioning into retirement. In this case, books such as The Complete Guide to Creative Retirement by Robert Kelley or The New Retirement: The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life by Jan Cullinane make an excellent educational and inspirational gift for the newly retired person. The Complete Guide to Creative Retirement addresses the mental, physical, emotional and social aspects of a new retiree's life while The Ultimate Guide to the Rest of Your Life comprehensively covers retirement topics such as leisure, travel, transportation, health care and finance.