Retirement Gift Ideas for Mum

LVictoriousBboy on 12/12/2022 - 22:31

Hi OzB,

My mother is shortly due to retire after 30+ years working for the govt in a financial role (before she's 60, too).
I'm a bit perplexed when it comes to ideas for a gift, because so many ideas are "gag" gifts and more or less a waste of money for what would at most be a polite chuckle.
Mum likes gardening, cooking, true crime, using her various google hub products. She's good for cash, so whatever she needs, she buys - wherein lies the problem.
She also always suggests low value items like wireless headphones "not the expensive kind like you have" etc.

I was thinking of getting a hydro/smart garden from Bunnos, but it would be awesome to brainstorm some other ideas if anyone has them - things that might take a fair bit of time to do/use might be great.

The greatest gift would be a grandchild, but it's a bit last minute…..

Home & Garden

Comments

  • boomramada on 12/12/2022 - 22:39
    +3

    Around the world or cruise ship ticket?

  • AustriaBargain on 12/12/2022 - 22:46
    +2

    Ring video doorbell. And smart lock for the door so she can also let you in without getting off her can.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 12/12/2022 - 23:00
    +2

    If she likes gardening, the Fiskars weed puller is pretty sick and many people don’t know about it - it’s really more of a lawn tool though.

    Alternatively, I use my leather man wave around the garden as it’s always in my pocket - but if she’s really into gardening she prob already has good shears etc.

    • jellykingdom on 13/12/2022 - 08:52
      +2

      Haha i really like this weed puller. Super satisfying to use. And it makes me feel like a gardening bad ass when you "rack it" to remove the weed

  • Stopback on 12/12/2022 - 23:12
    +6

    She doesn't want gifts only quality time with people she loves or knows or likes.

    • poboy on 13/12/2022 - 07:55

      Yup. Photo stuff is also good. I commissioned an artist to draw a minimalist sketch of all the grand kids standing together. Looked great.

      • VictoriousBboy on 13/12/2022 - 17:30

        Photo stuff is the usual for Christmas (from my siblings too, who live overseas). There's no more room on the walls for canvases, or in the cupboard for photo mugs these days!

  • TheMindsetTraveller on 12/12/2022 - 23:25
    +8

    Make a baby, she'd love a grandchild.

  • dcep on 13/12/2022 - 02:38

    robovacuum

  • dumdum2 on 13/12/2022 - 07:21
    +8

    I didn't realise kids need to buy their parents a "retirement gift", isn't that their former workplace's responsibility?

    • elgrande on 13/12/2022 - 08:05
      +1

      Yep. Obviously OP is also the boss of their mum.

      • VictoriousBboy on 13/12/2022 - 17:33

        If I was, I probably wouldn't need OzB!

    • VictoriousBboy on 13/12/2022 - 17:36

      I don't think the govt EB has any clause for paying for a gift (my workplace has this in ours). Hers is more of the kind of place that would ask you to put in for the boss and then when it's your turn you get a certificate someone printed off Word in 3 minutes and the boss doesn't show up because something more important came up.

  • djones145 on 13/12/2022 - 08:29

    move back home! lol

    sure she will love that o.o
    save on mortgage, rent, electricity, gas, internet
    its win win.

    like going back in time…

    • VictoriousBboy on 13/12/2022 - 17:37

      Alas, I would have to then move out by the end of next week to be able to move back in :')

      • djones145 on 14/12/2022 - 10:54

        living the dream
        maybe move out! thats a great present lol
        or start cooking with the partner, tell her the presents in the oven, wait 9 months

  • GourmetFoodie on 13/12/2022 - 08:30

    An experience.
    Throw her a retirement party.
    Either DIY or get your siblings to split the cost of a fancy restaurant.
    If you can afford it, get a professional photographer to come and take photos.

    Memories are priceless.

    • Ridiculous Panda on 13/12/2022 - 11:47
      +1

      Yeah imagine her looking at the photos 20 years later and saying ‘oh what a memory! the day I retired!’.
      Just take her on a damn holiday mate. Some tropical island to chill and relax while being served fresh coconuts. I took my mum to the maldives after she had retired (on a budget). She still talks about it 10 years later saying it was her favourite holiday.

      • GourmetFoodie on 14/12/2022 - 13:40

        Dude you must be swimming in it! Maldives is not cheap. Certainly nice if you can afford it.

        • Ridiculous Panda on 14/12/2022 - 15:02

          We stayed on an island with the locals. Did day trips to the resort islands nearby. Was definitely affordable and we were not rich by any means.

  • Quantumcat on 13/12/2022 - 09:02
    +1

    Buy her tickets to see a play or musical or music act. Spending time together is more precious than any physical good.

  • Seraphin7 on 13/12/2022 - 09:34
    -1

    Cash.

  • jv on 13/12/2022 - 09:36
    -2

    Retirement Gift Ideas for Mum

    An iron.

  • juzza87 on 13/12/2022 - 09:38

    True crime colouring book and a set of alcohol markers, a bit of a gag gift and something interesting that will take time to complete (which she'll have). Some unique plants for the garden, or something that can help with gardening (maybe a nice kneeling pad or garden trolley)

  • Some Human on 13/12/2022 - 10:09

    Retirement gift?

    Is that really a thing?

  • sharkyoz on 13/12/2022 - 11:04

    Set of cookbooks.

  • WreckTangle on 13/12/2022 - 13:17
    +3

    Is she retiring from being your mum?

    Otherwise its her boss that buys the gift, not you.

  • justdigi on 13/12/2022 - 14:00

    Isn’t retirement itself the gift?

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