Buying Christmas gifts for your older or retired parents can be challenging (and possibly disappointing, as I recall the popcorn tin incident of Christmas 2008). But don’t worry! Here’s a list of 10 Christmas Gifts for Older Parents that Don’t Suck! Trust me – they’ll be proud of your natural gift giving ability!
My parents are in their mid sixties now and, I don’t know about you, but the older my parents get the harder they are to buy for. Usually I hear, “I don’t need anything.” Or “Well, your dad does need some new socks.” Talk about Christmas gift of the year! Thanks Mom! Here Dad, enjoy your fresh pack of socks that mom forgot to pick up when she was at the store last week. I’m sure he’ll be really excited.
When it comes to giving Christmas gifts, I much prefer to get them something they want rather than something they need. But if your parents are like mine, they also don’t want anything. “Oh no, honey, we don’t want anything. You just save your money.” We have no kids. We don’t exchange gifts with friends any more (because they all have kids). Our parents are pretty much the only people we buy gifts for. Thanks Mom, I may be the only person in the world walking away from Christmas with money in my pocket.
And let’s just be real, my parents are big fat liars because of course they want a Christmas gift! L-I-A-R-S! All of them! One of these days I’m gonna wrap up an empty box and give it to them and see how much they actually like getting nothing. And then I could say I got them exactly what they asked for! But I digress…
So what do you buy for parents that don’t want or need anything, but clearly you’re buying them a gift and being put through some sort of holiday guilt trip as a thank you?? Hmmm?? Ok, sooo maybe that’s just me… Luckily, I know my folks pretty well after nearly 40 years, so I still manage to give them gifts that they get excited about. Below are some amazing Christmas gifts for older parents that don’t suck! Just ask my parents, they’ll agree!
10 Christmas Gifts for Older Parents that Don’t Suck!
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I suppose my dad falls into that category. Since my mom passed earlier this year, he’s been busy exploring so I think a City Pass would be a fun gift for him.
I think these are all great gifts. My in-laws would love the massage seat.
This is so true. I’m finding it harder and harder to buy for my mom. I love the chair massager and the personalized picture the best! Great ideas!
These are some great ideas. I love the idea of a food subscription box.
My in-laws are so difficult to purchase for as well. They are in their 80’s and quite literally have everything! ALthough, I wonder if they would like the Amazon Echo Show – they are not tech savvy at all.
You may need to set it up for them, but it’s pretty easy once it’s established. They only have to ask it to do stuff for them and that’s it.
This is such a fun list of gifts to give parents! I am always struggling to think of interesting gifts and a lot of these are really practical, too. Thanks for the ideas.
Great gift ideas! And you’re right, most parents say they don’t want us to spend anything on them at all and I’m all about what you said regarding giving them something they WANT instead of something they NEED! I love the towel warmer idea, as well as the Omaha steaks! Maybe a gas grill to go along with it if theirs needs replacing ๐
I’m all about giving gifts that don’t suck haha – seriously though, why buy a thoughtless present which is a waste of your money and something the person wouldn’t want! Thanks for these ideas
This is a great list. My parents are really hard to buy for so we have started to gift them home improvement hours and supplies. But there are a few items on this list that they would love also. Thank you for getting me thinking about what I need to pick up this year!
These Christmas gift ideas definitely do not suck! I bought my dad one massage seat cover very similar to the one here and he loves it!
I love to give thoughtful gifts of things I know they love or will enjoy. A city pass would be amazing to adventure out and see things!
Same here! My parents are mid 60 and it has become difficult to find interesting gifts, especially for my dad! For women it’s always a bit easier, a Paschmina shawl always cuts it. I appreciate your ideas and will take a look at each properly. ๐
I am at such a loss for my parents this year for gifts. Your ideas are certainly a help and ones I hadn’t thought about!
great ideas! I always have the hardest time trying to come up with thoughtful gifts for my parents.
I am guessing I fall into this category! You are right, your gifts do not suck! ๐ I do love the little family tree portrait!
Buying gifts for parents can be so hard. They already having everything they want or need, but these are great ideas. I really love the towel warmer and picture on canvas.
Some great ideas in here! Always a tricky one to buy for. I’m a huge fan of the custom photo gifts. Those are always a hit!