Giving gifts should be a thoughtful exercise, particularly when the person we’re giving them to means a lot to us. For the women in our lives who are over 50, the same old flowers and candy just don’t cut it. We want experiences, time, and some effort – gifts that reflect how you feel about us and what’s important in our lives.
That might sound vague, however, so I’ve put together a list of some of the best gifts you can give to women over 50 in your life. These ideas are thoughtful, meaningful, and sure to be well-received by the busy, complete women that make your life special, whether it’s a spouse, mother, friend, or you. (You know your kids are always asking you what you want!)
Gifts of time
One thing that women over 50 don’t have enough of is time, whether it’s to do all the things they need to do or time to spend with their loved ones. Simple gifts of items often end up as clutter or background noise but gifts of time are meaningful in a big way. And while it’s important to find joy in giving without expecting anything in return, a gift of time is one that benefits both the giver and the receiver!
Experiences with family and friends
Setting aside the money to gift a vacation can give them the motivation to finally take a trip they’ve felt incapable of, for whatever reason. If money isn’t an issue for the woman over 50 you’re getting a gift for, then taking on extra work around the house is a great way to give her the availability to travel without feeling guilty for taking time for herself.
You can also set up family vacations or gatherings to allow her time to experience and enjoy her loved ones. Just the thought of someone else curating an experience with children and grandchildren is an incredibly priceless gift.
Helping them take time for themselves
This can be as simple as doing her errands or daily tasks for her to free up some time to relax, pursue a hobby, or take some time for herself in whatever way she wants. This can also mean hiring a cleaner, landscaper, or some other manner of labor to assist her; anything to give her some of her own free time back.
Pampering
When it comes to gifts for women over 50, you can’t go wrong with a bit of pampering. Delicious food, wonderful drinks, and comfy clothes are always a good choice. She might not necessarily enjoy random chocolates, but a thoughtfully curated selection of high-end candies from a chocolatier could be delightful.
We want to avoid pointless physical gifts and instead lean into things she loves and that fit with her lifestyle.
Wine subscriptions
It’s 2022 – wine can come to your house. If she loves wine, and you know what kind of wine she loves, there are a ton of wine subscriptions that will deliver her favorites to her door. What’s more is that many of them will curate selections for her, enabling her to sample a variety of wines that could become new favorites.
Plus, she doesn’t have to leave the house to get wine. That sounds like a win by itself.
Gifts for Women Over 50 – Comfy clothes
Pajamas, slippers, heated blankets – everything comfortable, all the time, please. There’s nothing better than getting home from a long day of doing anything, slipping into flannel pajamas and slippers, and getting under a huge blanket to enjoy your wine subscription delivery. That sounds like heaven, and most women do not have enough comfy things, so if you buy clothes, make sure they’re soft and warm.
Self-care packages
Massage gift certificates are one of the most universally amazing gifts you can give to anyone. A good massage can be expensive, but if someone else is paying for it, she can indulge guilt-free. It’s such a great way to help them make self-care a priority!
Likewise, a hair color treatment or getting your nails done can be luxuries that are hard to justify, but it would be rude to deny them if they were given as a gift. Look for anything that she enjoys that qualifies as pampering and invest in the best. She’ll love it for sure.
Meal subscriptions
Hello Fresh, Freshly, Blue Apron – there are so many meal subscription plans on the market today, and they cater to every single lifestyle from paleo and keto to “I will literally eat whatever is delicious” (which is my favorite).
These plans vary from completed meals you only need to reheat to simple meals with easy-to-follow instructions and more complex dinners that test your skills. These subscriptions can be gifted to help make meal planning and cooking faster and easier, or they can be a fun, experiential gift – it really depends on her personality and needs.
One thing is for sure – there is no shortage of options on the market.
Gifts of self-improvement
Sometimes it just takes a little bit of help to make changes that we’ve been meaning to make for a long time. Gifts of self-improvement help her in aspects of her life that she maybe wants to focus on but doesn’t have the time, resources, or kick in the pants to attend to.
You should be mindful here – you don’t want her to feel self-conscious or judged by these gifts. It’s best to invest in them only if she’s mentioned something adjacent to them herself. You don’t want her to feel like she needs to lose weight or her house is a mess, so again, be mindful and attentive when choosing something in this category. For example, if she’s been reading a specific book on self-improvement, you might gift her something in that same area.
Gym memberships
Membership to a gym can be expensive, but as a gift, they’re very wonderful. Having a place designated to work out and being given that as a gift can be the difference between getting healthy and not. It breaks down mental barriers as to why someone isn’t taking care of their health, and exercise generally makes people feel better. When you are in your 50s, it’s less about vanity and more about keeping your bones and body healthy.
This is definitely a place where you want to do it only if she’s talked about wanting to get in shape or get healthy. An out-of-the-blue gym membership could feel like criticism, and that’s not a nice gift. But if you yourself go to the gym – or have been meaning to! – a great way to present this gift is as an opportunity for the two of you to motivate each other while spending time together.
Pretty journals make great gifts for women over 50
Journaling is a great exercise to improve one’s focus on life, and a pretty journal makes it more fun. You can find these all over Amazon or Etsy, and they make a perfect gift for any occasion, even if she only uses it as a notepad. And, of course, when it comes to gifts for women over 50, The Living Marvelously Journal is always a great choice!
Organizational planning for her house
It can be hard to get out from underneath clutter and a disorganized home, and that’s where professional organizers come in. They can help you assess what you want to keep, what can be gotten rid of, and where to put everything. Scientific studies definitely show that clutter creates a sense of distress and anxiety in people, making our brains somewhat cluttered as well. Giving the gift of organization can be massively beneficial.
You can also pay to rent a dumpster if the clean-out is of a bigger scale than mere mortal garbage cans are capable of handling.
Coaching packages
Hiring a life coach is a powerful, life-changing investment, but many people don’t spend the time or money for one reason or another. Investing in a coaching package for her can give her the impetus to take that step to improve her life.
You can even extend this to a personal trainer if her goal is to get in shape. Whatever she wants to improve or embrace more fully in her life, there’s a coach for that.
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Giving gifts that matter
When it comes to gifts for women over 50, they want comfort, experiences, and time – all things that can still be given in gifts if you put in the time and effort. Whether it’s giving her more time to spend with her family and friends by taking some of her workload onto your plate, or spending money to hire people to help, giving her more time is priceless.
Who works harder than a woman over 50, with so many people to care for and attend to? She deserves some pampering, whether it’s hair/nails/massages, wine, delicious food, or cozy clothes.
If she’s inclined to want to dive into self-improvement, consider a coaching package or classes, like dancing or cooking. She might want to invest in these things but doesn’t have the time or free money to make the leap herself.
Anything to make her life easier, more comfortable, and less stressful. She’ll appreciate it way more than almost any other gift.