Gift Ideas for Grandad: What He’ll Actually Use or Cherish
He’s given you countless piggyback rides and now it’s time to give back. It’s the holiday season and grandpa is next on your list. Of course, you can opt for the usual tie or button-down shirt, but this year you want to give gramps something he’ll actually use and cherish. Stop shopping for useless items and give grandpa a cherishable holiday present instead.
Newspaper Subscription
Today’s kids may never purchase a printed book. Screens dominate in today’s world, but when grandpa was young, he sought information in printed magazines, books, and newspapers. While a newspaper subscription may seem like a cheap gift, give a second glance to monthly subscription rates. In most cases, it’s much cheaper to subscribe on one’s Kindle or other electronic device. However, grandpa may prefer the tactile experience of thumbing through the pages. Therefore, look to buy your grandfather the print subscription to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, or other leading news source. Maybe the National Geographic or focus magazine is more his thing. Have a think what his interests are and use that as your starting point.
Collectibles
People don’t forget their firsts. This gift idea requires a bit of research. Ask your grandmother or other relatives about grandpa’s first car. It’s likely that the manufacturer makes nothing like that model any longer, yet you can rekindle your grandfather’s fond memories with a collectible. Shop Fairfield Collectibles for replica cars and trucks. The token of his past will remind your grandfather of younger days on the road and will serve as a conversation piece for future visitors. Imagine the look on his face when you give him a replica of the car he drove to college or the one used to take your grandmother on their first date.
House Cleaning
Regardless of one’s age, no person likes to clean. This is a great idea if grandpa lives alone or is the member of the household who does the majority of the cleaning. Depending on your budget, hire cleaning services for grandpa to span one, two, or several months. If you want to save a few dollars and don’t mind getting a little dirty, you can volunteer to clean his home on your own. Alternatively, check Craigslist for locals who are willing to provide a temporary or ongoing service.
Rideshare
Driving is an issue for aging adults. While states don’t require people to retake driver examinations, family members of the elderly grow concerned about the welfare of their loved ones while behind the wheel. Eliminate your own worry while saving gramps a few bucks in the process. Create an Uber account, and for a period of time, pick-up the tab whenever grandpa heads out to the grocery store, to complete errands, or takes grandma out for a night on the town. Aside from the need to drive, you save gramps money on gas and wear and tear on his own vehicle.
Shave Club
Decades ago (or before the Internet) there was no ‘Movember’ or other holidays and styles to commemorate male facial hair. In your grandfather’s day, unless hunting in Alaska or out of work for some time, a man was sporting a fresh, clean face. It’s likely that your grandfather still wakes and shaves each morning though his official working days are far gone. Introduce him to today’s methods of buying in bulk or in a ‘club’ fashion. Better yet, buy him a membership to one of several available shave clubs that send men enough supplies to last. Never again will your grandpa be disgraced and enter the corner store sporting facial hair growth from the preceding night!
Event Tickets
What events interest your grandfather? Is he a fan of a local sports team? Does he like the opera? Does he like attending theatrical performances rather than watch dramas on television or the movie screen? Buy grandpa a pair of tickets to an upcoming event. Peruse listings of events in the immediate and surrounding area. Depending on your grandfather’s preference and logistics, you can simply buy him tickets or arrange for transportation as well (Why not rent him a limousine?) If you’re lucky, grandpa has the same entertainment interests, and he’ll take you along as his companion.
Diner’s Club
Back in the day, diners and drive-ins were aplenty. Today, drive-ins are just about extinct but you can find some unique diners with personality. Use web resources to find diners in your location. Tell grandpa that you’re down to buy him a meal in a number of locations. That way, you’ll be able to spend quality time driving to the destination and eating an old-fashioned meal with your grandpa.