I don’t know about you, but boy, this month is truly getting away from me! To be perfectly honest I’ve not started any Christmas shopping. To be really honest, I don’t even have a list yet!
If you’re anything like me, a list of gift suggestions would be helpful right now.
Both Beth and I have girlfriends, along with female friends in organizations, friends we see once a year, friends we see weekly, and we’d love to give each one at least a little token representing our love and appreciation for them. After all, who would we be without our girlfriends!?
If you’re feeling a little behind and could use not only a word of encouragement but a list of gift ideas, this is the blog post for you!
Full of general suggestions, and specific gift ideas along with links, we think you’ll find the perfect gift for your gal pals. Or at least the list will spark an idea leading to the perfect gift.
So, let’s get going. We’re going to use $50.00 as the top-end price tag. We think anything over that price point usually means you know what you’re going to purchase for that special girlfriend.
Cheers to Friendship! Delightful Gifts for Your Besties in Their Sixties
Creative Thinking – let’s begin by developing some overall creative strategies for shopping and gifting.
❄️BROWSING THE SHOPS. I know that sounds daunting and somewhat "old-fashioned." But we don’t mean ALL the shops. We mean specialty shops. Oftentimes, they’re going to be small business stores. These types of shops can be a treasure trove for gift-giving. You may not know what you wanted when you walked in but after browsing around you just might leave with the perfect gift at the right price point.
❄️HOLIDAY MARKETS/FARMERS MARKETS/FLEA MARKETS/ANTIQUE AND COLLECTIBLE SHOPS – Also perfect for gift-giving
❄️HANDMADE – Do you sew? Make felted flowers or beaded bracelets? Bake great cookies, cakes, or pies? Make ceramic pots? Doesn’t get much better than a gift of a well-executed handmade piece.
Gifts in the $25.00 Range
1. Reading Glasses – Do you happen to have a friend who can never find her glasses? You know, the one that’s always squinting at the menu or moving her phone back and forth to find the best distance to be able to read it? How about a gift of reading glasses? She’ll thank you and so will her tired eyes! (Note: I’d pick a mid-range magnification.)
2. Pill Holder Key Chain – I think we all can relate to this one. We’re out of the house for a bit when we realize we've forgotten to bring our mid-day pills along. The big challenge is to remember to take them when we get back to the house. With this nifty little gadget, she'll simply pop the pills in the holder and your pal will stay right on schedule.
3. Winter Gear – Do you have a friend who loves to exercise outdoors? Even when it’s frigid? Well, suit her up to handle the winter blast. Magnolia Shops (Waco, TX – Chip and Johanna Gains) has the cutest little beanies and they’re on sale. Just in case it’s too late to get them before Christmas, it’s Amazon to the rescue for winter hats! Thick winter socks and mittens are always appreciated as well. Did you know you can get great base layers from a company called 32 Degrees? Sure to keep your friend toasty warm they come in well under $25.00 and they are wonderful!
4. Keep Her Safe – For that same friend who likes to exercise outdoors. Or the one who insists on taking solo walks on secluded trails let's keep her safe with a little gift of protection. You might want to include in the box: a reflective vest or cap a lightweight small flashlight, pepper spray, and a mobile phone holder. You might also include a sweet, little note to encourage her to walk in well-lit areas and stick to familiar routes. Because that’s what girlfriends do.
5. Consider Periodicals - I know this might sound crazy, but with a price point anywhere from $13.00-$20.00 each, how about a specialty magazine or two? It’s the kind of thing your friend would love, but maybe she wouldn’t buy it for herself. Pop into your local Barnes and Noble store or local bookstore and you’ll find the shelves just brimming with fun periodicals covering specialty interests. You know her best, so simply pick out something she’d love.
6. Consider Totes and bags – And what goes better with magazines and books? Well, it’s totes, of course. We all love a good tote and can’t get enough of them. If you’re looking for a fairly inexpensive one look no further than Trader Joe’s. Bright, colorful, and fun, of course they also double as grocery bags. If you’re looking for a “stand-alone” tote try Baggu. If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, they’re an online store specializing in “bags and accessories for playful everyday living.” And we can vouch for the quality of their products – both Beth and I are frequent shoppers of the brand. Lastly, we couldn’t leave out Etsy and Ebay, both brimming with giftable totes and bags.
Gifts Over $25.00 Topping out at the $50.00 Range
1. eLearning – Did you know Masterclass is on sale during the holidays? What a perfect gift for your curious, lifelong learner friend! You’d no doubt make her day with this one or one of the other learning centers. In the eLearning space, there’s lots to choose from. Take a trip online and you’ll find the perfect platform.
2. Car Cups - Yeti, Stanley, who among us doesn’t like (and need) more car cups. Practical, yet usually a little on the spendy side they make a great gift for your girlfriend who spends more time in her car than on her couch. Or one that counts her cups. You of course can find them in-store (Target for example.) Amazon has a wide variety. Or you could go directly to the brand’s website. My favorite brand is Rifle Paper Company and its collaboration with Corkcicle. Beautiful cups, car cups, wine cups all with a splash of full bloom flowers on gorgeous backgrounds. Very feminine, and very striking. I noticed when I went to the site a few of them are sale priced. Hurry!
3. One Quality Household Item – the type of thing she never needs to buy again and possibly would never buy for herself. For instance, a quality pair of scissors. You know her better than we do, so the type of scissors is up to you. Here’s a NYT Wirecutter article that will be a big help in your search for the best. Another great gift for your pal who likes to cook and entertain would be a wooden cutting board. Wirecutter has never steered us wrong, so here’s a list of the best cutting boards to help you out. Maybe an appliance like an Air Fryer would be appreciated. A cast iron pan. You get the idea.
4. Technology – Where do we start with technology!? There are so many wonderful gadgets, trinkets, add-ons, and standalone products that could make a great gift for the right recipient. We’ll name just a few ideas to engage your gift-giving imagination for your gal pals over 60.
A Roku – A Roku stick is like a USB device pre-installed with her favorite streaming services. She’ll love it if she likes movies, etc. but has an older TV that did not come preinstalled with services like Netflix, Hulu, etc.
A Power Bank - Beth has two tablets and her phone and she swears by using a power bank to keep her devices humming at home and on the go. A great little gift.
5. Security Trackers –
For the friend who travels, she might appreciate a luggage tracker.
Constantly losing keys? She’ll find them with a key tracker.
Lost Wallet? Nothing ruins a day more than misplacing a wallet. But because of you and your thoughtful gift, you made it all go away.
Wishing you a delightful shopping experience and a holiday season filled with joy and happiness!🎄🎄🎄❄️❄️❤️❤️
Comments