It is time for a 50th birthday party! This is a huge milestone and it deserves a proper celebration. Thus, if your friend or a family member is celebrating, that also means that you need to bring a proper gift. When it comes to choosing gifts, you need to consider a few things:
Interests and needs of the guest of honor
If you are close with the guest of honor, you may already know what their preferences are. You can buy them something they need, a practical gift, or maybe something more personal, that needs to represent your love for them.
In case you are not that close to this person, there are some universal gifts that everybody will love. But it is always good to put some thought to this and brainstorm some ideas, so your gift can be truly special and unique.
Your budget
The gift choice greatly depends on your budget. But don’t worry, there are many budget-friendly gifts that are beautiful. There are also many creative DIY ideas. Either way, the main purpose of a gift is to show gratitude for this person’s existence, so don’t be pressured by the gift cost.
Party theme
If there is a unique party theme maybe you can get a gift that is connected to it. If the party is in a certain color try getting the gift that is in that color. The same goes with movie, travel, fashion, and other themes, these can all help you choose your gift more easily.
Now that we got that out of the way, let’s get to some of the best 50th birthday gift ideas:
Traditional gifts
You may be wondering what is a traditional gift for the 50th birthday. Actually, it is quite the same as for the 30th, 40th or some other birthday. There are some gifts that people always love to receive. There is no mistake with these:
- Flower Bouquet
Beautifully fragrant flowers are a gift that you don’t have to spend a lot of time searching for, and they are yet a thoughtful way of letting someone know you care. Still, remember that every flower has a different message. Lilies represent positivity and happiness, red roses are a symbol of romantic love, orchids are associated with beauty and strength. And there are numerous types of flowers you can choose from.
- Chocolate
This word alone tells you everything. Who doesn’t like chocolate? And it is a perfect gift for every occasion. It is also a versatile gift because there are combinations for everyone’s taste. It doesn’t have to be milk chocolate, you can also choose white, dark, unsweetened, or bittersweet one. Or maybe even some exotic ones we haven’t mentioned!
- Jewelry
We recommend this one if you are very close to the person. You should know their taste and also have enough money for this type of gift. Jewelry is not only perfect for women, but for men also. Choose from necklaces, earrings, bracelets, rings, etc.
- A watch
Again, a gift that can be a bit costly, but it is worth it. Watch is a perfect traditional gift that will also complement someone’s style and be of practical use.
- A perfume
Perfume is a perfect gift both for men and women. But don’t forget to check what their favorite perfume is, or their favorite scents, so you choose something they will love.
Practical gifts
Whether you are not sure what to buy, or even better, you know exactly what the person needs, choosing a practical gift is a safe solution.
- A coffee maker
For a true coffee lover this one is a dream. Instead of going to cafes every day, they can make the best quality coffee at home. And this machine can last for years.
- Wine glasses
Coffee is for the morning, but what about some dinner drink. If they like their wine, they will need some wine glasses. You can also bring a wine bottle with that.
- An oil diffuser
Imagine enjoying pleasant and calming smells in your home every day. It is possible! And also, every oil has a different purpose. For example, if you use lavender oil, it can help you with your sleep. This is a gift everyone would appreciate.
- A mug
Everyone has their favorite mug. So, don’t think that this gift is not special, because in the future this mug can be one of the favorites of your loved one. You can also choose the type of message you want to send with this gift. There are many adorable love quotes, but you can also go for a funny one – ‘I’m sorry you’re old’.
- A tea infuser
Since we mentioned coffee and wine, we should also mention tea. It is good to avoid tea bags and to use tea leaves instead. But many people don’t do this because they find it complicated and time-consuming. With tea infuser as a gift, you will make this process easier for them.
- Mug warmer
We make our coffee or tea in the morning and then forget about it. This must have happened to you at least once in your life. And some people experience this every morning! With a mug warmer your beverage will be hot even later during the day.
- Yoga mat
A healthy lifestyle is a must, especially as you are getting older. Buying someone a yoga mat will make them want to work out more often than usual!
- Planner
As years pass life gets busier and it is hard to keep track of everything. A planner is a perfect gift to help them be more organized and thus enjoy life more.
- Pajama set
Everyone who has a good quality pajama set knows how important it is. Especially silky ones! They are comfortable and help you have a better sleep.
Experiences
When people want to buy a gift, they usually think of a material one. But that is not a rule! There is something that can’t be compared with a material gift. The 50th birthday is the perfect time for a gift like this.
- Course or lesson
Education is a lifelong process. But as years pass it gets better because you can choose to learn things that you actually find interesting and no one is pressuring you. If you know what the person celebrating likes or might like, why not help them learn more about the topic. Some of the ideas are: music lessons, a cooking class, brewing course, dog training, a woodwork course, drawing workshop, photography class, cocktail making class, fitness class, and survival training. The list could go on forever, so you have many options!
- Travel
What a better way to celebrate their 50th birthday than to see a new country? Buy tickets for both of you and share this incredible experience with them!
- Adventure
If they love adventures and trying new things, maybe take them to try rafting, skydiving, mountain climbing, surfing, kayaking?
- Tickets for an event
Buy them tickets for an event that you know they would love. That can be a concert by their favorite musician or a sports game where their favorite team is playing.
- Lunch/Dinner
You can make a perfect homemade dish, or you can take them to a restaurant to try something they haven’t tried before. Or maybe take them to some new place that has a beautiful atmosphere.
- Pamper day
If they have busy lives, why not organize a pamper day for them? Book a day at a spa, where they can have a massage and facial, and then enjoy some sauna and jacuzzi. I think they may appreciate this more than any other gift.
- Subscriptions
A one-month subscription, or longer, can really be much more fun than a normal type of gift. Popular ones are Netflix, Kindle, Skillshare, magazine subscription. video game subscription, etc.
Creative and unique DIY gifts
If you love to create and you have an imaginative mind, maybe it would be better to bring them a DIY gift than to buy one. These types of gifts are more personal and also budget-friendly.
- A homemade dish
Depending on the type of party they are having, you can bring some dish you made. If you are a good cook, this can be some specialty of yours. Or you can make some delicious dessert, a birthday cake maybe!
- A decorative sign
You can make a cool wooden sign for their house, something that will fit well with their interior. Many Youtube tutorials explain in detail how to do it perfectly.
- Jewelry
Buy the right tools and materials, and you can make a bracelet, necklace, earrings, or whatever you wish. This gift will be more personal and also more affordable than buying real jewelry.
- 50 reasons why I love you
If this is your best friend or a family member whom you love dearly, you should really try to express your emotions for their birthday. Since this is their 50th birthday, the best way to do this is to write 50 reasons why you love them. They can keep this gift forever and read it when you are not next to them.
- Homemade candle
Candles are a great gift, but to make it even better you can make one by yourself. Buy some wax and fragrance oils and start the process!
- Embroidery
If you have some embroidery making experience, maybe that can be your gift. You can create some nice designs on canvas, or you can embroider a shirt, bag, hat, or some other item.
- Scrapbook
Make a scrapbook with the favorite pictures of the two of you, with some personal messages and drawings. It can represent a timeline of your friendship and remind them of all the good memories.
- Tribute video
You can either make a slideshow with photos of some unique and unforgettable moments you had, or record yourself, and maybe some other close friends and family members, telling this person how much you love them and wish them a happy birthday.
- Drawing
If you are a good artist, why not draw them something? It can be their portrait or something else you know they would love.
Tech gifts
We live in modern society and technology is advancing each and every day. Every year there are new gadgets that can make our life easier. If you are buying a gift for someone who loves tech items, you should most definitely get them something from this category.
- Kindle
Book lovers will be delighted with this one! Imagine having tons of books in one device. You can take them everywhere with you and you can also buy ebooks for a much cheaper price than the paperback ones.
- iWatch
With Apple iWatch you can see your phone notifications, make calls and send messages, it can even replace your credit card, and it can be a fitness tracker. Those are just a few benefits of having it and there are many more. It can be put in a practical gifts category, for sure.
- Wireless charging pad
Having cords all around your desk can make you crazy. It creates difficulty while working and it also doesn’t look so aesthetically pleasing. With this pad, you can help your friend or family member have their space more organized and help them function more easily.
- Portable charger
I guess everyone has this one nowadays. But if the person you’re buying a gift for doesn’t, then you know what to do. They won’t have to worry about their battery life every time they live the house, especially when traveling. This is a life-saver.
- Wireless Bluetooth speaker
Even when someone is turning fifty, that doesn’t mean that the party is over. They can take this speaker whenever they are traveling somewhere, or camping, or even use it at home.
- Airpods
Some top-notch earphones can’t be a bad gift! They can actually be the perfect gift. No need to deal with cords and they look super minimalistic and elegant.
- Fujifilm Instax Mini 9
This Instax Mini is ideal for capturing some special moments. For example, the 50th birthday party! You can take it everywhere with you and have a printed picture in less than a minute. It also looks quite cute and it comes in different colors.
50th birthday gift ideas for women
If you are wondering what would be a perfect 50th birthday gift idea for her, we got a few things on our mind that every woman will love.
- Makeup organizer
Women love their makeup, but sometimes they have so many products that they don’t even know what they have. With this organizer, they can put everything in place and enjoy their makeup routine even more.
- Makeup
As we already said, women love their makeup. But they can also be quite picky when it comes to choosing brands. They know what works best for them and they won’t replace it that easily. So if you want this to be your gift, choose smart.
- Instant pot
Whether you like cooking or not, you will love this device. This is a multicooker that can even prepare frozen food and the food won’t lose its nutrients, no matter what program you choose. This definitely helps save some time when preparing meals.
- Cosmetic products
Cosmetic products are a must in every woman’s house. There are so many you can choose from that would make a perfect gift, starting from skincare products, such as face masks, or hair products, and many more.
- A bag
A good quality bag is a must for every woman. And we all know that women like to have a few bags, each for every different occasion. So even if they have one, you won’t make a mistake getting them another one.
50th birthday gift ideas for men
Some would say that men don’t enjoy presents as much as women. Maybe that is true, but some gifts will undoubtedly put a smile on every man’s face.
- A whiskey
When a whiskey lover is celebrating his birthday, you know what to bring. But don’t buy the first whiskey you see at the store. Some of the best quality ones are: Wild Turkey Rare Breed, Nikka Miyagikyo, Westward, and Jack Daniels, of course. There are others, but be sure to search online a bit, just to make sure you are making the right choice.
- A shaver
Finding an efficient shaver can be a great choice for a gift. But first make sure they don’t already have one which they recently bought!
- A briefcase
A leather briefcase is a great gift for all men who are professionals in their working field. If they have a smart style, nothing can complement it better than an exceptional briefcase. Of course, you need to know their taste so you can choose the right one.
- Beard grooming kit
Men love their beards and they need to take good care of it. That is not as easy as it may seem. Buying a grooming kit is a perfect way to help them with this problem!
Choose your gift with love and you won’t make a mistake.
