Gifts for Old Men
Written by Harvey Millenstein   
Tuesday, 07 November 2006
Finding gifts for old men isn't that tough, really.  Sure every old man is different, so I wouldn't listen to advice saying that ‘all old guys love this’ or ‘all men love that’.  Compared to women who, in fact, seem to all be happy with gifts like jewelry and clothes, men don’t seem to have one gift category that all of them love. Lots of men like sports, sure, but not all of them. One common suggestion for gifts for old men is tools. Lots of older men have a workshop that needs help. It's probably hard to go wrong with electronic or household gadgets, but then again, I know more than my share of men, young and old, who get twitchy around electronics or mechanical devices. Well, then, how is getting a gift for an old man easier, you may ask? If you know the man you're shopping for, it's a snap. One commonality among men is hobbies. I don't know a guy, including me, who doesn't have one hobby (or more) that they're practically obsessed with (other than, well, I don't need to mention that one ;-) ). So, if you're on the hunt for a gift for a guy, whether it's a birthday gift, a retirement gift, or just a gift for no reason, show some interest in his hobbies and find out what he thinks he needs next. I guarantee there's something.

Certain hobbies that men have are expensive, even if they seem simple. I mean, fishing can be expensive and it may be hard to find a gift for an old man who is into fishing... or golf! But, don't worry, you can still find lots of good gifts for men that have nothing to do with their hobbies. Men seem to like gifts they will use or need in their daily life. It could be genetics, I don't know, but I love getting a gift that makes something in my life easier. A cool new can opener can make me very happy. Or something functional like a new tie or a sports jacket to replace my old one that I forgot about. Something I forget to shop for and buy for myself would make an excellent gift.

All that said, the best advice I have for getting a gift for old men is try to know who the man is, know what he likes. Between hobbies, work or their everyday life, you'll probably find a bunch of great gift ideas for them. And, as a last resort, if you don't know the guy very well, or have run out of ideas, a gift of food or drinks will work. What are his favorite dessertts? Does he drink wine or spirits? Most old men are set in their ways and have a favorite food or drink they love. This may not seem like a personal gift, but sometimes they're the best gifts for old men you'll be able to find. Good luck!