Take the Sting Out of Aging With These Awesome Gifts for the Big 5-0

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Even though it feels like “the ’70s” is still only 20, maybe 30 years ago, believe it or not the 1973 babies out there are turning the big 5-0 this year! We appreciate the fact that birthday gifts are never easy to figure out, but can we all appreciate the fact that it gets harder and harder as time goes on? After all, they’ve heard the song and blown out the candles half a hundred times at this point: What can we get them that they don’t have already?! Especially when you’re talking about 50th birthday gifts. That’s a milestone year! You’ve gotta make it good. Don’t worry: We’re here to help.

We’ve put together a nifty list of gifts that run the gamut from silly to serious, handy to heartwarming, and will always be appreciated, whether you want to indulge them with a little bit of luxury (hey, they’ve earned it at this point!) or tease them a little bit (what are friends for).

Vintage Pullover Hoodie

You can never have enough hoodies, and we love that this one celebrates 1973! The year that gave us “American Pie” by Don McLean, The Godfather, Nixon’s famous visit to China, and, of course, anyone celebrating a 50th birthday.

Made of a comfy cotton blend, it’s a perfect garment for those 50 years old and beyond.

More: 65 Best Gifts for Her That She’ll Actually Love This Year

Docking Station

This 50th birthday gift is full of useful features: Not only is there a place for everything — watch, phone, wallet, and more — but the unique design allows for easy charging of their phone while accessible or in use.

Ideal for desks, bedside tables, dressers, or anywhere they need their things!

My Life Story So Far

Now that they’ve been around for half a century (go ahead and remind them of that — they’ll love it) it might be time to start gathering stories for posterity.

Full of inspiring prompts about family life, experiences, friendships, and favorite memories, as well as blank pages to write anything at all, this clothbound journal is a perfect 50th birthday gift.

'Fifty & Fabulous' Stemless Wine Glass

When it comes to 50th birthday gifts, this one is pretty basic… and it’s absolutely perfect for your newly 50-year-old loved one who revels in being a little bit basic themselves.

With jazzy script in a trendy rose gold, this rings in their new decade perfectly!

Charcuterie Set

Who among us doesn’t appreciate a good charcuterie board? This bamboo board comes with everything they’ll need to put out the perfect spread, including four cheese knives and utensils (stored in a neat little drawer!), slate labels, expanding trays, and more.

Perfect for the 50th birthday gift for anyone who loves to host.

AeroGarden

Home gardening has never been simpler. Grow up to six plants at a time in water (no soil = no mess).

Its control panel tells you when to add water and plant food (included) and grows plants up to a foot tall five times faster than conventional planting!

Cheeky Birthday Socks

This is an ideal 50th birthday gift for the friend who realizes that just because they’re getting older doesn’t mean they have to stop raising hell!

Perfect for the friend who still flips the bird to authority figures, friends (but, like, lovingly), or inconveniences like, say, the concept of aging!

Best-Seller Pack

When you turn 50, you deserve a touch of luxury — and nothing says luxury quite like truffles.

These delicious, earthy gems deliver robust, powerful flavor to everything they touch and infuse this trio of oil and hot sauces. Perfect for cooking, dipping, or drizzling, we also won’t judge if you just spoon it up!

Aged Cocktail Gift Box

Not only is this cocktail aging kit (which comes with a bottle, charred honeycomb white oak barrel staves, and a set of tumblers) thoughtful and useful, but it’s also a clever themed gift… because, like the booze, your loved one is aging! (Get it?!)

Each stave can be used up to six times for smoother alcohol.

Shiatsu Back and Neck Massager

This neck massager has nearly 31,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, and people praise it for its sturdy feel and ability to really target sore muscles.

Let’s face it: Fifty is fabulous, but it often comes with decades of wear and tear, and we’re a stretch or sneeze away from pulling a muscle at all times...

Life P3 Noise Cancelling Earbuds

The Soundcore Life P3 wireless earbuds are our favorite budget-friendly pick. They're comfy, durable, and excellent for making calls. Plus, if the 50-year-old in your life hates plugging in their tech to charge it up, this pair will stay charged for us to 7 hours.

Bamboo Bathtub Tray

Make their bathtub a refuge with this adjustable bath tray.

They can lean back and use the expanding, slip-resistant bamboo tray — compatible with most tub sizes — to bring along their book, tablet, beverage of choice, or anything else that helps them unwind on the big 5-0!

College-Style ‘73 Sweatshirt

We love this simple, cozy, college-style sweatshirt that proudly declares your loved one’s birth year.

A little bit sporty, a little bit retro, it’s perfect for bumming around the house or wearing on their latest adventure to wherever their 50s are taking them.

Aura Digital Frame

This digital frame is the perfect 50th birthday gift for the person who enjoys a regular reminder of all the people, places, and pets who have made them happy over the years.

Just sign up for the (free) app to drop pictures into your loved one’s frame. And since it’s cloud storage, they’ll never run out of room!

50th Birthday Frosted Candle

Choose from 10 hand-poured scents that will help your loved one continue their celebration by filling their house with luxurious smells for up to 25 hours. You can add a personalized message, name, and birth year on the sleek cream-toned label for an added touch of love.

Waffle Robe

Give your birthday babe the gift of comfort and relaxation with this waffle robe. Made from soft cotton and featuring two pockets and a waist tie, they will feel like they are getting spa treatment all while right at home.

Bespoke Plate Adjustable Bracelet

Personalize this delicate bracelet with an engraved message or date on the gold plate. The sliding bead allows for the bracelet to be easily adjusted to ensure that this lovely gift will always stay on the wrist.

Membership

Teach them something new by gifting a subscription to MasterClass. With over 180 classes from famous teachers like Gordon Ramsey and Jen Atkins, they can choose to hone in on a skill like cooking or hair styling taught by an expert of the trade.

1973 Vintage Style Whiskey Glass

Celebrate the big 5-0 by pouring them a nice glass of whiskey in their 1973 edition glass. This whiskey glass is a perfect commemoration for this milestone. Paired with a nice bottle of whiskey, this would make the perfect gift to induct them into the high-class society of 50-year-olds.

Jokey T-Shirt

This is a great 50th birthday gift option for the loved one who’s overly fond of dad jokes, regardless of whether they’re actually a dad (or even male) or, perhaps, isn’t quite ready to say they’re in their 50s just yet.

(Really, what is the 50s if not one’s late, late, late teens?)

Funny Hat

Certainly, by 50, one has earned the right to be a little bit corny, right?

That’s why we love this age-defying hat that proudly declares, yes, my youth may be over, but the party’s just begun. Available in a variety of colors and font styles.

The Ultimate Sleep Mask

You might ask yourself, “Why does a sleep mask need Bluetooth?” Because sleep masks have been great for blocking out light, but not so much sound… until now.

Using Bluetooth technology, your loved one will be able to connect to their favorite music or ambient noise for a truly dreamy night’s sleep.

Decorative Outdoor Speaker

When you need both a light source and a music source, this LED speaker is the perfect 50th birthday gift.

Perfect for parties, parks, or patios, with three different light modes to match any mood (ask yourself, is this more of a “tiki torch” event, or does it call for “candlelight mode?”) delivering quality sound via Bluetooth technology.

Ice Cream Maker

Give the gift of a quick, easy way to frozen desserts! Your loved one will be able to turn out a batch of delicious ice cream, gelato, sorbet, or frozen yogurt in less than 20 minutes.

Just pour in the ingredients and turn the dial!

Monthly Box

This is the perfect 50th birthday gift for the loved one who’s just a little bit more clever than everyone else.

They’ll enjoy new immersive scenarios, intriguing characters, compelling stories, and standalone mysteries. Each monthly box contains everything they’ll need to crack the case, either on their own or with friends!

Soft Cooler

The perfect 50th birthday gift for the friend who says “Five decades is long enough to deal with lukewarm drinks.”

The Hopper Flip 12 has ColdCell Insulation that offers superior cold-holding to ordinary soft coolers, with a capacity of up to 12 cans plus ice. Built tough to handle whatever the day has in store.

Kindle Paperwhite

With this 50th birthday gift, they’ll literally have thousands of books on demand.

Buy more with the touch of a button through Amazon or even borrow from libraries (have you downloaded the Libby app yet?). The glare-free, 6.8-inch display reads like real paper but can be backlit when it gets dark out.

The Art of Mixology

The movie Cocktail came out when your 50-year-old loved one was 16, so there’s a good chance they’ve been dreaming of learning some slick bartending moves ever since.

Help them on that journey with this tome that covers traditional mixology methods and classic cocktails (and even alcohol-free mocktails).

Gift Card

Who wouldn’t love a good glass of wine after a long day/five decades? Send your birthday person a Winc gift certificate, and they can customize their subscription based on their personal taste preferences.

Bloom Bowl

This stainless steel bowl by Danish designer Helle Damkjaer was inspired by the delicate petals of cherry blossom flowers.

It’s the perfect 50th birthday gift to add a simple but captivating design element to any space.

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