Going Away Gifts for Friends: Thoughtful Ideas to Show You Care

Saying goodbye to a friend who is moving away is never easy. Finding the right words can be tough, and choosing the perfect going away gift can feel even more challenging. You want to give them something meaningful, a token of your friendship that they can cherish as they embark on their new adventure. The best Going Away Gifts For Friends are those that genuinely show you care and provide a lasting reminder of your bond and the memories you’ve shared.

If you’re struggling to brainstorm ideas, you’re in the right place. Here are 40 thoughtful and practical going away gift ideas for friends that will help you express your love and support as they start a new chapter.

Heartfelt Going Away Gift Ideas for a Friend or Family Member

1. Dual Time Zone Watch

   For friends or family members moving across time zones, a dual time watch is an incredibly practical and thoughtful gift. It allows them to effortlessly keep track of the time both in their new location and back home, eliminating the confusion of time differences when coordinating calls with loved ones. This gift speaks to staying connected and managing the distance.

2. Fitness Tracker: Encourage Exploration and Well-being

   Moving to a new place is synonymous with exploration! A fitness tracker encourages your friend to discover their new surroundings while prioritizing their health and well-being. It monitors steps, sleep patterns, and activity levels. For an added layer of connection, consider getting one for yourself too and engage in friendly step competitions, bridging the distance through shared fitness goals.

3. Personalized Box of Dated Letters: A Year of Warm Hugs

   This sentimental gift offers comfort and connection throughout the first year in their new home. Write twelve heartfelt letters, each sealed in an envelope marked with a specific month to be opened. Fill these letters with cherished memories, inside jokes, and expressions of what you’ll miss most. Each letter opened will feel like a warm embrace from home, offering reassurance and love when they need it most.

4. Meal Delivery Kit Subscription: Easing the Transition

   Moving is exhausting, and cooking is often the last thing on anyone’s mind amidst unpacking chaos. Gift your friend a subscription to a healthy meal delivery service like HelloFresh or Home Chef. This practical gift alleviates the stress of meal planning and grocery shopping, ensuring they have nutritious meals during their initial settling-in period. It’s a gift of convenience and care during a hectic time.

5. Long-Distance Keychains: Connected Wherever You Are

   Symbolize your enduring connection with long-distance keychains. Order two keychains, one shaped like your current state and the other of their new state. You keep the keychain representing their new home, and gift them the one of your shared home. Every time you both reach for your keys, you’ll be reminded of each other and your unbreakable bond.

6. Custom Photo Book: Relive Cherished Memories

   Photos are timeless and deeply personal going away presents. Compile a photo book brimming with shared memories. Utilize online services for easy creation, or craft a scrapbook for a personal touch. Consider photo magnets, mugs, or keychains for alternative photo-related gifts, all serving as visual reminders of your friendship.

7. Welcome Flowers for Their New Home: Brighten Their Space

   woman getting flowers as a going away gift

   While technically a “welcome to your new home” gift, sending fresh flowers to arrive shortly after they do is a wonderful gesture. Order flower delivery to their new address to brighten their space and let them know you’re thinking of them as they settle in. The beauty and fragrance of flowers bring a sense of cheer and warmth to a new environment. Alt Text: A friend receiving a beautiful bouquet of flowers as one of the thoughtful going away gifts for friends, symbolizing care and remembrance.

8. Travel Gadgets and Accessories: Comfort on the Go

   For friends moving by plane, travel accessories make incredibly useful going away gifts for friends. A comfortable travel pillow, a portable charger, noise-canceling headphones, or a stylish luggage tag will be appreciated during their journey and future travels. These gifts enhance their travel experience and show you considered their comfort.

9. Local Delicacies: A Taste of Home

   Share a piece of home with them by curating a box of local, non-perishable treats. Whether it’s gourmet chocolates from a local chocolatier, specialty coffee beans from their favorite café, or regional snacks, these familiar flavors offer comfort and a sense of home when everything else feels new.

10. Experience Coupon for Their New City: Encourage Exploration

    Fuel their exploration of their new locale with a gift certificate for an experience in their new city. Consider Groupon or similar platforms for local tours, cooking classes featuring regional cuisine, tickets to a local attraction, or a relaxing spa day. This encourages them to immerse themselves in their new surroundings and discover what their new city has to offer.

11. Long-Distance Friendship Lamps: A Glowing Connection

    Long-distance friendship lamps are a unique and touching way to stay connected. These Wi-Fi enabled lamps allow you to send a gentle “thinking of you” signal. When you touch your lamp, theirs glows, and vice versa. Coordinate with a group of friends and assign each person a color for a personalized, colorful way to stay in touch and let them know you’re thinking of them.

12. Coordinates Jewelry: A Piece of Their Roots

    Gift them a custom piece of jewelry engraved with the geographical coordinates of your hometown or a significant shared location. This sentimental gift allows them to carry a piece of their roots and cherished memories with them, wherever they go. It’s a subtle yet powerful reminder of where they come from.

13. Stylish Weekender Bag: For Trips Back Home

    Moving away often means planning trips back to visit. A high-quality weekender bag or carry-on luggage is a practical and stylish gift. It will be useful for trips back home and other travels, and each time they use it, they’ll be reminded of your thoughtfulness and encouraged to plan a visit.

14. Sage Cleansing Kit: Positive Energy in Their New Space

    A sage cleansing kit is a thoughtful housewarming and going away gift, rooted in tradition. Sage is believed to clear negative energy and create a positive atmosphere in a new home. This kit allows them to perform a cleansing ritual in their new space, promoting a fresh start and positive vibes.

15. New Home Care Package: Practical Essentials

    Assemble a practical care package filled with essential new home supplies. Include items like toilet paper, cleaning supplies, hand soap, paper towels, and other household basics. While not glamorous, these essentials are incredibly helpful in the initial days of moving and save them a trip to the store when they are already overwhelmed.

16. Custom Map Puzzle: A Fun Homage to Home

    A custom map puzzle is a unique and engaging gift. Choose a map of their hometown or their new city. National Geographic offers personalized map puzzles with a house-shaped centerpiece, marking “home.” This gift is both entertaining and a thoughtful reminder of their roots or a fun way to learn their new area.

17. Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot: Stay Connected Immediately

    Setting up internet in a new home can take time. A portable Wi-Fi hotspot bridges this gap, allowing them to stay connected from day one. This practical gift ensures they have internet access for work, communication, and entertainment without relying on public Wi-Fi or waiting for installation.

18. Homesick Candles: Scents of Familiar Places

    Homesick Candles are designed to evoke the scents of specific states and regions. Gift them a candle representing your shared home state, capturing familiar aromas like pine forests, ocean breezes, or cityscapes. These candles provide a sensory reminder of home, offering comfort and nostalgia whenever they light them.

19. & 20. ### Hardware Store & General Gift Cards: Practical Spending Power

    Gift cards to hardware stores like Home Depot or general retailers like Target or Walmart are incredibly practical going away gifts for friends. Moving often entails home repairs, improvements, and stocking up on new household items. These gift cards provide them with the flexibility to purchase exactly what they need for their new place.

20. Airline Gift Card: A Ticket Home Soon

    Subtly encourage a visit back home with an airline gift card. It doesn’t have to cover a full round-trip ticket, but even a partial contribution makes a thoughtful gesture and expresses your desire to see them again soon.

21. & 23. ### Uber & Gas Gift Cards: Transportation Covered

    For friends moving to a city or who are driving, Uber or gas gift cards are practical and appreciated. An Uber gift card is perfect for urban dwellers or those who prefer ride-sharing. A gas gift card assists with travel costs for those driving to their new home, easing their financial burden during the move.

22. Clothing Reminding Them of Home: Wearable Nostalgia

    Clothing items featuring your home state’s symbol, a local sports team logo, or a landmark can be comforting reminders of home. A t-shirt, hat, or scarf can be a casual and wearable way for them to carry a piece of home with them.

23. Personalized Gifts: Make it Uniquely Theirs

    Beyond the personalized items already mentioned, consider customizing everyday items like mugs, journals, calendars, or ornaments with their name, initials, or a special date. Personalization adds a thoughtful touch and shows you put extra effort into their gift, making it truly unique.

Going Away Gift Ideas for Friends Moving Internationally: Portable and Practical

When choosing going away gifts for friends embarking on international moves, prioritize portability and practicality. Avoid bulky items or anything incompatible with international voltage or customs regulations.

26. Weather-Appropriate Clothing and Accessories: Prepared for the Climate

    Consider the climate of their new international destination. Sunglasses and a sun hat for sunny locales, rain gear for rainy climates, or warm scarves and gloves for colder regions are thoughtful and practical gifts that show you’ve considered their comfort in their new environment.

27. A Curated Playlist: Soundtrack of Memories

    Create a personalized playlist of songs that remind you of your friendship and shared experiences. Music is a powerful emotional connector and a portable gift that can bring comfort and nostalgia wherever they are.

28. Universal Travel Adapter: Powering Up Anywhere

    A universal travel adapter is an indispensable tool for international travelers. It allows them to use their electronic devices in different countries with varying outlet types, ensuring they can stay connected and powered up wherever they go.

29. Portable Power Bank: Stay Charged on the Go

    A portable power bank is crucial for international travel, especially when navigating new places. It ensures their phone stays charged for navigation, communication, and emergencies, particularly helpful in unfamiliar surroundings where finding charging outlets might be challenging.

30. Portable Hard Drive: Backup and Security

    A portable hard drive is a valuable gift for backing up important files before and during an international move. It provides a secure storage solution for photos, documents, and other digital essentials, protecting their data in case of device loss or damage.

31. Multi-Tool: Versatility in One Gadget

    A multi-tool is a versatile and practical gift for international movers. It combines various tools like knives, screwdrivers, bottle openers, and pliers into one compact device. Useful for everyday tasks and unexpected situations, it’s a handy companion when settling into a new country.

32. Passport Wallet or Holder: Protection and Organization

    A passport wallet or holder is essential for protecting their passport from wear and tear, damage, and potential theft during international travel. Passport wallets often include slots for cards, cash, and other travel documents, keeping everything organized and secure in one place.

33. Spices and Seasonings from Home: Familiar Flavors Abroad

    Depending on their destination, familiar spices and seasonings might be difficult to find. Gift them a selection of their favorite spices, seasonings, or specialty food mixes from home (ensure they are dry/powdered for easier transport). This thoughtful gift allows them to recreate familiar flavors and meals, offering culinary comfort in a new country.

34. Quality Luggage: Durable and Reliable Travel Companion

    Investing in quality luggage, whether a hard-shell suitcase, a durable carry-on backpack, or a toiletries case, is a practical and generous going away gift for friends moving internationally. Good luggage is essential for navigating international travel and helps keep their belongings organized and protected throughout their journey.

35. Subscription Services: Entertainment and Convenience, Digitally Delivered

    Gift subscriptions to digital services like Spotify, Kindle Unlimited, or streaming platforms. These intangible gifts don’t take up luggage space and provide entertainment, reading material, or music access in their new country. Consider subscriptions that work internationally or are relevant to their new location.

Going Away Gift Ideas for Neighbors: Thoughtful and Neighborly

Choosing going away gifts for neighbors can be a delicate balance, especially if you don’t know them intimately. While many of the previously mentioned ideas work well, consider these neighbor-specific options:

36. Starter Seeds: A Gift for Green Thumbs

    If you know your neighbors enjoy gardening, starter seeds for flowers, vegetables, or herbs are a thoughtful and fitting gift. This gift is especially appropriate if they are moving to a home with outdoor space, providing them with a starting point for their new garden.

37. Donation to Their Favorite Charity: Giving Back in Their Name

    If your neighbors are the type who “have everything” but are passionate about a cause, make a donation to their favorite charity in their name. This meaningful gesture aligns with their values and makes a positive impact in their honor, a truly selfless going away gift for friends (or neighbors in this case).

38. “Spa Day” in a Box: Relaxation After the Move

    A “spa day in a box” offers relaxation and pampering after the stress of moving. Curate a box with soothing items like teas, lotions, bath bombs, scented candles, and soaps (consider allergies and scent preferences). You can DIY a personalized box or purchase pre-assembled spa kits.

39. Gift for Their Pet: Pampering Their Furry Friend

    If your neighbors have pets, a gift for their furry companion is a thoughtful gesture. Pet treats, a new toy, or a cozy blanket shows you care for their entire family, including their pets, who are also affected by the move.

40. Custom Map Cutting Board: A Kitchen Keepsake

    A custom map cutting board featuring a map of your neighborhood is a unique and personalized gift. These cutting boards often highlight a three-square-mile area around their old address, marked with a star. It’s a functional kitchen item that also serves as a sentimental reminder of their former home.

Gift-Buying Tips for Going Away Gifts for Friends

• Prioritize Sentiment and Usefulness: Aim for gifts that are both meaningful and practical. A gift that serves a purpose and reminds them of your friendship is ideal.
• Personalization Adds a Special Touch: Personalized items demonstrate thoughtfulness. Explore online marketplaces like Etsy or Amazon for customizable going away gifts for friends.
• Avoid Bulky, Hazardous, or Perishable Items: Steer clear of gifts that are difficult to transport, like large items, plants, perishable food, or anything flammable or illegal to ship internationally.
• Consider Your Budget: Don’t feel obligated to overspend, especially for acquaintances. A thoughtful gesture is more valuable than an extravagant but impersonal gift.
• Keep it Appropriately Personal: Unless it’s for a very close friend or family member, avoid gifts that are overly intimate or too personal, which could feel awkward or miss the mark.

Going away gifts for friends aren’t mandatory, but a thoughtful gesture goes a long way in showing you care. While a gift is a wonderful way to express your farewell wishes, remember that your support and well wishes are equally valuable. Combine a thoughtful going away gift with heartfelt words and your friendship will endure the distance.