Gift guide

80th birthday gift ideas for Nan or Pop (when they say they don't need anything)

By 80, most people have all the things they need. The gifts that land are the ones about them: their story, their people and the moments they're proud of. Here are ideas that work, from simple to keepsake.

1. A book of their life story

A hardcover book that tells their life in chapters, from childhood and first jobs to how they met their partner, the house they raised a family in and the grandkids. Add their old photos, a favourite saying and messages from the family, and it becomes the gift people pass around at the party and keep for generations.

You don't need to be a writer. Collect memories from the family as dot points or voice memos, and either write it yourself or have it written for you. Our Fond Memories gift books are made this way: you send the memories and photos, and we write and design every page, with a proof before you pay.

2. A family message book

Ask everyone, including cousins, old friends and neighbours, to write a short message or memory. Collect them by email or a shared note, then print them in a small book or put them in a decorated box. It's one of the cheapest gifts on this list and often the most read.

3. A restored photo, framed

Find their wedding photo or a picture from when they were young, have it scanned and gently restored, and frame it. Many photo shops in Australia offer scanning and restoration for a small fee.

4. An outing with the whole family

Lunch at the place they went to as a young couple, a drive to the town they grew up in, or a day at the beach they took the kids to. Book it, organise transport and take lots of photos, which can go into a book later.

5. A recipe collection

If they're known for a dish, write up the recipe properly, with their handwritten card photographed alongside it. Add the stories behind each one. Grandkids treasure these.

6. A recorded conversation

Sit down with them for half an hour and record them talking about growing up, their first job and how they met. Use your phone. Keep the recording, and use it to write their story.

Questions to ask when you're gathering their story

• Where did you grow up, and what was your house like?
• What did you do for fun as a kid?
• What was your first job, and what did you spend your first pay on?
• How did you meet, and what was your first date?
• What are you most proud of?
• What's something the grandkids would be surprised to know about you?

When to start

For a printed book, start three to four weeks before the birthday. That gives time to gather photos, write, check the proof and print. For Christmas, aim to have everything in by late November.