Moving Away Gifts That Show You Care

Whether your sibling is moving away for college or your best friend is moving to a new city for a new job, it is always sad to see someone you care about go away. You need to say goodbye and that’s not easy. It’s even harder to find a way to show your loved one how much you care for them and how much you’ll miss them, while also conveying your support and well wishes.

A meaningful moving away gift can help you with both.

Moving away gifts can be practical, sentimental, or fun – special items, enjoyable experiences, thoughtful gestures, etc. Either way, they all do the same thing – they make the person who is moving away feel loved and appreciated.

Finding the right goodbye gift, however, can be quite a challenge. You need to think of something that says “I’m excited for you and your new life!”, “I wish you all the best!”, “I’ll always be there for you, regardless of the distance between us!”, and “I’ll miss you!” all at the same time.

Here are some moving away gift ideas to help you pick the perfect gift for a loved one who is opening a new chapter in their life in another city or state.

What is a good moving away gift?

From useful items and funny gadgets to personalized knick-knacks and emotional keepsakes, going away gifts can take many forms. They can be creative or traditional, unique or conventional, etc.

It doesn’t really matter exactly what the gift is, though – as long as it conveys the message the giver wants to convey. A goodbye gift may be intended to express heartfelt wishes or firm support, to bring warmth or cheer, to help chase stress or loneliness away, etc. If it achieves its purpose, it is a good gift.

The best gifts for friends moving away, however, make them feel special and connected to the loved ones left behind. They are thoughtful gifts that show affection and care.

What gift to give a friend who is moving away?

Goodbye gifts for friends moving away need to be meaningful – special items that reflect the friendship between the two people or resonate with the person they’re intended for.

So, when wondering what to give as a moving away gift, you need to think of something special that will show your friend that you care.

Keep in mind though that your loved one won’t want more stuff to add bulk to their move – they’re probably trying to purge their own possessions in order to make their relocation cheaper and easier. So, don’t give your pal a bulky item as a goodbye gift – pick a small object imbued with a lot of meaning.

Also, make sure your gift is not difficult to move – or hazardous, or perishable. Avoid flammable items, fragile items, plants, and anything else that may not make the journey or may pose a safety risk during the move.

In fact, it may be best not to give a physical thing at all – gift an experience or find another way to show your friend how much you care for them (see below for ideas).

Bonus tip: If the perfect goodbye gift for your friend is something big or heavy, send it directly to their new home – it will cost you a bit more, but you will make a great gift without making your pal’s move more difficult and more expensive.

Taking all of the above into account, here are some gift ideas for friends moving away to consider for your special goodbye:

A gift of practicality

Practical items can help make your friend’s new life a bit easier or a bit more enjoyable, so they make excellent moving away gifts:

1) Gift cards – a store gift card, a restaurant gift card, a travel gift card, a massage gift certificate, a voucher for cultural events or sports events, a coupon for a special experience, etc.

Gift cards are extremely conventional gifts, but they’re also extremely useful – they allow you to gift your friend an item they need or an experience they will enjoy, while leaving the choice of what exactly to get – and when exactly to get it – up to them.

2) Subscriptions – prepaid subscriptions for newspapers, magazines, TV channels, streaming services, gyms, clubs, or any other services or activities in their new city that you know your friend will enjoy.

Just like gift cards, subscriptions don’t take up any space and don’t need to be packed for moving – they’re great going-away gifts that show your care for your friend without burdening them with extra stuff to relocate.

3) Personalized household items – customized items you think your friend will need in their new home or will enjoy having around:

• fancy kitchen items your pal has always wanted to have (a Victorian tea set, a Japanese sushi set, a charcuterie board set, a pedestal cake stand, etc.);
• useful items with sentimental photos, meaningful messages, or funny sayings (mugs, coasters, cutting boards, serving platters, mouse pads, etc.);
• monogrammed towel sets, bathrobes, or linens;
• custom-printed blankets, quilts, or pillow covers;
• wall décor (framed pictures, posters, quotes, etc.) that has special meaning for your friend;
• funny doormats or door signs;
• seeds for your friend’s favorite flowers, herbs, house plants, garden plants, etc.;
• anything else that will make your BFF smile, will bring back a happy memory, or will convey a heartfelt message.

Be sure to send any household items that are difficult to pack and move directly to your friend’s new home.

4) Care package – comfort items that will make your friend feel better during the move and the first day in their new home (some of their preferred cosmetic products, a book or a game they love, a CD (or memory stick) with their favorite music, and anything else that you think your friend may need and enjoy).

See also: How to prepare an essentials box for moving

5) Travel bag and travel case – to remind your friend to come for a visit and make packing for traveling easier.

A collection of memories

Keepsakes are arguably the best gifts for friends who are moving away. After all, when your bestie is moving to a faraway place, it makes sense to give them something that will remind them of you, of their old city, or of special places, experiences, or moments:

• Photobook or photo album with pictures that have captured some of the most special moments you’ve had together – to take your friend on a walk down memory lane and remind them that you’ll always be there for them;
• Digital photo frame loaded with meaningful images – so your friend sees a happy memory every time their eyes pass over the gadget;
• Old city/state map puzzle – to provide a few hours of “nostalgic entertainment” when your friend feels bored or homesick;
• State candles – so your friend can fill their new living space with the comforting smells of home. (Scented with the aroma of a state’s iconic flowers, foods, spices, or other well-known features, state candles make wonderful gifts for someone moving out of state);  
• Keychain with the shape of your state – so your friend is reminded of where they come from – and of the people who are still there – every time they pick up their keys;

• Local delicacies (foods typical of the region; specialties from local establishments; spices and seasoning that may be difficult to find in the area your friend is moving to; etc.) – so your pal can have a taste of home that will provide comfort and familiarity in the new environment;
• Customized personal items (engraved watches or jewelry; custom printed T-shirts, scarves, or other clothing items; etc.) – to convey a special message.

Related: How to say goodbye to friends when moving

A unique way to stay connected

It’s easy enough to stay in touch in our digital age – your friend will be just a tap or a mouse click away, regardless of the physical distance between you. Yet, you can make your connection special with the help of a special moving away gift:

Dual time watch

If your friend is moving across the country (or across the globe) to a different time zone, you can get them a watch that shows both the time in their new area and the time back home – so they always know if it is a good time to call.

Long-distance friendship lamps

Get a set of friendship lamps for you and your friend who is moving away – when one of you touches their lamp, the other lamp will light up with the same color.

It’s a quick and easy way to say hello and show your BFF you’re thinking of them. You can even use different colors of light to communicate with each other via code.

Box of dated letters

If you wish to make a more personal moving away gift, you can write your friend a few letters, put them in separate envelopes, and write the date the letter can be opened on each envelope.

Spread the letters out over several months or even over a year – schedule them for special events, important days, or meaningful dates (your friend’s birthday, the first day of their new job, days you have happy memories from, etc.).

This way, you will be able to give your friend a special message or share a memory at just the right time – and your pal will have something to look forward to, will feel your affection and your support, and will know you’re there for them, no matter what.

“Open when” envelopes

Instead of dated letters, you can give your friend a number of envelopes to be opened at a specific time (when they feel lonely, when they need a hug, when they can’t sleep, when they want to laugh, etc.).

Put something appropriate in each envelope (a photo, a special note, an inside joke, a small (non-perishable) treat, a gift card, a piece of jewelry, etc.) to make your friend feel better – and feel loved – when they open it.

Matching items

Matching hoodies (or other clothing items), pieces of jewelry, keychain charms, and other matching items are popular moving away gifts that provide a special connection between loved ones who are parting ways.

Comforting items

One of the best gifts for friends who are moving away is a comforting item that will allow you to send hugs over distance and show your pal that you’re there for them in a direct and physical way:

• hug shirt  – an air-inflatable vest that can be remotely triggered to create a sensation resembling a hug;
• weighted blanket – a blanket filled with beads or pellets that will literally engulf your friend in a tight, warm hug;
• pocket hug coin – an engraved coin your friend can carry in their pocket and rub any time they feel lonely or need encouragement or support;
• teddy bear – a plush bear your friend can squeeze when they need a hug.

When looking for gift ideas for friends moving away, you should consider some funny gimmicks too – after all, you want to make your pal smile and cheer them up during this challenging period, don’t you? You can gift an item with a hilarious inscription, an overly-complicated everyday item, a themed item that will seem ridiculous for its purpose, etc. – think about what your friend finds funny and what inside joke they will enjoy the most and make your pick accordingly.

Bonus moving away gift ideas

A good gift for someone moving away doesn’t need to be conventional – you can be creative and come up with some truly unique going away gift ideas:

1) DIY moving away gifts – things you’ve made yourself especially for your friend.

Depending on your skills and available free time, you can crochet a beanie, make a wood engraving, draw a caricature, write a poem, or compose a song for your friend – or you can simply make a goodbye card or record a video message for your bestie.

2) Moving help – gift your friend your time.

Your friend will be overwhelmed with moving preparations and moving worries, so any help you can provide will be highly appreciated:

• Help your friend organize their items, find free moving boxes, pack up their home, etc.;
• Find a way to cheer up your friend during the arduous moving process – reassure them that everything will be fine, let them vent their worries and concerns and try to come up with useful advice, send them funny text messages every now and then, take them out for a while so they can relax and recharge, etc.;
• Offer to look after your friend’s kids or pets on moving day and bring some home-made food for everyone;
• If your pal is performing a self-move, help them with the heavy lifting and all the other hard work on moving day;
• If your friend has decided to use professional moving services, help them find affordable and reliable movers who will take good care of their items and will ensure a safe and smooth relocation. If you can afford it, go a step further and pay for an extra moving service that will make things easier for your friend (such as furniture disassembly, appliance servicing, custom crating, etc.);
• Pay for professional cleaning services on move-out day, so your friend doesn’t need to spend hours cleaning after the physically and emotionally draining moving day.

3) Special delivery at your friend’s new home – something to get your friend excited for their new life and show them you’re thinking of them.

You can order a flower delivery (to greet your pal in their new home and brighten up the space), a meal delivery (to save your friend time and help them regain their energy after the move), a gift delivery (to surprise your pal with your goodbye gift and save them the trouble of moving it themselves), etc.

Must-read: What to do when your best friend is moving away

You have many other options too, of course – there is no comprehensive list of good moving away gifts and no perfect goodbye gift, you can pick anything that resonates with your friend and makes sense in your particular situation. What matters is to give a gift from the heart and show your friend that they’re loved and will be missed.