40 Unforgettable Going Away Gift Ideas to Say Goodbye in Style (US Edition)

Your best friend just landed a dream job in California. Your roommate is heading to grad school across the country. Your coworker got transferred to the other coast. Life is moving fast, and so are the people you care about.

The problem? The Packing Paradox. You want to show how much they mean to you, but they are already stressing about the weight limit on their luggage and the space left in the U-Haul.

The fix: skip the clutter. Focus on sentimental keepsakes that fit in a pocket, practical travel essentials, gift cards for the new city, or the ultimate no-space-needed gift: a Tiing money pot where everyone pools funds to help them start their new chapter.

Here are 40 going away gift ideas organized by category, with US brands and real pricing.

How to choose the perfect farewell gift

Distance and transport. Are they driving a U-Haul from Texas to Colorado (room for bigger items) or flying from NYC to LA (TSA-friendly only)? This single factor narrows your options fast.

The clutter rule. Avoid big decor pieces. They have no idea if that canvas will fit in their new apartment. Stick with small, digital, or consumable gifts.

The group gift hack. Instead of 10 friends buying random mugs and candles, use Tiing to collect funds for one meaningful Moving Fund or a high-end item like an iPad or premium luggage. 10 friends x $40 = $400 of actual impact.

Quick reference by category

The ultimate list: 40 going away gift ideas by category

Sentimental keepsakes for long distance connection (ideas 1- 10)

• 1. Long distance friendship lamps – Touch yours and theirs lights up across the country. The viral gift that actually lives up to the hype. Popular for a reason.
• 2. Digital photo frame – Skylight or Aura. Pre-load it with photos of your crew so they see familiar faces every morning in the new place.
• 3. Custom state necklace – A pendant shaped like their home state. Kendra Scott and Etsy sellers make beautiful options. A wearable piece of home.
• 4. ‘Open When’ letters – DIY letters for specific moments: ‘Open when you are homesick’, ‘Open on a bad day’, ‘Open when you miss us’. The most heartfelt gift on this list.
• 5. Custom star map – The sky on the night of your best memory together. Beautiful wall art for the new apartment. For more sentimental inspiration, browse our 30th birthday gift ideas for men.
• 6. Memory photobook – Shutterfly or Artifact Uprising. A photo album documenting your friendship from day one. Compact and deeply personal.
• 7. Engraved YETI or Stanley tumbler – Practical and personalized. They will carry it everywhere. Guaranteed to be the most-used gift they receive.
• 8. ‘Reasons I’ll Miss You’ jar – Handwritten notes in a decorated jar. Creative, sentimental, and costs almost nothing.
• 9. Video montage from friends – Compile short clips into one goodbye video. Free, deeply meaningful, and they will ugly-cry watching it.
• 10. Coordinates bracelet or keychain – The GPS coordinates of your favorite spot together. Jewelry that tells a story.

Practical travel essentials for the move (ideas 11- 18)

• 11. Premium luggage – Away or Samsonite. The ultimate group gift funded through a Tiing money pot. Quality luggage they will use for years.
• 12. Noise-cancelling headphones – Bose or Sony. Essential for the cross-country flight or the 20-hour drive. The perfect gift for the journey ahead.
• 13. Portable Bluetooth speaker – JBL or Sonos Roam. For the road trip, the new apartment, and making the new place feel like home.
• 14. Portable charger – Anker power bank. For the long drive, the layover, the chaos of moving day. A practical lifesaver.
• 15. Tech organizer – Keep cables, chargers, and adapters sorted. Moving is chaos. This helps.
• 16. Travel journal – A Moleskine or leather journal. Document the adventure from day one. Becomes a priceless keepsake.
• 17. Packing cubes – The boring gift that everyone secretly loves. Makes the actual move so much smoother.
• 18. Backpack upgrade – A quality backpack for exploring the new city. Practical meets stylish.

‘New city’ survival kit: gift cards and subscriptions (ideas 19- 28)

• 19. Uber Eats or DoorDash gift card – Because nobody is cooking the first week of unpacking. The most thoughtful practical gift. For more occasion-based gifting, see our 40th birthday gift guide.
• 20. Home Depot or Lowe’s gift card – For the new apartment essentials: curtain rods, shelving, light bulbs. The stuff nobody budgets for.
• 21. Target gift card – The ultimate ‘you will need everything’ card. Groceries, decor, cleaning supplies, snacks. Target has it all.
• 22. Coffee subscription – Trade Coffee delivers fresh beans from top roasters nationwide. Or a classic Starbucks gift card for the first-week caffeine fix.
• 23. Southwest or Delta gift card – Fund their trip back home to visit. A gift card that says ‘come back soon.’
• 24. Spotify or Apple Music subscription – A year of music for the road trip, the new commute, and late nights unpacking. Zero weight, maximum value.
• 25. Discovery journal for the new city – A guided journal with prompts: ‘Best restaurant found this week’, ‘Favorite neighborhood’, ‘First friend made’. A creative way to document the transition.
• 26. Local restaurant gift card – Research the best-rated spot near their new address. Shows extra effort and thoughtful planning.
• 27. Amazon gift card – Not glamorous, but wildly practical when you need 47 things for the new place and everything is closed.
• 28. Streaming bundle – Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ for the first few lonely evenings in the new apartment. Comfort entertainment.

Coworker farewell gifts and DIY creative ideas (ideas 29- 40)

• 29. Funny farewell mug – ‘Good luck finding coworkers better than us’ or ‘I survived [Company Name]’ mug. The humor gift that gets used daily.
• 30. Quality pen and notebook – A Moleskine for the new job. Small, professional, and always useful. For more professional gift inspiration, explore our retirement gift guide.
• 31. Desk plant or succulent – A low-maintenance plant for their new workspace. The gift that grows with their new career.
• 32. Farewell card signed by everyone – Never underestimate the power of a farewell card filled with genuine messages. The keepsake they will read over and over.
• 33. Team photo in a frame – Print the best group shot. Sentimental and lightweight.
• 34. ‘Box of Sunshine’ – Everything yellow: lemon candy, yellow nail polish, sunflower seeds, a bright notebook, and a cheerful note. A DIY Instagram-worthy gift box.
• 35. Memory jar – Fill it with handwritten favorite memories on colorful paper strips. The handmade farewell gift that costs nothing but means everything.
• 36. ‘Adulting Survival Kit’ – Cleaning supplies, a cookbook, coffee, Target gift card, and a humorous card. Welcome to real life in a new city.
• 37. Booze bouquet – Mini alcohol bottles arranged like flowers. A fun centerpiece that doubles as party fuel for the farewell celebration.
• 38. Paper airplane art – A framed illustration of a paper airplane flying between two cities. Unique, artistic, and deeply meaningful.
• 39. Happy hour box – Cocktail mix, nice glasses, snacks, and a note: ‘First round in your new city is on me.’ For ideas across other life milestones, check our baptism gift guide.
• 40. Goodbye video from everyone – Compile short clips into one montage. Free, deeply personal, and the gift that will make them cry (in the best way).

Why a Tiing money pot is the best going away gift

Moving across the country is expensive. Security deposits, U-Haul gas, flights, new furniture. Your friend is bleeding cash at the exact moment they need financial cushion the most. A Tiing money pot is the gift that actually helps.

• Zero clutter – No packing, no carrying, no finding space. The money goes straight to their account.
• Total flexibility – First month’s rent, groceries, a flight home for Thanksgiving, or a nice dinner in the new city. Their call.
• Easy as a text – Share the Tiing link by text or social media. No chasing Venmo requests. Everyone contributes on their own time.
• Real impact – 15 friends x $25 = $375 for a ‘New City Fund’ that actually changes their first month. Better than 15 scented candles.

👉 Don’t buy clutter. Start a Tiing money pot and fund their fresh start.

FAQ: Etiquette for going away gifts