In Estonia, Grandparents’ Day is traditionally celebrated on the second Sunday of September. In 2026, it falls on 13 September.

It is a great opportunity to visit your grandparents, spend time together and remind them how important they are to the family. And you certainly do not need a large budget to make the day warm and memorable.

What can you give your grandmother or grandfather? What can you do together? And how can you plan your spending in advance so that the occasion does not create unnecessary financial pressure? Here are a few simple ideas.

What to Give Your Grandparents

When choosing a gift, it is better to focus on the person’s interests, personality and actual needs rather than the price tag. A small but personal present can often mean much more than something expensive.

1. Family Photos and Shared Memories

A nice family photo, a framed picture of the grandchildren or a small photo album can make a simple and heartfelt gift.

You can make it even more personal by adding handwritten notes, children’s drawings, greetings or short memories of special moments you have shared. Gifts like these often become more meaningful over time.

2. A Family Memory Book

Another thoughtful idea is a memory book that your grandmother or grandfather can gradually fill with stories from their life.

They can write about their childhood, youth, family traditions, important events and memorable people. It is also a wonderful way to preserve family history for children and grandchildren.

3. Something Delicious

A good gift does not have to come from a gift shop. You could put together a small selection of things your grandparent genuinely enjoys, such as good coffee or tea, chocolates, fruit, honey, local products or other favourite treats.

For an even more personal touch, bake a cake, prepare their favourite meal or organise a family dinner at home.

4. A Practical Gift

If you know that your grandmother or grandfather has been needing something for a while, Grandparents’ Day can be a good opportunity to give them something genuinely useful.

This might be a warm blanket, a comfortable dressing gown, a new book, a kitchen item or something related to their favourite hobby.

The most important thing is to choose something they will actually use rather than buying a present simply for the sake of giving one.

5. A Shared Experience

Instead of giving an object, you can give the gift of time together.

For example, you could buy tickets to the theatre or a concert, visit a museum, go out for lunch or spend a relaxing day at a spa.

It is even better if you go together, as the gift then becomes an opportunity to spend meaningful time with one another.

What Can You Do Together on Grandparents’ Day?

One of the most valuable things you can give your grandparents is your attention. For many grandparents, spending unhurried time with their children and grandchildren can be more meaningful than any physical gift.

You could organise a family lunch or dinner, go for a walk, look through old photo albums, cook a favourite dish together or simply sit down over a cup of tea and talk.

A few more ideas include:

• going to the theatre, cinema, museum or a concert together;
• arranging a family photo session;
• baking your grandmother’s or grandfather’s favourite cake;
• making a card or small handmade gift;
• spending time outdoors;
• helping with household tasks, gardening or work at the summer house.

If your grandparents live far away and you cannot visit them in person, give them a call or arrange a video call. Even a small gesture can make the day feel special.

How Much Should You Spend?

It is easy to get carried away around special occasions and spend more than planned, especially when it feels as though a good gift has to be expensive.

To avoid this, decide in advance how much you can comfortably spend without affecting your regular monthly expenses.

You can roughly divide the budget into three parts: the gift itself, an activity you do together and additional costs such as transport.

For example, if your total budget is €50, decide beforehand how much you want to spend on the gift and how much to set aside for lunch or another activity.

This makes it much easier to keep spending under control and avoid impulse purchases at the last minute.

If you are considering a more expensive gift, such as household appliances, furniture, a trip or a spa package, several family members can also share the cost.

One useful joint gift can often be a better choice than several smaller items that your grandparents may not actually need.

How to Celebrate on a Smaller Budget

You do not need to spend a lot to make someone feel appreciated.

Some of the most personal gifts cost very little: homemade baking, family photographs, children’s drawings, a handmade card or a dinner prepared at home.

It also helps to plan ahead and compare prices before buying. When you leave gift shopping until the last minute, there is usually a greater chance of overspending.

If there are several children or grandchildren in the family, you can also contribute together. For example, a €100 experience is much easier to split between four family members than for one person to cover alone.

If You Are Planning a Larger Gift

Taking out a loan simply to buy an expensive Grandparents’ Day gift is generally not a sensible idea.

However, the occasion may sometimes coincide with a larger purchase that the family has already been planning. For example, you may want to help your grandparents buy a necessary household appliance, carry out home improvements or pay for a long-planned trip.

In situations like these, there may be a need to spread a larger planned expense over a longer period.

One possible option is a consumer loan from Laen.ee, which can help finance larger planned expenses and allow the amount to be repaid gradually.

Before taking out a loan, it is important to assess your financial situation carefully and make sure that the monthly repayments will not put unnecessary pressure on your budget.