Very little about divorce is easy. It is one of the major life events that results in a complete change of lifestyle and living situation. Someone going through a separation may not know how to ask for help. As a friend and family member, you offer support but don’t know what they need the most.

While emotional and mental needs are often talked about, there are several more practical needs that individuals going through divorce experience. One of the most common is the need to set up a new home. This is something you can help with. 

Here are thoughtful gifts for a friend going through a divorce and tips for creating a divorce gift registry.

Why create a divorce registry 

When my friend met her now husband, he was divorced, having separated from his wife the previous year. It was an ugly divorce, with his ex-wife attempting to take everything from him. While the home was legally entirely his, she took everything she could from within the home. This left him to replace all of the furniture, appliances, and decor. By the time my friend met him, he had started to buy furniture, there was no decor. She also remembered opening drawers and cabinets in the kitchen, and they were all empty. He had one plate, bowl, fork, and knife. A divorce gift registry would have been incredibly helpful to him in rebuilding his life post-divorce. 

Divorce often gets a bad stigma because it is associated with negative feelings and the ending of a relationship. But in reality, it is a major life-changing event. We come together as family and friends to support each other during the biggest events in life, so why not do the same during a divorce? We have gift registries for when a couple gets married and another for when someone has a baby. Both of these gift registries aim to help the individual build their new life. A divorce registry can do the same. 

Gifts for comfort and self-care

Going through a divorce is a stressful experience. It is even more so when children are involved. Self-care begins to slip down the priority list. Before you know it, the divorcing couple is stressed out and looking haggard. Self-care can span across multiple areas of life. If your loved one begins to neglect their self-care, get them a gift that would help them focus on themselves. Think of gifts that could help them eat better, exercise, relax, or self-grooming. Other gifts could be to care for their mental health.  

• Pre-cooked meal delivery service 
• Gym pass
• Spa or salon gift card
• Fidget toys, meditation experience, therapy 
• Luxury pampering items 

Gifts for starting over

Inevitably, someone will have to move when there is a divorce. With two people separating to establish two new homes, there is only so much stuff to go around. This means that a lot of furniture and home goods will need to be bought. In addition, this is a chance for each person to define their new space to reflect who they are as a single individual. This new phase in life can get expensive. Having the help and support of friends and family can make this process significantly easier. Think of it like a divorce registry, similar to a newlywed couple creating a wedding registry to build their home as a married couple. Get them items that they may need to replace, items they don’t have, and fun items that will reflect their personality. 

• Household items 
• Decor 
• Houseplants 
• Linens 
• Small appliances 
• Gifts to help with entertaining 
• House cleaning service 

Gifts for laughing and having fun

It doesn’t matter if the divorce is amicable or anachronistic. Everyone goes through an adjustment period. They are no longer a pair and must learn to go out and experience life on their own again. It can be nerve-wracking or scary for some. It can feel stressful for others. Then, there is the adjustment of friend groups. Get your loved one going through divorce an experience gift that will help them get out and participate in life again. It could be something they do on their own or something you two do together. Group experiential gifts are perfect for creating new memories and getting comfortable with being single again. 

• Wine tasting 
• Fishing 
• Round of golf 
• Spa day 
• Beach day 
• Ax throwing 
• Go to the movies 
• Sky diving 

Creating a divorce gift registry

If you know someone going through a divorce, you want them to know that they have plenty of friends and family who want to help them get back on their feet. Creating a divorce gift registry puts all of the essentials they need in one place so friends and family know exactly what will help the most. With a free online registry like giftster.com, it’s easy to create a divorce registry. They can list items from any store or website, and users can mark them when they’re purchased. Plus, they can share it easily with anyone who asks.  

Giftster is a personal gift registry for every season of your life.