Give the Gift of Stock
Teach your kids the value of investing. Yes, stocks may drop in value dramatically from year to year, but over the long term stocks represent one of the best ways to build wealth. When your child looks back and sees how the Christmas present you purchased way back in 2011 has risen in value, they’ll build an appreciation for investing.
Websites like OneShare.com allow you to purchase a single share of stock and even offer the stock certificate to frame as a gift. Consider kid friendly stocks like Disney, Nintendo, or DreamWorks to help build your child’s interest in investing.
Give the Gift of Savings
If they learn to manage money properly while they’re young, your children will become financial superstars later in life. Provide gifts that promote sound money management. Several piggy banks, for instance, encourage responsible savings.
The My Giving Bank features three compartments, one each for your child to place money in for saving, spending, and tithing. Likewise, the Money Savvy Pig contains four chambers, allowing kids to put away money for spending, donating, saving, and investing.
And you can never go wrong by purchasing the reliable ol’ U.S. Savings Bond as a gift to encourage good savings behavior.
Give the Gift of Charity
Kids often think of Christmas as a time of receiving, but you can make it a time for sharing as well. Start a new family tradition. Volunteer as a family at a soup kitchen or other charity. Alternatively, take your kids shopping for a toy to donate to a less fortunate child, or allow your children to research and pick out a charity that your family can donate money to. Such traditions teach your kids the value of giving and help create an appreciation for what they already have.
Give the Gift of Health
Healthy living is a gift we all could use. Purchase a share in a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) group, for instance, as a gift for a loved one. CSA’s are a great way to obtain locally grown food. Consumers buy a share of a farmer’s harvest. During the farming season, the share allows the buyer to receive a weekly box of seasonal produce. Check out Local Harvest to find a CSA near you.
Give the Gift of Yourself
What a better gift than the gift of yourself? Your undivided time or attention can be worth more than gold. Provide your spouse, for instance, with a homemade coupon book. Make it fun. Offer coupons that provide an hour of undivided attention, free foot massage on demand, or 60 minutes of snuggling.
BMWK, what are your ideas for gifts that keep on giving long after December has faded away?