12 Money-Themed Gift Ideas
Giving the gift of green, everyone’s favorite color.
OMG, it’s the 14th already! A 2023 Shopify-Gallup survey showed that 49% of U.S. Holiday shoppers planned on doing most or all their gift shopping in December. There’s so much room under the tree and so little time.
With online retailers like Amazon doing nearly all the heavy lifting, buying stuff no one needs has never been easier. The hard part is figuring out what to buy your retail addicted loved ones who shower themselves throughout the year with any budget-friendly gift ideas you could have used.
This is why Bankrate’s 2024 Holiday Spending Report estimates $324.5 billion will be spent on gift cards this year. Lame. The gift card is the ideal time-saving gift that says, “because forgetting you altogether would have been socially awkward.”
Good news, you don’t have to be that person, and you don’t have to invest time thinking about a unique gift for everyone. Show me a person that doesn’t like money and I’ll show you a liar. This year, give the gift of green and here are 12 fun ways to do it.
Large Bills – Somehow, holding a $100 bill feels better than holding $150 gift card. You can even add a creative spin on this by putting $100 bills in a package labeled “Emergency Inflation Kit, Tear to Open”. It takes work to get large bills, which requires you to go into a bank and speak with a teller. Yes, they still do exist and like it when you come in.
Unique Coins – everyone, especially kids, loves getting 50 cent pieces. Most banks allow you to order these if you call them ahead of time. You can also visit your local numismatics store (just search for this term and your city/zip code) to get your hands on some unique coins.
Treasure Chest full of $1 Coins – are your kids/grandkids tough to please and half dollar coin won’t do the trick? Order a small treasure chest from Amazon and fill it with $1 coins you can order form your bank. These can be used as legal tender or flexed in front of friends to show them they’ve made it.
Cabinet Safe – most people keep their valuables in drawers, which isn’t ideal. Small safes are cost effective and not something people typically go out of their way to buy. Everybody uses them when they check into their hotel rooms but don’t think twice about having one for the house. Amazon, Costco & Bass Pro Shop have a wide variety starting around $150.
529 Plans – Most people don’t set up 529 plans for their kids because it requires us to do the unthinkable: complete a form. Contributions are the easy part. No, it will not excite the children but let’s face it, this idea is for the parents. Do parents a favor this year, invest in their children’s future instead of contributing to living room clutter with overseas products.
Books about Money – Adults and young adults could consider a book like Poor Charlie’s Almanack, available on Amazon for $61. I can also suggest The Total Money Makeover to encourage debt awareness. For the young kids, take a look at The Stock Market ABC’s, also available on Amazon for $23.
Wall Street Journal – you can give someone a subscription to the Wall Street Journal. The digital version is cheaper at $4 - $5 per week while the print version is $7.75 per week. Perfect for the financial nerd in your family (hopefully my wife is reading this)!
Crypto Cold Storage – have friends or family who entered the crypto casino and they can’t help but trade their accounts into oblivion? One solution is cold storage, which is how you hold digital assets like Bitcoin offline. It’s also the only way to store digital assets that eliminates counterparty risk. Plus, it’s tangible and makes you look cool. Check out Trezor, Coldcard or Ledger for options.
Useful Online Courses – the gift of education doesn’t have to be boring, nor does it have to be expensive. With resources like Udemy, you can take online courses on virtually any topic. It’s how I learned the to do podcasting! This is a great way to help someone dive deeper into topics they’re interested in.
Costco Membership – Yes, you can buy someone else a Costco membership. They sell them at the stores, just ask guest services or the cashier. The Executive membership is $130, and the standard membership is $65. Sorry Sams Club members, Costco is just better. The cost savings over traditional retail are quite real.
Savings Bonds – The Series I bonanza of 2021 and 2022 may be behind us but these still offer a stable rate of return, unlike cash. This would be a good option if the intent was for the recipient to hold onto the amount gifted for a period. Unlike the good ole days, it does require both parties to have a Treasury Direct account.
Piggy Bank w/ Matching Program – And my personal favorite for the kids, a piggy bank with a twist. It comes with a promise to match any savings added into the piggy bank on July 4th and Christmas with whatever the child has saved for the year. Just pick any piggy bank anywhere. The most valuable bit is the contract you draft. Just don’t forget to bring cash on the Holidays.
Above all, the most meaningful gift you can give to anyone is your time and attention. While time doesn’t directly equate to money, as the popular saying would leave you to believe, it is the most meaningful asset you possess. Give it wisely and with intention to the people nearest to you.
Merry Christmas!
The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.
Securities offered through LPL Financial, member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advice offered through National Wealth Management Group, LLC, a registered investment advisor and separate entity from LPL Financial.