Holiday Gifts That Pay Off

by Gerri Detweiler for Credit.com

If you are tired of giving gifts that are long forgotten by the next holiday, or if you would like to give a spendthrift friend or relative a nudge in the right direction without being too obvious, consider a gift that can help them put more money in their pocket.

A Share of Stock: Most kids will find it cool to be an owner of Disney, Dreamworks, Build-A-Bear, or McDonalds. And the more grown-up crowd will get a kick out of owning a share of Starbucks or Harley. At OneShare you can buy a single share of stock. Add a framed certificate and engraved plaque, and not only is the recipient an investor; he or she may also have a collectible worth big bucks someday! Prices vary, depending upon the price of the individual stock. You will also pay a transfer fee and $44 framing fee (optional).   

A 50-state Quarters® Collector’s Map: A quarter doesn’t pass through my hands without my grade school daughter inspecting it first to see if she needs it for her 50-state Quarters® board. The board she uses to collect them was a gift from a friend, and it is the best kind of gift – one she uses again and again. I like the fact that we are sneaking in geography lessons along the way.

Uncirculated proof sets are another terrific money gift. These are coins that have come directly from the mint, and are saved in an attractive container that allows you to see them without touching them. They are fairly inexpensive (depending on the set you choose) and look impressive. All my father’s grandkids have received a proof set for the year they were born on their first Christmas. Best of all, it’s unlikely these coins will be spent on junk.

Another tip: After the gifts from the mint are unwrapped, be sure to send your kids to the US Mint’s educational website, h.i.p pocket change, for all kinds of educational information and games about money.

Guide for a Collecting Hobby: Learning about collecting can teach kids organizational, mathematics, reading, social, and budgeting skills say the experts. And collections can often be turned into cash, as long as the collector will part with the treasures they have accumulated.

Adults or children who are into collecting anything from comic books to rocks will likely enjoy a book or guide to their favorite collectibles. A web search should turn up guides or magazines for many popular collectibles.

Money-themed Board Game: In addition to the standbys of Monopoly, Payday, and Life, there are a lot of newer board games designed to teach financial concepts, from stock investing to entrepreneurship.  A good resource for researching personal finance games is the JumpStart Clearinghouse. Use their search function to find board games geared toward a particular age group. We’ve played Crackernomics in our house, and we are continuing to try new games.

For the grown-ups, you may want to try Rich Dad’s CASHFLOW® Game (there is also a kid’s version) that teaches entrepreneurial thinking by helping participants “get out of the rat race.” At almost $200, it’s probably the most expensive board game you will buy, but creator Robert Kiyosaki will tell you it’s an investment, not an expense. Try the game after all the gifts have been opened, and if you’re hooked you can sign up on the Rich Dad CASHFLOW Club site to find others who would like to play.

Kid’s Money CD:  For kids, I recommend the music CD featuring Sammy Rabbit, from ItsAHabit.com . All the lyrics focus on saving and spending themes, and with a variety of musical styles from reggae to rock, even Mom and Dad won’t mind popping it in the CD player. 

Personal Finance Course: Many colleges offer adult education courses on money topics. You can find a school in your community here , or you can also try The Learning Annex for programs with the “stars” like Trump and Kiyosaki. If the person you are buying for has too much stuff already, why not send them to a local eBay University class to learn how to sell it?

Personal Finance magazine subscription: If you want a gift that will keep on giving all year long, a subscription is an easy bet. Right before the holidays is a great time to subscribe, as many offers will include a free gift subscription if you buy or renew your own subscription. Be smart and compare offers and prices online .

Personal Finance Book: There are many great personal finance books out there today, on any topic from debt to retirement to investing. Do a little research to figure out which ones are best for the people on your gift list, and you might turn up a few you want to read as well.

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