This year, instead of giving gifts that your friends and family will only use a short time, David McPherson of ABC News.com is encouraging readers to give money-themed presents. These types of gifts can both encourage recipients to make smarter decisions about money, and some might even help lower their tax liabilities. Check out a few of their ideas below, of find the full article at ABC News.com.
1. Roth IRA: If you have a child now making money on their own, then consider setting up a Roth IRA in their name and funding it with an initial contribution. Then let decades of tax-free compounding go to work. The Roth IRA allows for tax-free withdrawals in retirement, and its advantages are greatest for the young.
2. Books: After a Roth IRA, the money-related gift that offers the highest potential rate of return is a book that teaches good personal finance habits early in life. The book that triggered my interest in personal finance shortly after I got married was "Making the Most of Your Money" by Newsweek columnist Jane Bryant Quinn.
3. Subscriptions: Worried that a 700-page tome on investing or personal finance might go over as big as a tacky Santa sweater? Then consider giving a one-year subscription to a personal finance magazine or maybe the Wall Street Journal, which offers a mix of day-to-day market coverage along with in-depth stories and columns on individual investing and other personal finance topics.
4. Financial planning gift certificate: Is somebody important to you in need of individualized financial help? Then consider paying for a few hours of time with a fee-only financial planner willing to work with clients on an hourly basis. Many of these planners offer gift certificates on their Web sites, and if you don't see one, ask.