At this time of the year, many people are struggling with how much to spend on Christmas gifts or even if they should go Christmas shopping. I recently spoke to a friend who mentioned that she wasn’t going Christmas shopping. It’s kind of hard for me to imagine not having Christmas gifts under the tree. Growing up we always had a tree and plenty of gifts. However I do understand several people’s dilemmas. Well, here are two suggestions that will help you to save money and still ensure that you have a great Christmas.
My first suggestion is to draw names out of a hat. Each person will pick one name and will be responsible for purchasing a gift for one person. This will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to receive a gift. Everyone will save money in the long run and no one will feel left out.
My second suggestion is to give a financial gift. For as little as $25, you can open a brokerage account with Sharebuilder. Sharebuilder is a great tool because it encompasses an educational component. You will get your loved one involved in investing and will also educate him/her in the process. Sharebuilder has three account options, basic, standard, or advantage. Each of these accounts do not require an account minimum and comes with great research tools. Another great feature with Sharebuilder is the automatic investing. If you’re concerned about remembering to invest, you can easily set up an automatic investing option. Of course my favorite feature has to be the education section. The section is easy to comprehend even if you are a first time investor. The education section has been expanded to include advice on topics such as investing, retirement, taxes and investment advice. I use my Sharebuilder account tools on a regular basis and I have set up the automatic investment option for my account. The website address for Sharebuilder is www.sharebuilder.com.