6 clever gifts wise baby boomers will give this month
Hooray, the holiday season is here. As I’ve gotten older, I really appreciate all of our timeless traditions that remain the same year after year — the Christmas tree, the holiday decorating, parties and the added time with family. As the father of two children (who are not so little anymore), one significant thing about the holidays has changed — the gift giving. Their Christmas lists aren’t what they used to be. Gone are the days where toys and simple holiday pleasures topped their lists.
Over the years, many of my clients have shared a similar challenge that the holiday gift giving season has presented — first for their children, and now for their grandchildren. For the giver, technology, gift cards and money simply don’t carry the same amount of significance as the playful gifts we all likely associate with young children.
As children grow older and their lists get shorter, gift giving can still be filled with joy and meaning. Here are 6 clever gifting ideas that creative baby boomers have personally shared with me over the last few years.
1. Invest in a gift that can be shared or experienced together. Whether it’s dinner, a movie, a concert or maybe even a trip, experiences that are shared together create memories for the young and young at heart. I think it’s noteworthy that the way you spell love to a child is the same way you spell love to a grandparent — T.I.M.E. “Time” is a precious commodity and gifts that involve an experience together create lifelong memories for all.
2. Give a personal possession that has emotional significance. Often times there is jewelry, art, collections or maybe even military memorabilia that grandparents plan to give to a special family member “one day.” Sadly, however, sometimes that “one day” comes only after that family member passes away. While these items are of course still significant, the wisest grandparents I’ve seen have shared these possessions with family members while they are still alive. For them, they experienced the real joy of seeing their family get to cherish the items that they also cared for deeply.
3. The gift of legacy. Handwritten recipes, love letters, personal journaling, old photos, etc. are all ways you can help ensure that family members will enjoy your meals, your stories and your wisdom for many, many years to come. With old photos, you may consider making notes on the back that include who was in the photo and why you held onto this photo. Share the legacy of these items with your family and impart their significance with them.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the gift of contributing toward your loved one’s education. Many college students today are sitting on mounds of debt that may take a lifetime to pay off. While you may be unable to pay for the majority of their schooling, a gift today compounded over many years will likely be greatly appreciated in the future.
4. A new copy of a book that once inspired you. If we’re wise, we spend a lifetime continuing to learn. Our children and grandchildren may not always have open ears to listen to the wisdom we want to share, but a book can be a great way to share material that once inspired us. Personalize it with a handwritten note inside that records why it was important so that this message can be revisited again and again.
5. “Insert cash here?” If it is your desire to gift money this holiday season, do everything you can to make sure you share a story with it. It’s a fact that young people receive the majority of their financial education from their families. Don’t miss the opportunity to teach a lesson, but try to make it fun and memorable. And instead of a note in a holiday card, send a message or a video recording via email or text. This will have a much longer life span than a card that will likely be tossed away after the holidays.
6. The gift of education. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the gift of contributing toward your loved one’s education. Many college students today are sitting on mounds of debt that may take a lifetime to pay off. While you may be unable to pay for the majority of their schooling, a gift today compounded over many years will likely be greatly appreciated in the future. Contributing to your grandchild’s education (in whatever amount you are able) will long outlive a gift that may not hold the same value in the future.
Wishing you the merriest of days this month and health and happiness in the New Year. My hope is that one of these ideas will inspire your gift giving. If you have a clever gift idea, I’d enjoy hearing from you at thomasakalejta@gmail.com. I’ll be sharing these ideas on Facebook this month and I’d be happy to share feedback from any readers as well. Tom Kalejta is an author of “Building Wealth, Protecting Dreams” and a financial advisor. He is intrigued by how Baby Boomers are changing retirement trends and lifestyles in the 21st century. He believes in inspiring his readers by talking less about money and more about reinvented possibilities — particularly when things don’t go as planned. He can be reached by emailing thomasakalejta@gmail. com.