Better Than Black Friday Gift Guide
Missed the Black Friday deals? Or just tired of spending money on gifts that will just collect dust after your loved ones open them? I got you!
There’s been a lot of talk online this season about gifting our loved ones with the things they need, not what we think they want. I’ve been treating my family to some unconventional gifts all year and I’m happy to report that gifts of wealth are my new favorite thing to give.
What are “gifts of wealth?”
When I say gifts of wealth, I mean a present that improves the financial health of the recipient. Think cryptocurrency, stocks and debt payoffs. Gifts of wealth keep on giving, long after the wrapping paper is torn off. We’re building financial legacies over here!
Now, you don’t have to be rolling in the dough to give them and your folks don’t have to be down bad to receive them. It could be as simple as paying a light bill or hooking them up with your CPA friend. The beauty of this kind of gift is that it uplifts everyone.
Ok, I’m down! How’d you do it?
Glad to hear you’re ready to take your gift giving to the next level! Here are some of the ways I’ve been giving to my community.
Mom: In the words of the great poet Tupac, “ain’t a woman alive that could take my momma place!” So you already know it’s all about her. Some of the gifts I’ve gotten her this year are a new home away from in LA, a credit card and a credit score above 750.
My main goals with my mom were to build her credit and give her more buying power because as an immigrant she was always terrified by credit. Mission accomplished! If she ever needs to take out a loan, I know she’ll be good at any bank.
Juju: It’s my responsibility to make sure Juju is not only book smart, but financially savvy as well. And we all know how well school curriculums prepared us for everyday money decisions. (Spoiler alert: it didn’t!) So it’s up to me to give her the financial literacy she needs to stay ahead. We’ve been learning about everything from basic budgeting to NFT’s.
In addition to a fiscal education, I also believe in giving her the monetary leg up that I didn’t always have. Juju has her own crypto wallet and is an authorized user on my credit card. With careful supervision, she is able to build her net worth and her credit score before she’s even 18. Now that’s what I call a head start.
Dad: Giving back to my parents now that I’m older is so important to me. This year, we created a budget he now lives and swears by, his car and all of his other debts are paid off, and he is now the proud owner of his very own LLC. Decreasing liability while increasing his assets were our top priority. These gifts were way better than another pair of socks!
Outside of my family, I’ve been spreading the wealth and the knowledge through grants. I share any I come across with my circle so that everyone can apply. My friends know I’m always down to write a reference letter or help them polish off their application. Recently, I even got into the grant-giving business myself. This year, my company, Blaytorbox, granted creators $2,000.
I hope this guide inspires you to think outside of the box when it comes to holiday gifting this year. Yeah, they may not have anything to unwrap but they’ll never forget what you gave them!