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Christmas Present Tips for Guys

Christmas Shopping Tips for Guys

giftgreen1Most of us guys are useless at Christmas shopping. Here's a few tips I've picked up over the years.

Ladies, you might want to share this with the men in your family to avoid getting an undesirable and badly wrapped present this Christmas.

  1. Buying your Christmas presents at a petrol station or dairy on Christmas morning really isn't the done thing - apparently not everyone wants a funnel, box of biscuits or a car care kit. Don't do it.
  2. Get started early, no not on Christmas Eve, yesterday was already too late.
  3. First thing in the morning is the best time to Christmas shop, and I mean first thing, teenagers are still in bed.
  4. It's not the thought that counts, it's how MUCH thought that counts.
  5. Cash is a GREAT present for teenagers - and me.
  6. If you must give gift vouchers make sure they are from a shop the recipient actually shops in and try and avoid those with an expiry date.
  7. Wrapping and cards are important, you and I know it's just paper but for some reason they are important.
  8. Before you start browsing in a shop check that it does gift wrapping and accept the service - wait if necessary. If the shop doesn't do gift wrapping move on to the next. Unless you are an expert present wrapper - Yeah Right!
  9. Even if every present you buy is gift wrapped, buy plenty of wrapping paper and sellotape. You are going to need it because dairy's and petrol stations don't gift wrap and being a bloke you'll probably ignore number 1.

Guys ignore the above at your peril and have a wonderful Christmas.

Written by Web Master. Posted in Commentary on the Investment Environment.

What are your plans for the New Year?

New Years resolutions are almost a cliché but lets face it once we get ourselves away from being swamped by the detail and pace of day to day events we do tend to reflect on the bigger picture. This reflection often results in some good intentions but ask yourself - “how often have I made good on those good intentions?!

From my observation people who are successful in their lives (be it business, sport or whatever path they have chosen) are those who have decided on their goals and taken control of achieving them.

Money is only a means to an end so it’s helpful to your “bigger picture” to have money issues under control. Here are a few things you could think about.

Do you have a plan and do you have a budget attached to this plan? A budget is really an action plan with timed spending put against each action. For many ‘budget’ is a four-lettered word. But think of ‘budget’ as a plan to spend, with some of that spending allocated to the future. After all saving and investment is about sending money forward so you can spend it later.

Do you pay off your credit card each month? If not make this a priority. And do you have a plan to pay off bank debt?

Have you joined KiwiSaver? Because of the ‘free money’ still available this is one of the few investment strategies you should adopt even while still owing the bank. If you have joined KiwiSaver give yourself a pat on the back. But have you reviewed the performance of your scheme? Are you still in a default fund?

When did you last review your Estate Plans? Wills, Enduring Powers of Attorney, Trust arrangements should all be looked at regularly.

Take a look at all insurances for match and value for money against your current circumstances.

When did you last review your investment portfolio? Does it still meet your needs? How are the individual investments performing?

And finally - when did you last have a belly laugh?! Make sure you have some fun along the way! Have a successful New Year!

(Hint: clip this article and put it in a prominent place as a reminder to take action!)

Fun New Year

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