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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.

Posted in Commentary on the Investment Environment.

Why a high NZ$ can be a good thing

The high New Zealand dollar against the UK pound and the US dollar, while not great for the export side of the NZ economy, can be nevertheless good for the investor.

Firstly there is a much wider choice of stocks to choose from, are but I hear you say "therefore more to be confused by", yes that is true but if you seek good advice then there is a much wider selection out there.

Secondly, with the currency currently at multi year highs versus the UK pound, if we revert back to the 10 year average around 36/37 (we are currently 46) then there is potential for a substantial pick-up from the currency as well as the returns from the individual stock selection. Likewise the US, though potentially not as big a pick-up as from the UK pound, there are some good returns to be made out there if you just take the time to investigate the opportunities.

Don't get caught up in the "can't invest off-shore", you can if the circumstances are right and at present for the UK they look very good while the US just looks good. On the flip side Australian shares are currently expensive in NZ$ terms, so may be a chance to re-weight the portfolio to take advantage of these opportunities elsewhere they will not last forever!

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