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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.

Gold Investment Digest Report July 2010

a pile of gold barsA new report shows gold continues to retain its allure as an investment asset.

Mixed economic news around the world, concerns over a double dip recession and significant fiat currency weakness meant gold performed well during the second quarter of 2010, according to the World Gold Council's latest Gold Investment Digest report.

The report shows that the quarter recorded significant net inflows into various investment vehicles, as investors sought to harness gold's investment benefits at a time of weakness and pronounced volatility in other asset classes. While demand from China has remained resilient, the report also suggests that jewellery demand in other key markets (particularly India) has continued to recover from a weaker 2009.

The report also shows that during the last three months many assets, including global equities and commodities, experienced a period of pronounced volatility, in some instances surpassing levels seen during the first quarter of 2009. Gold price volatility, however, remained much lower than many of these assets during the period, meaning gold outperformed the S&P 500 (Total Return) Index, the MSCI World (ex US) Index and S&P Goldman Sachs Commodities Index on a risk-adjusted basis.

Click here to access the Gold Investment Digest report.

Click here to view a webcast presentation of the report.

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