What To Get A 13 Year Old For Christmas
The last few years I’ve struggled with art sets and my sister’s desire for bratz dolls, that I’ve finally decided I no longer wish to spend money on crap. You just never know what to get a 13 year old for Christmas. I imagine it’s going to be like that for the next couple of years.
I had made considerations on some girlie things from LUSH which were expensive and I wasn’t impressed with anyway.
I thought about starting up a CD or Bond or something in her name, but decided this money would better go towards paying off my fathers debt for now. And in reality, shouldn’t her parents be doing this?
I thought about doing what I did last year and buying her organic bath products that she wanted (and apparently loved). But I didn’t want to just buy the same thing.
I’ve finally resolved to 2 things:
1. A giftcard to Target. I hate Wal-Mart and everything that it stands for. If I must support a large chain, I’m going to do so with a semi-conscience. I figure any teenager appreciates the ability to have the freedom to go shopping and buy what they want. It shoulders a little responsibility on them to make a smart decision (usually).
2. Two books on finances geared towards pre-teens and teenagers. The Consumerist recently posted an article on Great Finance Books for All Ages, which switched on that dusty lightbulb in my brain. Here I’ve been working so hard on my own finances, why not encourage my sister to learn a little more about hers at an early age? Isn’t that what I’ve been preaching?
I ordered The Totally Awesome Money Book for Kids and The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens: 8 Steps to Having More Money Than Your Parents Ever Dreamed Of. I don’t know if she’s actually going to read and enjoy these books, but I want to give her an opportunity I didn’t have until a lot later. Both of her parents are normal middle-class people when it comes to finances, but I’m fairly certain neither of them has ever talked to her about finances, as they never did for me growing up either. The money I could have saved.
To note, I also saved money by ordering used copies of these books, not brand new.
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