8 Holiday Gifts That’ll Help Your Friends and Family Manage Their Money

You probably know a friend or relative who wants to become a Penny Hoarder but has something standing in their way — a lower-paying job, a disorganized budget or a small business dream that hasn’t yet become a reality. This holiday season, give that person one of these eight gifts to help them with their finances. These presents could help them build a better budget, achieve their career goals and start hoarding those pennies!

1. Budget Planner

A budget planner is a great way to help your friend or loved one get their finances organized. Budget planners come in all shapes and sizes, from small pocket planners to hardback multi-year agendas. Some budget planners help people follow specific budget plans, while others give you plenty of white space to organize your own finances. Look for a cover that matches your friend’s unique style or personality. They’re more likely to use it if they love the way it looks!

2. A Personal Finance Book, Like “Your Money or Your Life”

If your friend enjoys reading, give them a book about personal finance to spark their interest. Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez’s “Your Money or Your Life” is one of the best-selling personal finance books of all time. It teaches you how to start earning more — while keeping expenses down. If you’re going to save money by buying a used copy — total Penny Hoarder move — purchase the most recent edition. Robin and Dominguez regularly update the book, so it always has accurate and useful information. Here are some other personal finance books we love: 
“Rich Dad Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki
“Think and Grow Rich” by Napoleon Hill
“Your Playbook for Tough Times” by Donna Freedman
“I Will Teach You to Be Rich” by Ramit Sethi
“Why Didn’t They Teach Me This in School?” by Cary Siegel
“Broke Millennial Talks Money” by Erin Lowry

3. Piggy Bank

A piggy bank — maybe filled with a little bit of change — can be a fun way to encourage your loved one to start saving. You can go for a traditional ceramic pig, but these days, there are much cooler options out there. For example, there are electronic piggy banks that keep track of the amount of money in them. Want more money-saving tricks like this? Here are eight more you should try.

4. A Session With a Certified Financial Planner

Many people don’t appreciate the value of a good certified financial planner until they get the chance to sit down with one. A single one-hour session can be a great opportunity for your friend to discuss everything from next year’s taxes to their children’s college education fund. If you have a friend or relative who says things like, “I wish I knew more about investing” or, “I wish I knew how much I should be saving for retirement,” a financial planner might be the best gift you can give. A one-hour session with a financial adviser can cost about $100 to $300.

5. Coupon Organizer

Most coupons are digital nowadays, but a small coupon organizer is an easy way to keep track of all those printed discounts. Manufacturer coupons, gift cards, fast food coupons and receipts can all stay safe and tidy in a case small enough to slip into a pocket or purse. Alternatively, you could get your friend a Clip It: Coupon Organizer from Barnes & Noble. It comes with 24 organized pockets, a wipe-off meal planner, a reusable grocery list and 32 pages of tips on couponing. Another money hack? Stop spending too much money on these 5 dumb things.

6. Professional Development Course

Give the gift that keeps on earning by paying for a loved one’s professional development. Talk to them about what skills they want to learn to become better at their job or small business — then offer to pay for a course that teaches those skills. These courses are also great places for people to connect with industry peers. Professional development courses are good opportunities for both learning and networking. Consider signing them up for a Master Class, or give them a gift certificate to the online learning center so they can pick the course themselves.

7. An Estate Planning Binder

Death is a hard subject to talk about, but estate planning is important. If you have an older relative or parent who’s been putting off creating a will, giving a gift like  “I’m Dead, Now What?” offers a lighthearted way to start the conversation. Even younger people will enjoy a practical gift like this. An estate planning binder gives your recipient room to list important information, like retirement accounts, life insurance policy details and passwords. There’s also room to write contacts, legal matters, health care information, final wishes and biographical details, like your parents’ names and where they were born.

8. Budgeting Gift Basket

If you’re on a bit of a budget yourself, consider creating a DIY budget gift basket. Stock it full of items like highlighters, pens, a calculator and a notebook, then round it out with a personal finance book or a family bill organizer. You could also include a cute wallet or small piggy bank — both of which are easy to find for less than $10 at flea markets or discount stores. This gift is great for kids, but it can also be a fun present to give to expectant parents or newlyweds. After all, a new stage in someone’s life is a great time for them to plan out finances and get serious about budgeting.