Well, Christmas is just weeks away now, and everyone is no doubt thinking about what gifts are going to be making their way into the stockings this year.
Sure you can get your kids some of the latest hip stationary at your local Smiggle store – which I'm sure the shareholders of Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) would approve of.
Likewise, I'm sure JB Hi-Fi Ltd (ASX: JBH) and Harvey Norman Holdings Ltd (ASX: HVN) would be equally appreciative of some Christmas cheer from your wallet this festive season.
But I think the best gift you can possibly give this year is a lesson in what Christmas giving should be about – meaningful gifts that aren't forgotten by the time Christmas 2020 rolls around.
According to reporting in the Sydney Morning Herald, Australians spent an estimated $400 million on unwanted Christmas presents last year, most of which probably ended up on the January council collection pile. Christmas is a time of excess (as it should be!), but too much of a good thing can also be terrible for your finances, as well as the environment. You don't want to wake up on Boxing Day with more than one kind of hangover!
I know our favourite ASX companies would like everyone to buy the most expensive presents on the market, but the best way to ruin this joyous time of year is to spend too much on stuff that means too little.
So that's why I think taking a 'less is more' approach with your family this Christmas could be the greatest gift you could give.
Instead of all the latest and greatest gadgets from JB Hi-Fi, why not buy your kids some JBH shares instead? Or in addition to picking Woolies for your Christmas food shop, you could pick up some Woolworths Group Ltd (ASX: WOW) shares as well – I'm sure your kids, relatives or significant other will (forgive me) be WOWed by the gesture! Shares don't waste resources, damage the environment and (hopefully) appreciate rather than lose value over time.
Not to mention giving shares can come packaged with knowledge and good financial habits as well. That's a gift that keeps on giving!
