Give the Gift of Financial Wellness This Holiday Season

The best gifts don’t wear out, become regifts, or quickly get cast aside — they continuously give back!

Every fall, you search for holiday gifts for family and close friends, hoping to find something thoughtful. But after the wrapping paper settles, most presents fade into the background…

clothes don’t fit, or aren’t the right style
gizmos, gadgets, along with the latest greatest trends, become outdated
gift cards are thrown in a drawer and forgotten about

It’s time to try a new approach! This year, consider giving something that will last beyond the season, will be around long after the final snowflake has melted – a gift that will bring greater financial security.

Financial health isn’t about having millions of dollars — it’s about feeling confident in one’s ability to meet current and future obligations, in control of your money, and on track toward your long-term goals. It’s about the peace of mind that comes from knowing that (at least in relation to money) you can handle whatever life throws your way. It’s knowing that your saving and spending strategies support your core values and desired lifestyle. That is definitively a gift worth giving!

Here are a couple creative ways to share financial empowerment with those you cherish this winter:

Wealth-Building Books

Gift ideas:

The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel – This popular book examines the way thoughts, beliefs, and actions shape our financial outcomes.
The Geometry of Wealth by Brian Portnoy – A beautifully written guide connecting purpose and money, a how-to for “funded contentment.”
The Best of Jonathan Clements – This thoughtful collection of timeless essays covers everything from investment and habits to personal finance tactics.
I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit Sethi – A practical blueprint for managing money with confidence and still enjoying life along the way.
The Seed Tree: Money Management and Wealth Building Lessons for Teens by Stephen Carter – Follow Andrew, a sophomore, as he spends a semester becoming more financially literate than most adults.

PRO TIP
Wrap up one of these (or other personal finance and investing books) along with a cozy blanket, a mug, and hot cocoa mix.
Consider adding a personal note about how the book changed your own perspective on money, or a motivational bookmark.

Budgeting Tools That Empower

Budgets (spending strategies) aren’t about punishment — they’re about having a plan to create the life of your dreams. Help loved ones take the stress out of money management by gifting tools that make it simple and (dare I say) enjoyable.

Gift ideas:

A subscription to YNAB (You Need a Budget) — the perfect gift for creating clarity around saving and spending
A budgeting template that you’ve personalized
A cash envelope wallet
A beautiful budgeting planner for those who find writing things down satisfying

PRO TIP
Pair your gift with a fancy pen and candle, with the recommendation that they create a monthly money ritual.
Changing the way we track and plan can turn high-stress obligations into forms of financial self-care.

The Gift of Compound Interest

For those on your gift list who are ready to grow their money, consider giving something that will help them step into investing.

Gift ideas:

Open a custodial investment account or, for teens, a Fidelity Youth account.
Buy shares of their favorite company, or companies.
Alternatively, purchase shares of an index ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) to provide diversification.
Contribute to your child’s Individual Retirement Account or IRA (after you’ve determined eligibility).
Add to a 529 plan to help fund their future education.
Setup (or deposit into) a Money Market or High-Yield Savings Account for emergency funds and not-too-terribly-distant wants.

PRO TIP
Include a note that says something to the effect of,
This is more than money. We’re planting seeds to grow your wealth.
Take presents as an opportunity to educate them about investing, to help them become more financially savvy.

Experience-Based Financial Learning

Sometimes, the most memorable gifts aren’t things at all.
Why not give friends and family members financially enlightening experiences?

Gift ideas:

A session (or sessions) with a wealth coach for someone who’s ready to take their finances to the next level.
Online courses about investing, money mindset, or entrepreneurship for the self-motivated, independent learner.

PRO TIP
Include a basket of healthy snacks, a coffee subscription, or loose-leaf tea sampler to fuel their learning. Or, perhaps, upgrade their software to meet course tech recommendations and requirements.
Would a webcam or microphone enhance their experience?

Teach Kids to Save and Invest

Money mindsets start developing at a young age. One study found our money habits in adulthood, which have a tremendous impact on financial outcomes, may have formed by the time we reach seven.

Teaching children how to handle money at an early age sets them up for a lifetime of smart decision-making.

Gift ideas:

Piggy banks for toddlers
Jar systems (labeled “Invest”, “Save”, “Spend”, and “Give”) for preschoolers
Cash or bank account deposits for tweens
Board games (like Monopoly or The Game of Life) for the whole family

PRO TIP
Make it interactive!
Challenge kids to set small, achievable goals, and celebrate their progress.
Offer to match some of their savings as an incentive.
Keep looking for new, fun ways to reinforce positive money habits.

Financial Awareness & Mindfulness Gifts

You can’t build wealth without awareness, and you won’t enjoy it much without mindfulness!

Gift ideas:

A gratitude journal with daily prompts
Investment-themed decor
(bear and bull bookends, Wall Street sign)
Financial posters
(rules of money, financial literacy, global currencies)
Money-themed accessories
(dollar sign keychain or a eat, sleep, invest, repeat t-shirt)

PRO TIP
When you give out mindful-money gifts, relay some of your personal financial stories. Share memorable moments, insights, realizations, or turning points from your own financial journey.

Don’t skip the mistakes!
Sharing failures, mishaps, and growing pains:

sets appropriate expectations about the ups and downs (literally and figuratively) they might encounter along the way
debunks harmful financial myths that can keep people from thinking wealth is an available option to them at their age, or in their income bracket
makes finance seem more relevant and relatable

Stories are powerful!
They can provide the kind of motivation that will inspire your loved ones to start building wealth today, rather than putting it off until a tomorrow that may never come.

Wrap Up the Presents that Won’t Stop Giving!

By offering friends and family the gift of financial wellness, you’re not just helping them save, invest, or stick to their budget – you’re also helping them gain confidence and level up their money skills, while providing (current and future) peace of mind.

You’re handing loved ones the ability to:

make informed decisions
handle emergencies
stress less
make their dreams a reality
break the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle
open new options and opportunities
increase stability and flexibility
take steps toward financial independence

This (and every) holiday season, you have a chance to pass out presents that will pay dividends — and continue to do so long after the decorations have been taken down.

Skip the fad, forgettable, and generic gifts. Instead, offer something that could be truly life changing!

Subscribe for thoughtful notes on money, meaning, and designing a life that’s uniquely you — delivered straight to your inbox.