While the shine tends to wear off presents must faster than we expect, many researchers have
concluded that spending money on experiences rather than stuff can create more meaningful and
lasting happiness. This holiday season, consider putting money towards one of these gifts to
create memories for years to come.
1. Lessons or classes
What’s better than going to your favorite restaurant? Tickets to a local cooking class so that you
can schedule some date nights, learn something, and have some fun together. Rather than adding
to the stack of stuff that represents your kids’ interests, find a class or a teacher who can help
them learn more and grow their skills. Maybe it’s time to move on from YouTube chord
progression videos to a professional guitar teacher. Your in-house gaming addict probably
doesn’t need another game, but he might enjoy a coding class that will help him create his own
and flex those STEM muscles.
2. Gift cards for a day out
Once upon a time, buying gift cards to restaurants and theatres might have said, “I didn’t know
what else to get you.” Post-COVID, those gift cards will be a welcome passport to a night
outside the house. If you’re still worried about making a “last-minute” impression, try to
personalize the gift as much as possible. Think favorite restaurants, favorite cuisines, favorite
plays or musical artists, or an experience you think someone might enjoy but wouldn’t spend
money on themselves. Your gift card could spark a new passion for indoor rock climbing or the
local opera company in a loved one.
3. Charitable giving
It’s never too early to involve your children in good works around the holidays. But as they
approach adulthood and their consciousness of the world around them begins to grow, kids might
value making a positive impact more than a fancy tablet or new clothes. Have a family
conversation about the problems facing your community and the issues that your kids are
passionate about. If your family has a personal connection to a cause, talk about how you can
honor that connection by donating your time and money. And once your kids are out of school
and earning their own paychecks, you might consider working with a OneAscent Wealth advisor
to form a family charitable organization or charitable trust that will sustain your mission in
perpetuity.
4. An extended family vacation
If you really want to go all-out for the holidays, schedule what could be a true once-in-a-lifetime
experience. Get together as many of your loved ones as you can for that trip you’ve all been
talking about taking for years. Coordinating the logistics will be a lot harder than buying your
grandson a new cell phone. But that effort will only make the payoff that much more rewarding.
To plan for these experiences and more, contact a OneAscent Wealth financial advisor today to
financial goals, while ensuring your investments align with your value!