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| | An original and creative Christmas gift idea.....involves U.S. Savings Bonds....
I was at the bank purchasing savings bonds for the kids for Christmas presents....the teller ask me did I want I bonds or EE bonds...?
A $50 I bond costs $50 , and can be cashed in at any time for $50.
A $50 EE bond costs $25 and takes seventeen years to "Mature." 17 years until it is worth $50.00
I nearly fainted when they said 17 years !!
(Not a great investment...)
Anyway, I was thinking about buying the kids one of the $25 EE bonds.
The teller gives you a cool looking, patriotic looking gift certificate at the bank...to fill out and put in a gift box for Christmas.
The Savings Bond arrives in a couple of weeks from the Federal reserve bank with the kids name on it, etc.
I was thinking it would be cool to buy one of the $25 seventeen year bonds. I'd tape it onto a legal pad size sheet of paper. Then , I'd write on each line
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
all the way up to 2020..
And, I'd tell the recipient of the bond that during the last week of each year, he/she had to write one single thing that happened that year that impacted his life the most.
Then, put the bond and legal sheet back in the plastic envelope and notebook for another year. (Back on the shelf with the photo albums.)
I think this could be a real eye-opener and also educational.
Besides, the things that happen TO us - - over a 17 year period;
THINGS that impact our lives positively or adversely;
I'd also want to know
"WHAT did you (the recipient) DO this year that WILL HAVE a positive impact on your life and future?"
What do you all think of my idea ?? I think it needs some tweaking, but I don't know what yet....
Any comments-suggestions....?
Any other original and/or easy gift-giving ideas ??
I like this one....a trip to the bank....take it home, put it in a box and wrap it up ... !!
Search Tags None  | | | No. 1 |
Dec 17, 2003, 10:30 PM
I think this sounds like an awesome idea!
| | No. 2 |
Jan 04, 2004, 03:26 AM
I started this idea. Since that time, there's been a kid birthday, and I bought another savings bond. The bank's gift certificate is pretty and it is handy, cause, you can write a nice note on it, words of encouragement for the future, e.g., I wrote about following her dreams, and staying "ahead of the curve."
Little lessons about preparing for her future.
I went over to STAPLES and purchased a 3-ring notebook with
$100 bills (fake) all over the cover. Then, bought plastic covers to put inside the notebook. The actual bonds have arrived. They look real cool. Anyway, I am going put all the $ gift certificates in the notebook.
For the boys, I'm going to tape theirs on 8x10 sports paper and then place them in the binder.
This is an inexpensive yet instructional gift.
As the kids get older, I may enlist other family members to
do the savings bond thing.
| | No. 3 |
Jan 04, 2004, 02:31 PM
My dad bought me a bond every payday since I was 5 yrs..paid for college which I started when I was 24.. | | No. 4 |
Jan 04, 2004, 03:18 PM
Wouldn't it be interesting to read what you would have written over a 20 year period- - - of what happened each year that impacted your life the most?
Some people live dynamic lives - - others, more conservative and comfortable. Perceptions of family dynamics and events are
roadmaps for the rest of our lives.
You were fortunate. And, what a wonderful daddy !
Just imagine how many times he might have been tempted to use that money for a different- instant gratification type of purpose.
But he stayed focused and disciplined - - on his top priority - - YOU !
| | No. 5 |
Jan 04, 2004, 03:49 PM
Re: An original and creative Christmas gift idea.....involves U.S. Savings Bonds....
[quote] Originally posted by passing thru
[b]
A $50 I bond costs $50 , and can be cashed in at any time for $50.
Actually, the I and EE bonds must be kept for 12 months. That's according to www.treasurydirect.com, which is a pretty cool way to buy bonds, online--no paper. That's how I buy them, but I like passing thru's idea, too.
| | No. 6 |
Jan 04, 2004, 03:55 PM
You're right, Ang.
They told me about the online at the bank...., but, like $$$,
I want to see it, hold it in my hot little hand, count it, "stack 'em up !" etc . LOL
For kids, I like for them to have something they can actually see, with their name on it...their SS #, address, and the $$$ amount.
AND, the bonds are pretty and distinguished looking.
I think they feel more like they have a "gift" that way.
Online is good, works great for stocks...
| | No. 7 |
Jan 04, 2004, 05:19 PM
I had a huge stack of them when I cashed them in...I had several "E" bonds that were almost as old as I was, most were EE..my dad said it was a pretty painless way of saving..out of sight out of mind kind of thing.
I bought my children educational roth IRAs in mutual funds. If they use them for higher education no one has to pay tax on the interest. When I bought them a few yrs back you could put 500 a year in them but it had to be in a lump sum..I think that has changed now tho..guess I should look into it and get back into putting the $$ away. 500.00 lump was hard to do...then of course there is the market (don't get me started on how much I have lost..it is recovering slowly)...Erin
| | No. 8 |
Jan 04, 2004, 08:37 PM
My grandma just starting buying the ee bonds for the little ones in our family. She is going to buy all that she'll need for my son at one time then give him one each birthday and Christmas. This way he'll get them over time, but will be able to cash them in all at once.
Noney
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