The most wonderful (and expensive) time of the year
The holidays are known for being the most wonderful time of the year, but it can also be a scary time for your bank account — between gifts, parties, and entertaining things can get pretty tight. This year, try these alternative gift ideas that cost next to nothing but will be priceless to your loved ones.
1. The gift of time ⏳
This holiday, offer your presence — instead of presents — to your loved ones. The gift of time is more valuable than (almost) anything wrapped in shiny holiday paper. You can even make the gift formal by giving the recipient a handmade certificate for a specific date you would like to spend together.
2. A special experience
When most people think about gifting an experience, they think concert tickets or possibly a paid vacation, but an experience doesn’t have to be so extravagant. Try offering that special person a long walk through their favorite park, a trip to a local cafe, or a chance to watch the sunset together. The conversation is more important than the destination.
3. Tell-me-all notebook ?
If you want to preserve cherished memories with family and friends, a Tell-me-all notebook is the perfect gift idea. All you need is a blank notebook — it can be as cheap or as lavish as you would like. Then, fill every third page with one question for your loved one (i.e., Where was your first home? Who was your first crush?). Encourage the gift recipient to include as much detail as possible, and preserve the notebook for generations to come.
4. Read-this-when kit
Do you have kids that are headed off to college? Or an old friend that’s moving away? Gift them a Read-this-when kit. The kit should include between 10-20 handwritten letters that explain to your loved one how to handle a specific life event or situation. Enclose each note into an envelope and then label the envelopes with when they should be read. Some ideas for these letters are: Read this when … you feel lonely, when you think you’re in love, when you’re homesick. Put the bundle of letters into a decorative box and top it off with a bow.
5. A special playlist ?
Making a playlist may sound old-school (like when you sent your crush a burned CD with their favorite love songs), but the sentiment still holds true. Today, making a playlist is even easier with modern technology. You can use apps like Spotify or Amazon Music to build a playlist with meaningful songs you would like to share with your loved one, and easily send it through email, text, or social media.
Bonus: The gift of financial health and happiness
Your loved ones want to see you happy and healthy more than anything, and one way to accomplish that is by eliminating financial stress from your life. MoneyLion helps you manage your finances effortlessly by offering a Zero-Fee Checking℠ account with 0% APR Instacash℠ cash advances, a Managed Investment account, 5.99% APR Credit Builder Plus Loans℠*, free credit monitoring, and more. Think of all the money you’ll save with zero fees. Come check it out in the MoneyLion app, or learn more at moneylion.com.
Disclosures
MoneyLion Checking Account provided by, and MoneyLion Visa® Debit Card issued by, Lincoln Savings Bank, Member FDIC. Terms and conditions apply.
Cash advance requires current membership and MoneyLion Checking Account. All Credit Builder Plus members are automatically eligible to access up to $50 of cash advance. Cash advance limit can be increased to up to $250 by setting up direct deposit into MoneyLion Checking and after two or more consecutive direct deposits have cleared, or at MoneyLion’s discretion. MoneyLion Checking Account provided by Lincoln Savings Bank, member FDIC. Terms and Conditions Apply. See Membership Agreement and Cash Advance FAQs for more information.
Investment advisory services provided by ML Wealth, LLC. Investment Accounts Are Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • Investments May Lose Value. For important information and disclaimers relating to the MoneyLion Investment Account, see Investment Account FAQs and FORM ADV. Broker-Dealer may charge a $0.25 withdrawal fee, among other fees. Funded accounts are subject to administrative fee of $1 per quarter.
Current Credit Builder Plus membership required for Credit Builder Plus loan eligibility; the $19.99 monthly fee will be withdrawn from your linked bank account. All loans with an Annual Percentage Rate of 5.99% are made by either exempt or state-licensed subsidiaries of MoneyLion Inc. The Credit Builder Plus loan may, at lender’s discretion, require a portion of the loan proceeds to be deposited into a reserve account managed by ML Wealth, LLC and held by Drivewealth LLC, member SIPC and FINRA. The funds in this account will be placed into DARXX, a Dreyfus Securities Cash Management vehicle, and may generate interest at prevailing market rates. You will not be able to access the portion of your loan proceeds held in the credit reserve account until you have paid off your loan, and so long as your Credit Builder Plus membership payments are current. If you default on your loan, your credit reserve account may be liquidated by the lender to partially or fully satisfy your outstanding indebtedness. May not be available in all states.
Credit Reserve Accounts Are Not FDIC Insured • No Bank Guarantee • Investments May Lose Value. For important information and disclaimers relating to the MoneyLion Credit Reserve Account, see Investment Account FAQs and FORM ADV.
