Blogging for Change

Baby shower gift is paying off

by Kim McGrigg on
9/11/2008
in Budgeting and Building Savings

One of my coworkers is having a baby shower next week (Congratulations, CV!) Planning for the event makes me think back to my own baby shower days. Friends and family gave us a lot of wonderful, useful baby supplies; however, there was one gift that really stood out.

Starting on the day of my baby’s shower, my grandparents started buying him one share of stock (K) for every family occasion. This includes his birthday, my birthday, my husband’s birthday, our anniversary, and Christmas.

This type of one-off investing is made possible by Direct Purchase Programs that allow companies to sell shares directly to investors. A partial list of companies offering Direct Purchase Programs can be found at DRIP Central. Or, if you don’t want to go it alone, there are privately held companies that specialize in helping people give the gift of real stock ownership.

While it may not be exciting for my son to continually receive the same piece of paper as gifts, I can assure you that he will appreciate it in the long run. I know I do. As the years go by, it is amazing to see how small investments over time can really add up. I also appreciate the fact that these gifts do not add to our already overwhelming piles of “stuff.” And, while I am sure there are those who think the money could be better invested, I believe that my son is learning a valuable lesson about the importance of saving.

Of course, it is important to remember that investing in stock carries an element of risk. For a more detailed analysis of your options for this type of investing, read MSN’s article titled Invest One Drip at a Time.

Kim McGrigg is the former Manager of Community and Media Relations for MMI.

Recommended Articles

Man sitting in front of pile of bills, trying to understand his options.
Professional Budget Advice
Make the most of every dollar and start building toward your dreams! Budget counseling is FREE and available 24/7.
Learn More
Learn more
  • Better Business Bureau A+ rating Better Business Bureau
    MMI is proud to have achieved an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), a nonprofit organization focused on promoting and improving marketplace trust. The BBB investigates charges of fraud against both consumers and businesses, sets standards for truthfulness in advertising, and evaluates the trustworthiness of businesses and charities, providing a score from A+ (highest) to F (lowest).
  • Financial Counseling Association of America Financial Counseling Association of America
    MMI is a proud member of the Financial Counseling Association of America (FCAA), a national association representing financial counseling companies that provide consumer credit counseling, housing counseling, student loan counseling, bankruptcy counseling, debt management, and various financial education services.
  • Trustpilot Trustpilot
    MMI is rated as “Excellent” (4.9/5) by reviewers on Trustpilot, a global, online consumer review platform dedicated to openness and transparency. Since 2007, Trustpilot has received over 116 million customer reviews for nearly 500,000 different websites and businesses. See what others are saying about the work we do.
  • Department of Housing and Urban Development - Equal Housing Opportunity Department of Housing and Urban Development
    MMI is certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide consumer housing counseling. The mission of HUD is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD provides support services directly and through approved, local agencies like MMI.
  • Council on Accreditation Council On Accreditation
    MMI is proudly accredited by the Council on Accreditation (COA), an international, independent, nonprofit, human service accrediting organization. COA’s thorough, peer-reviewed accreditation process is designed to ensure that organizations like MMI are providing the highest standard of service and support for clients and employees alike.
  • National Foundation for Credit Counseling National Foundation for Credit Counseling
    MMI is a longstanding member of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling® (NFCC®), the nation’s largest nonprofit financial counseling organization. Founded in 1951, the NFCC’s mission is to promote financially responsible behavior and help member organizations like MMI deliver the highest-quality financial education and counseling services.