Bob Ditty’s Weblog

Ok, so here it is.  It’s was early December and I was asked by my parents the standard  pre-Christmas question – “What do you want for Christmas”. We do the “pick a name, give a gift” standard gift exchange.  Well, I was supposed to come up with my “list” asap so that they could pick from the list.  We had a limit of $50.  Well, I pondered for days as to what I would want to receive as a gift.  I didn’t want to get the gift  of something that I “needed” such as a grocery store gift certificate, socks, or new underwear (0k, too much info but you know what I mean).  I wanted a GIFT – something I didn’t need but wanted.  Something that was fun.  I opted to ask for a toy - a remote control helicopter.  I thought, you know, I might as well have fun.  Well, we had our gift exchange and that is what I received.  Trust me, I’m not complaining at all as I’m a kid at heart and love playing with toys.

Now to the inlaws.  I had an idea of what I was going to get from them as we get it every year.  They are very generous and give us $100 every year. Most years I have an exact idea of what I want to spend it on and am shopping online on Christmas day!  This year was different.  I was faced with the same exact question that I had in early December – “What do I want for Christmas?”

 Since I had a good idea that I was going to receive this money, I have pondered this question for a week or two.  What do I want to spend this money on?  Again, I don’t want to spend it on anything that I just “need” as it then doesn’t seem like a gift.  Again, I wanted something fun. 

Then it struck me driving into work the day after Christmas!  I wanted something FUN!   Why don’t I make a game of this $100 and see how much money I can make from it.  For a whole year I will buy/sell or do anything I can with that $100 and see how much I will have at Christmas time 2008.  I get two gifts this way.  One is the gift of enjoyment of playing this game. That in itself could be worth it.   Secondly, I can then buy someting or give something more next year at Christmas season!

Please feel free and post any comments with suggestions on ideas for “investments”.  Wish me luck!