About this time of the year, many of us think we have our shopping done, others haven’t started, but we are likely to all be back in the stores sometime between now and the big gift-giving day.  It is almost too late for Internet/phone orders (unless, of course, you want to purchase some stocks), so you know you will have to return to the stores.  Voltaire told us that “self-love is the instrument of our preservation.” What are you doing for yourself at this point? 

Self-investment can be a form of self-love.  There are many ways to do it in your own portfolio.  Perhaps it is time to give yourself a stock you believe in but might not be recommended by your broker, or a type of investment you always wanted to try, but it didn’t seem right at the time.  Perhaps you could take the $200 you want to spend on a new toy or day at the spa and add a little extra to your Roth IRA this year.  Maybe you know you want to go back to school when you retire to learn a little more about that subject you always wanted to know more about.  So open a 529 plan for yourself, and contribute to it slowly.  You could always change your mind later, and “give” it to someone in your family, or use the money with some penalties. 

Last week I gave to myself by taking a break from writing.  It was an unintended break, I was a day behind in traveling while working, and then was caught up in reunions and Christmas parties between destinations.  All week I had been planning the article about giving to yourself at Christmas time too, little did I know I would act on it.  While it isn’t the type of investment that is generally covered in this section, it was still a gift to myself.  Know that it is okay to do things that others don’t always consider traditional. 

The job market is still not “recovering fully”, many people in high-salaried professions are still out of work.  It is a tough environment for spending money.  So if being around all the merchandise is making you think you “need” things you didn’t know existed last week, perhaps it is time to place your money somewhere you know it will go towards your future.  Merry Christmas!