PHOTO update! :D … Announcing pregnancy, due in 2013. Gift suggestions?

LochNESS

My wife and I are expecting our first-born on April 11, 2013. I'd like to start the kid off right, but undecided on what to buy and when to order and where from... I'm mostly a darksider and have never purchased directly from the US Mint.

Suggestions??? Bonds? ASE? WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

Thanks

MsMorrisine

Bonds?

Are you a bond maven who can pick high-yield corp? If not scratch that off.



darkside gold bullion might be nice, just watch out for those loaded 10oz bars, or any bar.



congrats. it's a life changer.

ambro51

AAPL shares

secondrepublic

How about something dated exactly a century earlier, from 1913 -- a $5 or $10 Indian gold ? There's nothing currently being minted which is anywhere near as cool as classic gold, IMHO.

nibanny

Congrats!!!
Next year will be the year of the snake, cool animal.
For my two sons I have built a set each of 5 coins in gold and silver from the Lunar Series II of the Perth Mint. One Tiger and one Dragon.
MM

TwoSides2aCoin

Silver might be a good idea. For example: a 2013 Silver Eagle. It's speculative, but on the other hand, a set of coins from 1913 would be much appreciated when the child is older. (Century older than the birth year)

We have the penny (Lincoln) , nickel (Buffalo, unless you have a certain V nickel) , dime, quarter and half (Barber/Liberty Head) in silver. Then there are a couple of gold pieces that would really top off the gift giving.

My 3rd grandchild is due. I'm thinking about getting a "walker".

Barndog

gold is the best choice, IMO.

RYK

529 plan-start early

djcnonlinear

<< <i>529 plan-start early >>






My parents bought an ounce of gold and ten ounces of silver every year on my birthday since 1975. Originally Krugerrands and/or bars, but gold and silver U.S. eagles since their introduction. Now, at 37 (as of this past Friday)and returning to college, it may be time to cash out... gotta tell you, investment strategies aside, 37 ounces of gold and 370 ounces of silver make tuition demands a little less painful. Parental foresight is a good thing.

And, congratulations to you and the wife.

MsMorrisine

<< <i>Congrats!!!
Next year will be the year of the snake, cool animal.
For my two sons I have built a set each of 5 coins in gold and silver from the Lunar Series II of the Perth Mint. One Tiger and one Dragon.
>>




if you go this route, make sure which side of the Chinese New Year you are on.

keyman64

Congrats!

crypto79

Congrats and get ready for a long exhausting ride.



<< <i>529 plan-start early >>



The 529 advice while sound really depends on what state you live in and the propensity in your bloodline for academic achievement. Depending on your states tax laws and public university system, a 529 plan can be quite limiting to the child and lose most of it financial benefits if one doesn't fall in line with it's often rigid rules for compliance. I would back track the advice to be a little more general to simply be a child savings shelter to include bonds (or long term investment vehicle of choice) pre-birth moving to a carefully chosen IRA or Trust after birth (and issuance of SSN#) depending on the means of the parents/extended family.

RYK

<< <i>Congrats and get ready for a long exhausting ride.



<< <i>529 plan-start early >>



The 529 advice while sound really depends on what state you live in and the propensity in your bloodline for academic achievement. Depending on your states tax laws and public university system, a 529 plan can be quite limiting to the child and lose most of it financial benefits if one doesn't fall in line with it's often rigid rules for compliance. I would back track the advice to be a little more general to simply be a child savings shelter to include bonds (or long term investment vehicle of choice) pre-birth moving to a carefully chosen IRA or Trust after birth (and issuance of SSN#) depending on the means of the parents/extended family. >>


Agree with all of the above. That said, the unborn child is statistically more likely to be a college student than a coin collector.

Broadstruck

Congrats... If it's a lil girl are you naming her Nessie

TwoSides2aCoin

Congratulations, too. And speaking of taxes.... There is sales tax on diapers in my state but a greater tax on the parent who has to change them.

mrearlygold

How about a Whole Life life insurance policy for $__________ ( fill in the blank ) that will be paid up before they actually get it when they turn adult?

LindeDad

The Star Spangled Banner gold is still on sale mark it from the start.

pursuitofliberty

Congratulations to you and the wife ... hopefully everything goes as smooth as that baby's butt is likely to be

My first born was an April 10 baby ... he's 24 now, so that was a while ago!


If I had to do it over again, I would do a few things different, but my older two kids were quite happy that the savings bonds (even if those were a terrible long-term investment, return wise) and small investments were there. I'm sure the youngest will be too when his time comes (soon).

I'd say mix it up, but stay the course if you can, adding on each Birthday and/or Christmas. Some PM's, a few shares of a good (or several) solid producer(s) paying reasonable dividends on a drip, a mutual fund or two maybe, maybe even some savings bonds.

Just as an idea, since we are a PM/coin lot, how cool would it be to buy a 1/10th oz AGE for each B-day and Christmas, so that you always bought a current year, and always bought a different prior year. They make some capital year set holders for these. When he/she is 18, the set would be almost complete, and there'd be 3.5 oz of gold there (on their birthday). Modest, but probably doable for most of us here. The same could be done with ASE's, or maybe larger fractionals. This could be a part of it.

LochNESS

Thank you all for the mazel, and the great ideas! So what is the best timeline for ordering from the US Mint? I plan to visit their website but based on your experience, when is the best time to place an order? Or do you buy elsewhere?

Barry

I am in the 529 camp. Bonds are a BAD idea, especially with the recent QE infinity, which lead to inflation and depress the price of your bonds. Long term, stocks have always performed better. And unless you're in a high tax state, where it's beneficial to stick with a 529 plan in that state, you can get one from anywhere and still grow fed. tax-free.

lcoopie

most things that you buy from the mint are doomed to monetary loss IMO

SaorAlba

<< <i>

congrats. it's a life changer. >>



Sure is, might could just end up saying bye bye to collecting for awhile like many of us did at least for a bit of time.

mkman123

wow your fortunate as many live paycheck to paycheck and can barely save for themselves or their children!

LochNESS

<< <i>Congrats... If it's a lil girl are you naming her Nessie >>


Hehe right now the nickname is Sweet Pea, as in the Popeye cartoon. Although now it's the size of a lime.

LindeDad

<< <i>most things that you buy from the mint are doomed to monetary loss IMO >>



The one I posted above sold for double the orginal cost and I had to go back and get another one.

MsMorrisine

<< <i>

<< <i>most things that you buy from the mint are doomed to monetary loss IMO >>



The one I posted above sold for double the orginal cost and I had to go back and get another one.
>>




graded or ungraded?



I'm still in the bullion camp

erwindoc

Id go with a grouping of US mint items-mint set, proof set, silver proof set and ASE. I got stuff like that when I was born and its always fun to get it out and look through it. Might throw in some Canada or Mexico stuff for the year to spice it up!

Congrats on the news!

coinaphrase

Congratulations!

My recommendation is to buy them a coin that is appealing to you in order to mark the occassion. Put it away for them and then you could add one special coin each birthday and as they get older, choose the coin together with them. Hopefully this will spark an interest in collecting that the two of you can share for many years.

Then, more importantly, commit to starting their college fund and contributing to it regularily (preferably monthly) over the next 18 years!

That should get them well on their way to paying for college. Invest it in such a manner that it stays in your control if they choose not to go to college. No sense handing $xx,000 dollars to an eighteen year old that does not have good plans for it.

Sonorandesertrat

<< <i>How about something dated exactly a century earlier, from 1913 -- a $5 or $10 Indian gold ? There's nothing currently being minted which is anywhere near as cool as classic gold, IMHO. >>

DeepCoin

I would recommend buying an 1813 Half Dollar if you can afford one. Put 2K into that coin and when your child graduates you will have done very well. And if the budget is a concern, a nice Proof SAE from next year would be a good way to commemorate the birth without breaking the bank. It may not have great growth potential, but it will always be beautiful and remind you of the day.

lkeigwin

I would buy the NY Times on the day he/she is born and put the rest of the money into Pampers.
Lance.

Spooly

I have 529's in a Revocable Trust for my two sons. Buy Gold and Silver

golden

<< <i>most things that you buy from the mint are doomed to monetary loss IMO >>

AUandAG

Most kids start out at about 7 pounds or so....just buy his/her weight in silver and that
would be a great start.

bob

PS: that's about $3,600 worth of silver. Keep it fun and add their weight gain every year!

Nysoto

Congrats! A little gold, a little silver, and a lot of US savings bonds with tax free interest for education.

I have been buying US savings bonds for my children for 25 years. Remember, the year 2000 market indexes have not yet been recouped, a 12 year bear market. In the meantime, my daughter begins today her freshman year at the University of Washington. From savings bonds, she will graduate debt free in four years, and dad will not have to sell any of his coins

razzle

Congrats on the pregnancy, best wishes for a healthy child and mother. The problem with buying precious metals is that you and your child won't be able to vote Republican or you will canceling yourself out...

RedTiger

I vote for a coin from 1913. The op has chimed in and is leaning towards a U.S. mint product, if so, there is no hurry. Order a proof silver eagle (or whatever) after the kid is born and healthy.

As far as 529 or other college savings, it can be a mixed blessing. If a family is at or below median income, saving more might lower the odds of any financial aid. That's one reason bullion is a bit better than paper assets for those on the cusp. All paper assets are tracked and must be reported on the forms, and while the honest will report their bullion on the form, the government doesn't have an easy way to track it right now as long as it is sold in small amounts over a period of time. For those who are upper middle class (say $100k or better in annual salary), there is virtually no chance at aid so maybe buy the kid some sports equipment and lessons and hope he/she grows up to be an scholarship athlete. I'm only half joking with this as college might cost $500k to $1 million to get a degree at top private schools by that time.

Invest in what you know. If a family has extra income they are almost surely already investing. A public forum is near the worst place to seek investment advice. Same with the coin, if a collector specializes in dark side material, buy something with a story behind it, perhaps from the year 1913.

LochNESS

<< <i>A public forum is near the worst place to seek investment advice... >>


Many true words, in all the replies, but I had to quote this line. It made me LOL. Particularly because we have a PMs board focused on investing

I think it's interesting how quickly the conversation changed from "what numismatic gift would you buy to mark the occasion" to "what's the best investment strategy." I guess it's my fault for mentioning bonds, which I only did BTW, because I recall getting some as a kid for birthdays and Chanukah. I may have ever asked about investing in the OP, don't recall the exact wording. Thank you all again for your congratulatory remarks, blessings and advice!

My wife and I have been planning this for a while so while saving for college is definitely a concern, my only question right now is which coin(s) to buy. Thanks to your replies, I've got a lot of great ideas

LochNESS

It's a boy! Born Tuesday, April 9th at 7:58 AM. 6 lbs 3 oz.

messydesk

Congratulations!

lkeigwin

Wow! Congratulations. You must be in 7th heaven.

Looks like MS70 to me!
Lance.

AUandAG

90 Troy Ounces! Silver at $30 is $2,700 in baby weight!

bob

MsMorrisine

Golden!

Raybob15239

Congrats!

BloodMan

Congratulations!

LochNESS

Thanks guys! Lance, I agree! MS70 all the way.

Bob, I owe you a phone call. Will ring asap!

BTW, ended up buying some slabbed silver rounds - some Maple Leaves and commems - and two 1 oz gold pieces.

A 1913 American coin is on my want list, but I haven't yet decided which type.

lkeigwin

<< <i>A 1913 American coin is on my want list, but I haven't yet decided which type. >>


A Liberty Head nickel would be apt. I can point you.
Lance.