The Ultimate Gift: Money and Know-How

Forget about the Wii. Never mind the plasma HD. And no, not another DVD.

As you approach the final week of holiday shopping with fresh ideas lacking, I say consider gifts that can make someone special richer down the road.

I'm talking books and education, software and subscriptions.

Stifle that groan, please. There are a number of personal finance-related gifts that demonstrate thought by the giver and might even trigger appreciation from the receiver. Here are just a few suggestions to consider as you finish off your gift-buying list:

Books

Each year, there are hundreds – maybe thousands – of investing and personal finance books published. Many fade from attention quickly, but there are some that deserve to be read for years to come by new generations of investors and consumers. My three favorites listed below remain available in bookstores and online.

Making the Most of Your Money by Newsweek columnist Jane Bryant Quinn helped lead me to where I am today. I read the original edition shortly after its publication in 1991 when I was a young newlywed ignorant of financial affairs. More than anything else, this book is responsible for those financial decisions in life I got right.

At more than 1,000 pages, Making the Most of Your Money can be considered an owner's manual for the financial side of life that can be read in short bites. The book remains a source of timeless advice even though it was last updated 10 years ago and some tax-related information is outdated.