Cheap but meaningful stuff in London?
November 23, 2008 8:11 AM Subscribe
A friend of mine just got his first paycheck (£20) and he wants to get a small keepsake instead of just pissing it away.
He's already got a Swiss Army knife, so any recommendations on a small tchotke he can get for about twenty quid? FWIW, he's in London, and has pretty much the widest range of interest ever, so go crazy.
Best answer: Frame the paycheck as a memento. It might not mean much now, but it will be a good memento and conversation piece when he is established in his career and it's hanging in his office.
posted by Andy's Gross Wart at 8:45 AM on November 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Andy's Gross Wart at 8:45 AM on November 23, 2008 [1 favorite]
Get a gold coin.
posted by watercarrier at 8:46 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by watercarrier at 8:46 AM on November 23, 2008
He could buy pint glasses or a drink shaker to remember to throw more parties at home and drink at the pub less. Otoh, I'd say any such items should be purchased from a £1 store, for similar reasons, so maybe he should just visit the local pound stores & see what's available?
posted by jeffburdges at 8:47 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by jeffburdges at 8:47 AM on November 23, 2008
Silver or titanium chip-fork, a lighter or a pair of cufflinks.
posted by Iteki at 8:52 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by Iteki at 8:52 AM on November 23, 2008
I'd also go with a coin. He couldn't get much of a gold coin, if any, but a vintage coin (maybe from his year of birth) would be sweet. Or, a bunch of pound coins or notes from his year of birth which he can eventually pass on to kids and grandkids?
posted by Pennyblack at 9:00 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by Pennyblack at 9:00 AM on November 23, 2008
He could consider something useful for something he's interested in, and that will last well. For example, if he's into cooking he could get a pretty good knife for £20 that would last for years. Or if he's of a more practical bent, a nice set of ball-end hex keys.
It may just be me, but I tend to put trinket type things away 'safely' and forget about them. I can tell you where my kitchen knife is, and where by hex key set is. The miniature calligraphy set my cousin brought back from Japan as a gift, not so much.
posted by Mike1024 at 9:03 AM on November 23, 2008
It may just be me, but I tend to put trinket type things away 'safely' and forget about them. I can tell you where my kitchen knife is, and where by hex key set is. The miniature calligraphy set my cousin brought back from Japan as a gift, not so much.
posted by Mike1024 at 9:03 AM on November 23, 2008
A compass would be functional as well as carry with it the symbolism of charting a new course and finding his own path.
posted by des at 9:17 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by des at 9:17 AM on November 23, 2008
Seconding Andy's Gross Wart, I say frame it. I had direct deposit for my first paycheck and I've always regretted not having something I could frame (the pay-stub we got instead just wasn't the same).
posted by Charlie Brown at 9:27 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by Charlie Brown at 9:27 AM on November 23, 2008
I bought myself a watch for my first anniversary at my job and I really like having it. It's my first "adult-looking" watch (ie not digital, not made of plastic, not featuring Dr Seuss characters or a calculator) so I thought it was appropriate. Don't know how much watch you could buy for 20 pounds - but it's worth thinking about.
posted by crinklebat at 11:13 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by crinklebat at 11:13 AM on November 23, 2008
Simple wooden flute. If his interests are that wide ranging that they include a little music making.
posted by amtho at 11:19 AM on November 23, 2008
posted by amtho at 11:19 AM on November 23, 2008
Maybe he could get a bottle of port, and save it for the day he retires.
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:17 PM on November 23, 2008
posted by showbiz_liz at 12:17 PM on November 23, 2008
With my very first "serious paycheck" I went out and bought a set of socket wrenches. My mother scoffed saying something like, " couldn't wait to spend it, huh?" About a zillion oil changes and God knows how many other odd jobs later, it's probably the best investment I've ever made.
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 12:30 PM on November 23, 2008
posted by Kid Charlemagne at 12:30 PM on November 23, 2008
step one: hold up paycheck, have buddy take picture
step two: open savings account
step three: put future checks in said savings account
step four: profit!!
posted by silkygreenbelly at 1:42 PM on November 23, 2008
step two: open savings account
step three: put future checks in said savings account
step four: profit!!
posted by silkygreenbelly at 1:42 PM on November 23, 2008
A lighter.
posted by stresstwig at 3:52 PM on November 23, 2008
posted by stresstwig at 3:52 PM on November 23, 2008
Ooh, yes, branching out from Kid Charlemagne's comment: a cool multi-tool; either a Gerber or a Leatherman's tool. Très useful.
posted by amtho at 9:14 PM on November 23, 2008
posted by amtho at 9:14 PM on November 23, 2008
£20?!?!??
Save it up with next weeks pay packet and buy a weekly tube ticket :-)
posted by lamby at 5:28 AM on November 24, 2008
Save it up with next weeks pay packet and buy a weekly tube ticket :-)
posted by lamby at 5:28 AM on November 24, 2008
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posted by lizzicide at 8:25 AM on November 23, 2008