Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with gift and money

A coin for each year

oxford blue — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 07:49:09 -0800

A coin a year, but the mint isn't sweet. I would like to gift my special friend with a coin from each year she was born until now. That is, from 1986 to 2009.

The problem? I cannot find an Australian coin that has been minted contiguously, going via this list. I am Australian, and live in Sydney, if that helps in anyway.

What's the best way to go about this? I guess I'll obviously have to pick and match. For most years there's at least one or two different combinations minted, but for 1986 the only coin minted was the 'peace' $1, which might be hard to find.

Would this work? Or am I just being crazy and should I find another thing to do? I have already mentioned this to her, so it might be nice to follow through.

Is there anything I've missed or am just not thinking of? I know you can buy coins, but because I am somewhat poor, I would prefer not to go this route, but maybe can spend a little if there is no other way.

Thanks for any help!

Everyone wants to give the money to the other person - what is fair?

true — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 06:32:17 -0800

14 years ago I was given a baby grand piano for Christmas, where it lived at my mother's house until now. She recently remodeled and sold it (with my full agreement) since I have no room for it and interstate moving would cost as much as a new piano. She wants to give me the proceeds since it was my present, but I think we should at least split it since it was a really expensive gift and it has remained at her house. What do you think? Both parties could make good use of the money but neither one really needs it more than the other. Everyone is amicable here and we'd like to here what other people think, so please favorite any answers you like.

How to report tax info I don't have?

daisyace — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 13:48:20 -0800

What date acquired and cost basis should I put for two items reported on a 1099-B, when there are several unknowns? I have this on a 1099-B:
10/26/07.......Avaya cash merger at $17.50 per.......quant:16.......box 2: $280.00
4/5/07..........LSI corp cash in lieu............................................box 2: $7.94

These companies came from Lucent, which my grandmother gave me years ago, before she died, and I don't know what to put for date acquired and for cost basis.

For date acquired:
- 1947 is when my grandmother's husband bought att, which both of the above eventually came from.
- 1958 is when my grandmother's husband died. I don't know whether he gave Grandma att before he died, or whether she inherited it.
- Roughly late 90's is when Grandma gave me Lucent, which had come from att.
- 12/1/06 is the date that Avaya spun off Lucent.
- 10/26/07 and 4/5/07 are the dates of the reported events on the 1099-B.

For cost basis, I know that the basis of a gift is the giver's basis. But I
don't know:
- what Grandma or her husband's basis was, and which of those is relevant.
- what percent of the investment that had that basis they gave to me.
- what percent of what they gave me became the two companies in question.

If it matters, my mom thinks that when I was given Lucent, it was worth
about $25 per share, and $9500 all together. Now, all the parts taken together are worth much, much less.

I know that, to be safest, I could treat the entire $287.94 as capital gains even though they may actually be losses. This would cost me $75 in Federal tax, I'm not sure how much in state tax, plus the value of whatever loss I could have written off against other gains. I could try to find a tax advisor to help, but I suspect that would cost more than I'd save (plus, at this time of year, it would be a challenge to find one). I've tried the IRS help line and the investment firm where these are now held, but I reached dead ends because of the information I'm missing.

One Hundred Dollars

doorsfan — Wed, 09 Apr 2008 12:11:32 -0800

When I was a kid I could buy the world for $20 but now with $100 I can’t get crap. What can I buy for $100 that’s fun? $100 leftover over in b-day money and no clue how to blow it.

Ground rules:
I don’t want CDs or DVDs
I already have GH2 and 3 and Rockband
I’d rather not spend on clothes
I just bought tools

I just want something fun – some gadget or gizmo or toy that I would not normally buy for myself for a $100.

What camera to buy with $1,000?

bicyclefish — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 11:12:22 -0800

I have unexpectedly been given $1,000 for a digital camera. What should I buy? A removed member of my extended family, who I never met, died and left some money. Her son decided that I should get $1,000 - towards, he said, the DSLR I've been thinking about for years. Usually I save, but I think it would bring both him and me happiness to get the damn thing.

So: what should I do with $1,000? (I'm willing to top that amount up if need be.)

I'm an avid, though untrained, photographer. I tend to photograph both people in indoor and low-light situations, and urban and natural landscapes. From time to time, I take a pretty good picture.

I do well with cheap cameras, but better with good ones. I adored the ancient Konika SLR I had until I left it in the back seat of a cab in Africa. I've burned through a number of pocket digitals of varying quality over the years since. I'd like to make a lasting investment now, in a camera that can grow with me.

I'm partial to Canons. By default, I've been looking at the Rebel Xsi or 40D. But I'm open to suggestion! What do you think?

Creative ways to give coins as a gift

acoutu — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:25:06 -0800

What are some creative ways to give rolled coins as a gift? I'm planning to give my grandma rolled coins as a gift. She now lives in an apartment with coin-op laundry. She finds it troublesome and expensive to scrape together coins. I'd like to give her rolled coins as a gift. What are some inventive ways to present the money? It's okay if the solution involves some unrolled coins, too, but I don't want this to be messy for her. Bonus points for a solution that helps her store or sort the coins. It's also okay to involve other items, although I don't want to spend too much on anything else.

Her interests include TV, reading and crocheting. She's in her 80s and has a good sense of humour. She is overwhelmed with gifts of soap and bath stuff and she'd probably crack up if the rolled coin gift somehow looked like it was going to be more (dreaded) bath items. She's got six kids and 13 grandkids (and about a dozen great-grandkids), most of whom are of modest means, so you can imagine how many gifts of bubble bath and what-not she gets. Thanks.

How much money do I give for a wedding gift?

TheManticore — Mon, 31 Jul 2006 10:15:30 -0800

I've been invited to the wedding of the daughter of some casual friends. I live in the US now but most of the weddings I've been to were when I lived in the UK. I'm not sure what an appropriate amount is for a money wedding gift. I've heard it should be equal to or greater than the amount per head the family is paying for the reception. How accurate is this? It seems to me if that's the case, the wedding is less of a celebration than a business transaction. Anyway, I'm afraid of giving an inappropriate amount. Advice please!

What would you do if $730 (US) fell into your lap unexpectedly?

vraxoin — Mon, 15 Dec 2003 10:59:55 -0800

What would you do if $730 (US) fell into your lap unexpectedly? I want to surprise my wife with something really cool and unexpected, but my creativity is on its annual holiday vacation.