21st birthday present

[chimichangaz]

My son is 21 this week, and I've bought him some small gifts (board game, t-shirt, photo canvas). I have about £300 which I thought I might invest for him. For his 18th I invested some money in a S & S ISA (Nutmeg); I thought this time I might go a bit riskier...thinking about something like crypto...or then again play it a bit safer with another ISA.

Any suggestions or ideas gladly welcomed!

Bumping - any ideas?

I'd give it to my child to invest

It's hardly worth investing £300, just give him the cash!

I agree that £300 isn't 'worth' investing for the returns, but it could be worth it to form a habit. It feels a bit patronising to say that though, so it might not be the tone you're after for a birthday!

Either way, there is no way on earth I'd do crypto for him. It's so close to gambling that I'd feel queezy at encouraging someone else to do it.

If he wants a flutter, fine. But I wouldn't prompt it.

Just how much of a return has the money invested for the 18th made? Hardly seems worth investing £300.

So to answer a couple of points:

The money invested for his 18th last time I checked had increased by 47% (£500 initial investment up to £747 - but it was invested when stocks had hit rock bottom)

Having had a couple of conversations with him about gambling I agree I don't want to encourage that at all.

No it's not 'worth' investing £300, unless as a pp said it starts a habit. And that's what I want to happen.

I'll have a think about alternatives. He's had loads of cash for his birthday from family and friends, I'd rather he had 'something' than cash!

If you are going to go for crypto, go for bitcoin.

Bitcoin is the safest crypto, if bitcoin failed every other crypto is dead in the water. Its still highly risky. If you keep it for over 5 years however its almost certain to be worth more fiat than now, because of the emissions schedule which halves every 4 years.

Coinbase is a good place to buy, but store on a non-custodial wallet like Trezor or Ledger