this post was submitted on 24 Dec 2025
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So i went to a focus group purely to provide feedback, now i have a 75 dollar giftcard which i have to select and withdraw but im not sure what to put the money towards? my older brother also got one. Yes i live with parents so most of my living needs are already covered.

What would be the smart thing to do here? what would you suggest and why so?

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[–] specialseaweed@sh.itjust.works 3 points 19 hours ago (1 children)

The absolute best use is opening a Vanguard account, putting $75 in VOO, and forgetting you did it for about 20 or 30 years. Even better, put a $10 in there every month as well.

For a gift for myself when I'm not strapped for cash, I use gift cards and cash for something I would never buy myself. It just feels like it makes a bigger impact that way. I remember it.

If going the charity route, go to your nearest unhoused shelter and ask what they need. I volunteer at one that is hanging on by a thread (no real funding other than a small grant from the county, it's just volunteers). Sometimes donations aren't hitting everything we need and something has run out. Hot chocolate packets and cup of noodles are so valuable (easily transportable, usable, stable, and withstand outdoor weather) that we were giving out handfuls yesterday instead of our typical limit of 1 per person per day. It's wild how important those little things are.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 2 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

To do the math;

$75 x 25 years at (a conservative) 5% = ~$253

@7% it’s over $400.

Probably not worth your time to wait 25 years for that.

However,

$10/mo at 7% is much more interesting: $8,200

And $10/week: $34,500

Over 25 years this isn’t huge, but it’s *something.”

I used a very conservative % because past gains do not guarantee future performance, and one should not put all their eggs on one basket…But VOO over 30 years averaged 10%, so $10/week with $75 start @ 10% for 25 years is just under $55,000. Double it to $20/wk and you've got $108,000.

IDK what’s in store for the world, but for now, people should invest early and regularly. If it all goes to shit even money under the mattress won’t help, so go for the % IMO.

[–] specialseaweed@sh.itjust.works 2 points 18 hours ago

Yea, it would be more about starting a habit that would result in future security. In a perfect world, it starts here with $75 and a tenner every month, then they start putting in $20, then they ramp it up as they're able.

[–] snausagesinablanket@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)
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[–] Brkdncr@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

75 isn’t a whole lot. If you don’t have a financial management tool yet, you should put it towards that.

Look for something with no fees. I believe Sofi has no fees and might not have a minimum amount. Their app is also really easy to use.

A local credit union is also a good choice since you can physically talk to a person when you have questions.

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[–] Tollana1234567@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago

if your into coffee, a cheap carafe or french press is really good. depends what you want to use it on?

[–] howrar@lemmy.ca 1 points 21 hours ago

Can you use that gift card anywhere? If yes, then first convert it to cash. Your parents may be covering all your expenses, but they still need to buy groceries. The next time they do, ask them to use your gift card and give you the equivalent amount in cash. Now you have more flexibility to do whatever you want with that cash. Buy something nice, save/invest, etc. You have plenty of advice from others on this already.

[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 1 points 19 hours ago

Do you have to spend it right now? You could just wait until you need the money and spend it then.

[–] msokiovt@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Better to wait a year or two for the current cycle to hit it's low. Or just DCA.

[–] msokiovt@lemmy.today 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] Jackhammer_Joe@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] msokiovt@lemmy.today 2 points 1 day ago

Dollar Cost Averaging, where you invest a fixed amount on a regular basis, regardless of the value for something.

Get some meth and a cheap hooker and have a party.

[–] myfunnyaccountname@lemmy.zip 0 points 1 day ago
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