'A canny bit of gift recycling…' blog discussion

Former_MSE_Helen

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's "A canny bit of gift recycling…" Blog.

Please click 'post reply' to discuss below.

jamesd

That could have been good long term financial planing but you didn't provide past and current valuations, so we can't work out a return on investment figure for this investment. When working out the value do note that this is a physical asset so storage and insurance costs must be allowed for in working out the profit and loss.

Were you to have obtained the signature of any celebrities or any similar documentation it's possible that the value would be significantly enhanced. For that particular market I'm unsure whether pristine or used would offer the greatest value.

It's my view that Justin made canny investment moves in getting you to pay the majority of the storage costs and simultaneously increase the value via your patronage.

I recommend that all participants here consider following his example and provide you with "next stop 50" t-shirts. For diversification, a little investigation into the the MSE spouse market potential may be of value. There may be some potential for an alternative range of investments with shorter terms in the form of "Under 40", "Under 45", "Under 50" denominations. The ultra-short Under-40s are probably the best choice in the current circumstance.

These are high risk investments with no FSCS protection. A maximum of 5% of your investable money should be invested and you should not invest more than you are able to lose. There are significant potential tax benefits because these are surely classed as wasting assets and hence not liable for CGT. Like many other potential benefits of placing investments under the control of a third party you do need to remember that you will no longer own the investment once you have transferred ownership and there is no guarantee that it will be returned to you on demand, or ever.

oldvicar

A canny investment so far, but the bubble is about to burst.

Justin may now keep the shirt in perpetuity, but its value will plummet to zero as soon as he hits 40 next year.

He will however be able to recover some residual value if he has another still younger friend he can gift it to. But that will be a final disposal, with no more opportunities to 'rinse and repeat' or for 'sweating the asset'.

oldvicar

HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY TODAY MARTIN.

JimmyTheWig

So Martin, did Justin get some fabric paint and return the t-shirt with the 40 replaced with 50?

Arthog

My friend and I may have saved even more. She sent a birthday card to me in 1979, with a blank noughts and crosses game inside, and a printed suggestion to '' send the card backwards and forwards until one of us wins''. We did that and have carried on sending the card to each other every year since! It is getting a bit threadbare now. Saving about £70 so far?

roaminn

A close friend of ours who was turning '40' had a camera bought for him by his BEST FRIEND. However, the first photo on the camera was the said best friends bare, hairy bottom.

So, as revenge or 'returning' the gift - for the said BEST FRIENDS birthday, the photo of his bare, hairy bottom was enlarged, signed by all of us close friends and framed.

It was then ceremoniously presented to him at his 40th birthday party - in front of his whole family. He too got to keep the final result.