Give The Gift of Savings This Holiday Season

Your holiday shopping days are numbered, and if you're still stumped, I'm here to make a suggestion: How about giving the gift of savings?

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not a fan of cash gifts, or even gift certificates. I think both are a bit of a cop-out. But I'm actually liking the idea of donating directly to someone's savings or investment efforts, and there are new ways to do that all the time. They're great for teenagers, recent college graduates, or anyone, really, who is working towards a savings goal. And while you're still giving cash, it's more about offering up a little piece of financial security, and in this economic environment, most people can't get enough of that.

Here are a few of the best options: