When a new baby arrives, families are often showered with love and support – and a mountain of gifts. Tiny babygrows, soft toys, picture books and more comforters than you ever thought possible seem to appear overnight. It’s an incredible show of care, but it can also feel overwhelming. As parents, we’re deeply grateful for every gesture, but the truth is, most gifts are outgrown or unused within weeks.
The Problem with Too Many Presents
Parenting is a whirlwind. Alongside learning to care for a newborn, there’s the daily juggle: keeping the house tidy, making sure bottles are sterilised, snatching sleep when you can, and writing thank-you notes for the ever-growing pile of presents. It’s a lot to manage.
And there’s another side to all this generosity: waste. Did you know the average UK 10-year-old owns 238 toys but regularly plays with just 12? Or that over 8.5 million toys are thrown away each year? As thoughtful as these presents are, many end up unused or in landfill.
At Mia, we believe it’s time to normalise a different kind of giving – one that’s just as loving, but far more lasting.
What if Every Birthday Helped Build Their Future?
Imagine a new tradition. Instead of more toys, five family members each decide to give your child £20 for every birthday. That’s £100 each year, going straight into your child’s investment pot.
Now, let’s see what happens if that money grows at the average 10-year annualised return of the MSCI World Index (8% per year, net of inflation). By the time your child turns 18, those birthday gifts could have quietly grown into around £3,745. And if they choose to leave it invested until they’re 60, it could become more than £94,000!
Isn’t it incredible that a few small, regular gifts from loved ones could quietly build into one of the most powerful financial assets your child ever receives?
Investing puts your capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you put in. MSCI World investment return source. Past performance is not indicative of future results. These amounts are before fees are deducted. If the return was lower at 5%, by 18 it would have turned into £2,813 and by 60 it would have turned into £21,833.
How I’m Doing This for My Twins
For all future birthdays, I’ve gently asked family and close friends to contribute to my girl’s Mia pots instead of buying more things. Of course, they’ll still receive a few gifts to open and enjoy in the moment – they are precious memories, too. But now, each birthday also helps build something even more meaningful: a pot they can use for university, a first home, or whatever dreams they’re chasing.
How Mia Makes This Easier
Mia was created to make this idea feel doable. Parents and loved ones can contribute directly into a child’s investment account. You can invite family and friends to download the app (for free), so they can track progress and see the impact their gift is having on your child’s future.
Even better, every message shared alongside a gift is stored in your child’s Memory Vault – a digital treasure chest of voice, video, or text memories, unlocked when your child turns 18. It’s not just about investing money, but also investing in memories that will last a lifetime.
A Few Quick Tips for Making the Shift
If you’d like to try this approach in your own family, here are a few ideas to help make the transition smooth and positive:
- Let people know you’re trying something different: A gentle heads-up helps friends and family understand your new tradition.
- Share why this kind of gift matters to your family: Explain how investing for your child’s future is a gift that grows with them, and how much you appreciate their support.
Use the message I sent for my girl’s birthday in a whatsapp group as an example:
Many of you have kindly asked about gifts, please know we’re not expecting anything at all but if you did wish to give a gift, we’re of course very grateful for your generosity. We’ll always treasure thoughtful physical gifts but we’ll also be sharing a link to their Mia account for those who might prefer to contribute in a different way – one that can grow over time and one day help the girls step into their very first home. You can also download the Mia app for free and track your contributions and see your impact on their future house deposit! Lily & Rose will unlock their Memory Vault at 18 and see all of your lovely messages along the way and know you helped them secure their first home! Thank you!
Investing puts your capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you put in. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you, it’s best to speak to a qualified financial adviser. When money is invested into a JISA, it is the child’s money and accessible by them when they turn 18.
Mia Wealth Limited (Mia Wealth) is an appointed representative of RiskSave Technologies Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 775330). Mia Wealth is a company registered in England and Wales (No. 15818371). Mia Wealth can be found on the Financial Conduct Authority Financial Services register under FRN 1033918. Our address is Fairbourne Drive, Atterbury Lakes, Milton Keynes, England, MK10 9RG.
