Christmas is upon us, and while there's a good chance you're the type of person who leaves buying presents for family and loved ones until the last minute (what else is Christmas Eve for if not for a bit of tipsy shopping, right?), the likelihood is that those buying presents for you are a little bit more organised.
Which is why you really need to start dropping hints NOW about what you might be pleased (and pleasantly surprised) to receive on Christmas Day. Sod unwrapping yet another pair of slippers, it's time to take action.
Here then, is our Christmas Gift Guide for Traders (or for the trader in your life...)
Trader Coffee Table Book
The Pit
Whether you're a trading veteran yearning for the days of yore, or a new kid on the block intrigued after watching Trading Places for the 15th time, this 88-page photographic portrait of the Chicago Trading Floor is the perfect coffee table book to have on display in your office or trading desk at home.
Buy it here thepitchicago.com
Motivational Trading Poster
Quotatium trading philosophy poster
If the trend really is your friend, then make sure you don't forget that (or any other trading philosophy you follow) by ensuring it's firmly in your line of sight every minute of the day you're sat at your trading desk, by turning it into a framed poster. Quotatium have transformed a number of popular trading phrases into posters, mugs, phone cases, mousepads and even clothing.
Check them out here quotatium.com
Design Your Own Poster
Design your own motivational poster
Like the idea of having a trading-inspired poster but not sure on the choices provided by Quotatium? Well with Canva.com you can design your own. So why not go with one of the many quotes featured on TraderLife! Check out our quotes section here and take your pick!
Check out Canva here canva.com
The Trading Book
Principles, by Ray Dalio
This entry won't come as a shock to any used to visiting TraderLife given how much we've championed it since its release. An extended version of a 2011 essay, the book is a summary of the philosophy that the great Ray Dalio says has brought him success as the head of Bridgewater Associates, now the largest hedge fund in the world.
A fusion of the professional and the personal, it’s “instructive and surprisingly moving” says the New York Times. Trading-specific points include Dalio’s view that “to make money in the markets, one needs to be an independent thinker who bets against the consensus”.
Buy Principles from Amazon here
Epic Trading Screen
Samsung 49" CHG90 QLED Gaming Monitor
If there's one common trait among traders, it's that they can never have enough trading screens, right? So here's something along a similar theme, if a little more out there. The Samsung CHG90 QLED Gaming Monitor is a whopping 49-inch super ultra-wide 32:9 curved screen designed to completely fill your field of view, meaning that with the right set-up you'll be able to - shock - REDUCE the amount of screens you require while still enjoying the most effective trading experience.
Buy the Samsung Monitor from Amazon here
Triple Monitor Screen Desk Mount
VonHaus Triple Screen Mount
Ok, so if you're a little more traditional in your trading screen tastes (or simply don't want to shell out over a grand on one), then loading up on screens is the next best thing. Which entails getting your hands on a reliable screen mount to ensure you can place your screens within the optimum sight lines. This, from VonHaus, does the job.
Buy the VonHaus Triple Monitor Screen mount at Amazon here.
Philips Hue Lightbulbs
Voice activated lights
If your office or trading space at home boasts an Amazon Alexa or Dot, then why not make the most of it with these dimming smart bulbs by Phillips, which can be switched on or off (or simply dimmed) via voice activation or through your phone.
Buy Phillips Hue Lightbults from Amazon here
Fashion subscription
Want the latest clothes but can never find the time (or the inclination) to go out shopping? Well that's where a subscription to Dappad (dappad.com) comes in, a personal styling service for men that takes just 3 minutes to join, after which they deliver hand picked, perfectly coordinated outfits directly to your door. And knitwear from Dappad is included in our Christmas Competition, which you can enter below!
Shaving subscription
Similar to the fashion subscription above, the shaving pros at Cornerstone send German-engineered razors & British-blended skincare products direct to your door as often as your shaving needs require it. They're also part of our Christmas competition (enter here!) while you can read some of the great guest posts they've written for us at TraderLife below...
5 Shaving Mistakes You’re Probably Making Right Now and How To Fix Them
Processing Power
Nvidia GEFORCE GTX
If your multi-screen trading requires the quickest and most powerful kit going (or if you've decided to give crypto mining a go), then they don't get pack much more horsepower than in NVIDIA's new flagship gaming GPU (graphics processing unit) It's 4k, allows 5 screens per card, is VR ready and also comes with more than enough USB slots for any plugins you could want. So whether you're trading, mining or gaming, this is the pick of the bunch - just make sure your computer can handle it before you buy!
Find out more about the Nvidia GEFORCE GTX at nvidia.com
Wireless Mouse
G602 Gaming Mouse
Sticking with powerful computer kit, this wireless mouse isn't going to be suitable or even required for all traders, but for those who prefer to have more instant control under your right palm, this G602 Gaming Mouse is the nuts. With battery life of up to 250 hours and 11 programmable controls, you can set up one-button triggers for actions that typically require digging into menus.
Find out more about the G602 Gaming Mouse at logitechg.com
The New Blackberry
BlackBerry KEYone
If it's time for a new phone then you could do a lot worse than get involved in Blackberry's new KEYone. The company may have struggled in recent years but for those who prefer to reliability and familiarity of a qwerty keyboard they remain the go-to brand for business. Dispelling previous criticisms by providing access to over a million apps on Google Play, the fully Android phone also comes with BlackBerry Security Software, two cameras and a scratch-resistant display.
Find out more about the BlackBerry KEYone here.
Amazon TV
Amazon Fire TV Stick
If you're yet to get involved with the handful of streaming tv services on offer these days, then what are you waiting for? From iPlayer to Netflix and Amazon Video, the quality of TV has never been better and the ability to be able to watch it when you want has become the norm. This Amazon Fire TV Stick provides easy access to all mainstream streaming apps, and even has the option to control it via Alexa voice recognition (as with the lights above).
Mini Drone
DJI Spark mini drone
Drones are (thankfully) no longer seen as simply a tool of war, with camera crews and hobbyists having ensured that this product now has mass market appeal. And if you've ever fancies giving it a go but the £1000+ costs have proved somewhat prohibitive, then this DJI Spark mini drone comes in at half that but still comes with 2mk transmission distance, 50 km/h top speed and a 12mp camera.
Find out more about the Spark Mini Drone at store.dji.com
Temperature-regulating mug
Ember Ceramic Mug
Sure, $80 may seem a little steep for what is, on the face of it, a mere coffee mug. But look closer and you'll realise this is probably the greatest coffee mug ever invented. For it is designed to keep the coffee contained in it as hot as you like it, as long as you need it to be. Never again will the markets distracting you mean the first sip from your coffee be the most tepid and lukewarm nonsense ever to touch your tongue. No sir, not now the Ember mug is here to keep 10 ounces of coffee at whatever temperature you want, preset by you using the accompanying app.
Find out more about the Ember Ceramic Mug here
F1 Driving Experience
Earlier in the year we were fortunate enough to be invited down to the Lets Race F1 Simulator in Horley near Gatwick Airport, and it's fair to say we had a blast. In addition to the driving experiences, the same arena provides golf simulators too. Perfect for a trading team day out. Check out our full review below!
Find out more about the F1 Simulator at letsrace.co.uk
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