Thus were my thoughts when I recently went about thinking of something to get for a new nephew to celebrate his coming into the world. Having asked around amongst my peers several standard christening gifts were raised, but it was not until I came upon the idea of giving my brother’s new bundle of joy a sterling silver money clip that I decided not all christening gifts would go on to be discarded in some drawer somewhere. Indeed the idea of giving him a money clip seemed to become quite a popular one amongst my friends many of whom I have recently discovered actually own and regularly use a money clip themselves. Far from being an gift outdated item, they appear to be coming back into fashion and mainly for their practical use as well as the obvious ‘looking cool’ element. Of my friends who own money clips most of them use them because they have slim wallets good for carrying nothing but plastic (I have already mentioned the ‘looking cool’) and whilst coins can jangle in trouser pockets there is nothing worse, one of them explained, than having loose notes floating about your person.

Having marveled at the fact that modern trends reflected a degree of practicality as well as mere fashion statements I decided to go ahead and get my nephew a sterling silver money clip engraved with his initials and date of birth (well I wouldn’t want him to give it away would I?) before promptly opting for a 9ct gold money clip for myself.