I love gift cards. It's hard for someone to pick out the right item sometimes. And they work well for people who are far away. No shipping costs! I get them for my mother-in-law, who is on a fixed income. She can use them for stuff she needs, or stuff she wants, depending on how tight her budget is.
Since I work at home, I use my downtime to trawl for freebies and deals. I find that sites like www.graveyardmall.com and the better known www.overstock.com have rock bottom deals - I also find hints here at Wise Bread's deal of the day! (Also on email lists - & buy, at Avon, for ex. when they have sales and offer FREE shipping, etc.)
One area where gift cards are really helpful is in buying media for the recipient; I have no way of knowing which books my mother has installed on her Kindle, or what music my best friend has in his iPod. (Well, not comprehensively). A gift card allows them to expand their media library, in a way that generates no additional physical traces.
Gift cards have the possibility of being a very thoughtful gift. Maybe you live on the lower east side of Manhattan and adore a tiny coffee shop. A gift card will allow you to indulge without feeling like you are wasting money. Ditto for any number of niche establishments.
However, it is far more difficult to make a chain store gift card special. Hearing "Here, because I know you love books" along with a $15 certificate for B&N is the opposite of thoughtful.
I agree. Look for deals only when you've already decided you are going to purchase an item. Otherwise, the temptation to buy something you don't need or want (just because it is on sale) rears its ugly head. We've all been there.
Likewise, the price club type stores tend to encourage similar bad habits in many people. And just because you use something you bought on sale does not mean it cost you less. How many times do you end up eating some food in your cupboard just because it will go to waste if you don't? Did you really want it in the first place? It takes a lot of self-knowledge and discipline to evade the consumerism trap.
I think gift cards can be great gifts, but as with any gift it helps to know your receiver at least somewhat. Cash is nice but it's very easy for it to get rolled into bill-paying money. With a gift card you can let someone know you are thinking of them, and would like to buy something for them at a retailer you think they would like, but they get to pick out the actual gift. I don't see that as thoughtless at all. If you know your recipient really doesn't like to shop or has mobility issues that make it difficult for them to do so, I probably would not go for a gift card. I'd much rather receive a gift card so that I can carefully pick something out, rather than receive a gift that I don't want or need. Even if I "spend" the gift card on a gift for someone else, I would be grateful and consider that a good gift. It took care of a need for me and did not add to my clutter!
It really depends on what the gift card is for. If it's for a store or restaurant that the person loves, then it's a nice idea. But if it's for something really obscure or a store not located nearby, it's rather a waste. Of course, if you're going to give money, it almost might just be better to go with cash or check. Then they can do whatever they want with it - save it, spend it, etc.
I don't mind gift cards, and sometimes I specifically ask for them from friends and family. I am reluctant to buy them for others unless they ask for them, but I do agree that some people are just tough to shop for.
On the other hand, I heard of a service the other day which lets you donate gift cards, which are in turn used to benefit a charity. If I end up with ones I don't want, I may consider it.
I think it depends on who it is for. It could be good for people you don't know very well, as a group gift (so that you can give a larger denomination), or if you know for sure that the person really likes a particular store and wouldn't mind a gift card. I personally love gift cards, but I am picky as to which stores I spend money at, so they are iffy for me.
Just wanted to personally invite you to try thredUP yourself. The pre-paid envelopes you buy right now basically just cover postage and printing, so the service is essentially free to try. I encourage you to use Xin's code and hook her up with free envelopes!
I like gift cards. Only caveat is that the gift card has to be for a merchant that I'm interested in and can use. I don't want a gift card for a shop I never go to or a restaurant I don't like.
I'll give a gift card--usually along with a homemade treat of some kind--as a gift to a friend. And I like getting them myself. Trader Joe's or Barnes and Noble or Amazon are the best for my friends; like me, they use them for little luxury purchases that they wouldn't necessarily make themselves.
I agree with the general opinion that gift cards make great gifts in circumstances where you aren't really sure what other gift to give, but that they aren't the best for gifts for people you are very close to (spouses, etc). And I personally love receiving them as well.
Gift cards are more of a gift to the store than the Person receiving the gift. Most are pure profit as they are not redeemed. From my perspective a gift card is the best way possible to say that I don't care about you, who you are or what you need but for various reasons I am forced to give you a present.
I don't pay full price for anything. I can not see me buying a gift card. I do, however, like getting them if they are visa type or to a store I regularly shop at, Safeway or Amazon maybe. Gift cards are spendthrift purchases I think.
I gave my daughter an itunes gift card once. She had a new ipod and not much music of her own. Now she is pregnant and at her shower if spendthrifts want to get her gift cards to target, where she is registered, I'm sure she will love it. My college student son loves Fred Meyer gift cards because he can get gas, groceries, prepared food, clothes, well like they say " You'll find it at Freddys."
I wouldn't give one to my mother--she finds them impersonal--but my brother understands perfectly that I don't love him the less for giving him the choice. The Internet sort are also great for last-minute presents when someone's far away.
I am picky, so I love getting gift cards. Plus, using a gift card is more efficient in the sense that after-holiday sales are much better than pre-holiday sales, so you can get more for less. I think that if the gift card is to a place that you know a person will enjoy shopping at then it is a thoughtful gift.
Another thing, even if it is just a gas card or gift card to a grocery store, that's money you don't have to spend on these necessities and you can spend on something you truly enjoy. I think that it still provides enjoyment.
A few years ago I discovered a gift certificate that any store accepts; it never expires; its balance never decreases; it is completely transferable; it can be mailed or given in person or over the internet; and it's existed for centuries. And I'd bet 99.9999% of you have at least one of these certificates on you right this very second. Heck, banks have automated machines to dispense these wonderful certificates.
Not only do all stores take them but there are vending machines that take them as well!
And you wouldn't believe me if I told you but people have been killing each other for centuries for them.
They're really cool too as they are usually decorated with famous people and have intricate artwork on them and everyone recognizes them instantly.
I have automatically archived all of the "sale notification" emails for just that reason. If and when I feel like shopping for clothes, electronics, or leather goods, I can search my gmail for the sale email. Otherwise, it's nothing but a temptation to buy that which I don't need.
This is a really great idea. I always have clothes that I hold on to because they are too nice to throw away but I just never wear them. I will be using these sites instead in the future.
I won't turn down a gift card, but I honestly find myself wondering why the person couldn't just give me cash.
Especially with all the strings attached to gift cards and reports of so many stores going out of business, they don't seem like the wisest present this holiday season.
I try to use the deal sites mostly to check for a deal on something we have already decided we need. I do this for grocery coupons also. I see no reason to buy packaged foods or drug store items just because they are on sale or there is a coupon.
One that works well is finding an item we want and then going to check for coupon codes, sales, or other deals we can use to lower the price. We end up buying a good amount of our clothing online due to the stores here having limited offerings. So I have had good luck grabbing coupon codes to get an additional discount or free shipping. Already on sale with a coupon and something you already decided you need uses far less time that just cruising deal sites.
I do check the various deal sites about once a month for free magazine subscriptions. I get about four or five better magazines free for a year. That is worth the small amount of time I spend checking.
I like knowing that a person is really REALLY going to like what I get them, so if I can't find something, I get a gift card for them. I don't think they're tacky. In fact, I rather enjoy them myself. It allows me to buy things for myself that I ordinarily wouldn't spend the money on.
I love gift cards. It's hard for someone to pick out the right item sometimes. And they work well for people who are far away. No shipping costs! I get them for my mother-in-law, who is on a fixed income. She can use them for stuff she needs, or stuff she wants, depending on how tight her budget is.
Since I work at home, I use my downtime to trawl for freebies and deals. I find that sites like www.graveyardmall.com and the better known www.overstock.com have rock bottom deals - I also find hints here at Wise Bread's deal of the day! (Also on email lists - & buy, at Avon, for ex. when they have sales and offer FREE shipping, etc.)
One area where gift cards are really helpful is in buying media for the recipient; I have no way of knowing which books my mother has installed on her Kindle, or what music my best friend has in his iPod. (Well, not comprehensively). A gift card allows them to expand their media library, in a way that generates no additional physical traces.
Gift cards have the possibility of being a very thoughtful gift. Maybe you live on the lower east side of Manhattan and adore a tiny coffee shop. A gift card will allow you to indulge without feeling like you are wasting money. Ditto for any number of niche establishments.
However, it is far more difficult to make a chain store gift card special. Hearing "Here, because I know you love books" along with a $15 certificate for B&N is the opposite of thoughtful.
I agree. Look for deals only when you've already decided you are going to purchase an item. Otherwise, the temptation to buy something you don't need or want (just because it is on sale) rears its ugly head. We've all been there.
Likewise, the price club type stores tend to encourage similar bad habits in many people. And just because you use something you bought on sale does not mean it cost you less. How many times do you end up eating some food in your cupboard just because it will go to waste if you don't? Did you really want it in the first place? It takes a lot of self-knowledge and discipline to evade the consumerism trap.
I think gift cards can be great gifts, but as with any gift it helps to know your receiver at least somewhat. Cash is nice but it's very easy for it to get rolled into bill-paying money. With a gift card you can let someone know you are thinking of them, and would like to buy something for them at a retailer you think they would like, but they get to pick out the actual gift. I don't see that as thoughtless at all. If you know your recipient really doesn't like to shop or has mobility issues that make it difficult for them to do so, I probably would not go for a gift card. I'd much rather receive a gift card so that I can carefully pick something out, rather than receive a gift that I don't want or need. Even if I "spend" the gift card on a gift for someone else, I would be grateful and consider that a good gift. It took care of a need for me and did not add to my clutter!
It really depends on what the gift card is for. If it's for a store or restaurant that the person loves, then it's a nice idea. But if it's for something really obscure or a store not located nearby, it's rather a waste. Of course, if you're going to give money, it almost might just be better to go with cash or check. Then they can do whatever they want with it - save it, spend it, etc.
I don't mind gift cards, and sometimes I specifically ask for them from friends and family. I am reluctant to buy them for others unless they ask for them, but I do agree that some people are just tough to shop for.
On the other hand, I heard of a service the other day which lets you donate gift cards, which are in turn used to benefit a charity. If I end up with ones I don't want, I may consider it.
I think it depends on who it is for. It could be good for people you don't know very well, as a group gift (so that you can give a larger denomination), or if you know for sure that the person really likes a particular store and wouldn't mind a gift card. I personally love gift cards, but I am picky as to which stores I spend money at, so they are iffy for me.
Hey Folks,
Just wanted to personally invite you to try thredUP yourself. The pre-paid envelopes you buy right now basically just cover postage and printing, so the service is essentially free to try. I encourage you to use Xin's code and hook her up with free envelopes!
James@thredup
Giftcards work fine with me and Cash is even better!
I like gift cards. Only caveat is that the gift card has to be for a merchant that I'm interested in and can use. I don't want a gift card for a shop I never go to or a restaurant I don't like.
I'll give a gift card--usually along with a homemade treat of some kind--as a gift to a friend. And I like getting them myself. Trader Joe's or Barnes and Noble or Amazon are the best for my friends; like me, they use them for little luxury purchases that they wouldn't necessarily make themselves.
I agree with the general opinion that gift cards make great gifts in circumstances where you aren't really sure what other gift to give, but that they aren't the best for gifts for people you are very close to (spouses, etc). And I personally love receiving them as well.
Gift cards are more of a gift to the store than the Person receiving the gift. Most are pure profit as they are not redeemed. From my perspective a gift card is the best way possible to say that I don't care about you, who you are or what you need but for various reasons I am forced to give you a present.
You missed out www.posh-swaps.com. It is free to swap, buy and sell clothes.
I don't pay full price for anything. I can not see me buying a gift card. I do, however, like getting them if they are visa type or to a store I regularly shop at, Safeway or Amazon maybe. Gift cards are spendthrift purchases I think.
I gave my daughter an itunes gift card once. She had a new ipod and not much music of her own. Now she is pregnant and at her shower if spendthrifts want to get her gift cards to target, where she is registered, I'm sure she will love it. My college student son loves Fred Meyer gift cards because he can get gas, groceries, prepared food, clothes, well like they say " You'll find it at Freddys."
I wouldn't give one to my mother--she finds them impersonal--but my brother understands perfectly that I don't love him the less for giving him the choice. The Internet sort are also great for last-minute presents when someone's far away.
I am picky, so I love getting gift cards. Plus, using a gift card is more efficient in the sense that after-holiday sales are much better than pre-holiday sales, so you can get more for less. I think that if the gift card is to a place that you know a person will enjoy shopping at then it is a thoughtful gift.
Another thing, even if it is just a gas card or gift card to a grocery store, that's money you don't have to spend on these necessities and you can spend on something you truly enjoy. I think that it still provides enjoyment.
A few years ago I discovered a gift certificate that any store accepts; it never expires; its balance never decreases; it is completely transferable; it can be mailed or given in person or over the internet; and it's existed for centuries. And I'd bet 99.9999% of you have at least one of these certificates on you right this very second. Heck, banks have automated machines to dispense these wonderful certificates.
Not only do all stores take them but there are vending machines that take them as well!
And you wouldn't believe me if I told you but people have been killing each other for centuries for them.
They're really cool too as they are usually decorated with famous people and have intricate artwork on them and everyone recognizes them instantly.
They're brilliant!
I have automatically archived all of the "sale notification" emails for just that reason. If and when I feel like shopping for clothes, electronics, or leather goods, I can search my gmail for the sale email. Otherwise, it's nothing but a temptation to buy that which I don't need.
This is a really great idea. I always have clothes that I hold on to because they are too nice to throw away but I just never wear them. I will be using these sites instead in the future.
I won't turn down a gift card, but I honestly find myself wondering why the person couldn't just give me cash.
Especially with all the strings attached to gift cards and reports of so many stores going out of business, they don't seem like the wisest present this holiday season.
I try to use the deal sites mostly to check for a deal on something we have already decided we need. I do this for grocery coupons also. I see no reason to buy packaged foods or drug store items just because they are on sale or there is a coupon.
One that works well is finding an item we want and then going to check for coupon codes, sales, or other deals we can use to lower the price. We end up buying a good amount of our clothing online due to the stores here having limited offerings. So I have had good luck grabbing coupon codes to get an additional discount or free shipping. Already on sale with a coupon and something you already decided you need uses far less time that just cruising deal sites.
I do check the various deal sites about once a month for free magazine subscriptions. I get about four or five better magazines free for a year. That is worth the small amount of time I spend checking.
I like knowing that a person is really REALLY going to like what I get them, so if I can't find something, I get a gift card for them. I don't think they're tacky. In fact, I rather enjoy them myself. It allows me to buy things for myself that I ordinarily wouldn't spend the money on.