Gift cards are great for those cousins / relatives who seem to have everything they could possibly need / want... A big one is teens since they are constantly changing there minds on whats cool and hip. I'll give them gift cards and there much happier with that then with a gift that was so last year, or something they would have to stand in line at the busy return counter to return. Plus an added benefit is the sales pop up right after Christmas and they can get more band for the buck!
I just now had a chance to read this. Great one, Julie. My husband and I did the pirate thing last year. It is indeed a very cheap costume. Love the additional link resources as well.
I am a giver of gift cards mainly because I usually can't think of the perfect gift. On occasion I will find something that is just right for a particular person but that is a rareity. Reading the comments previously written, many people are stating that gift cards are impersonal and that they feel slighted by the giver for not having put effort or thought into the gift. I think it depends on where the gift card is from. I am usually a practical gift giver because that's normally what I like to receive. If I can't use it for something, the item has much less value to me. My husband has tried to teach me that a gift can be special if it is a luxury or treat. Something you wouldn't normally do for yourself. My favorites are Starbucks & Victoria Secret. Even though I love the overpriced cappucinos at Starbucks I can't in good conscious pay $5 for a cup of coffee. However if someone has given me a gift card--well....
I think you can put just as much effort into a gift card as the item itself.
Gift Cards are great...nobody knows what I want better than me, give me the means to get it. My only complaint is make sure you use non restaurant cards, favs are Amazon and Home Depot/Lowes
I think gift cards are great for teachers and other such recipients to whom you want to express your appreciation for your services but you don't know them well enough to pick out something personal, but cash is too tacky.
For others, if I don't know what to give them (such as teenage relatives) I will just gift them some cash. I would only give someone I know personally a gift card if it was for something I knew they loved: a specific bookstore; a massage; their favorite restaurant; etc.
I second the other recommendations for Digsby. It, unlike Pidgin, also works with Facebook chat, which is the main reason I switched to it from Pidgin.
Gift cards are a good idea if any of the following apply:
- The person in question likes shopping. You are essentially giving them a shopping trip.
- The recipient is unemployed or in financial distress. In this case, gift cards are a GREAT idea.
- You know of a really great store that the person in question would like, and you're pretty sure he/she doesn't yet know about it. It's fun to visit a new store and have money to spend that isn't yours.
- The recipient is saving for a large purchase, and your gift card can be put towards it.
Otherwise, they are at best too much of an easy out, and at worst, just thoughtless. My father really dislikes shopping and often had unused gift cards after the holidays until we agreed to spend his gift cards on his behalf. This is just a waste.
As a teacher who has received many "teacher presents" I love gift cards, especially for bookstores, Amazon.com and Starbucks! So much better than a mug! :)
First of all, i think it is so funny that the giveaway is for a gift certificate. too funny. Now that that is out of the way, There is nothing more thoughtful than a gift card. less clutter for my house, less hassle for buyer- perfect for folks who live far away- saves on shipping!! I think they can be thoughtless but that isn't always the case. I get and give giftcards even on anniversaries. My music loving husband always as things he wants to buy at iTunes or Amazon. They aren't given as thoughtless gifts or received as such when they truly reflect the receiver's goals and interests.
but you need to know your recipient.
I don't give gift cards to my mother in law, for example. She has everything so sentimental items like jewelry are appropriate for her but my nephew, who loves iTunes get Apple gift cards and is happy to be able to choose his own music, books, etc.
There are also unique gift cards, like your local sports team. It's more convenient to buy a gift card for a ballgame than to choose a date and buy a ticket for someone else.
My way of thinking is you should be greatful for any gift no matter what it is. If I buy you a gift card, I took the time to choose the vendor and purhase it. If you didn't like the gift I would have chosen otherwise, I saved you the time of returning it. You will probably get more value out the giftcard because if I bought you an item I would have gotten it on sale, so I'm spending more money on you this way. I've given you options: you can buy several small items, put the card toward a larger item, save it until the item you want is on sale so you get more value from the card. There are some instances when gift cards are inappropriate (such as an anniversary gift to a spouse), but for the most part they are a great gift.
I agree with you that sometimes one may spend more money than originally intended when seeking for deals. However, I've found that the time I put into looking for them really does save me money even after factoring in the time.
When it comes to grocery shopping, I put in about 2 hours of deal searching/reading flyers/ getting coupons together every two weeks and I end up saving enough to make the time worth it. When you go to a grocery store and purchase $100 dollars worth of groceries (and yes, they are things we use), for only $25-35 dollars, I consider that time well spent.
Assuming you know the person you are giving a gift to that should be the determining factor, for some it makes sense for other… maybe not. Giving my brother a gift card it perfect, he can use it and doesn’t have to move it. Just don’t give me one (unless the alternative is something I don’t want or need), I treat it like cash and therefore have a very hard time spending it. If and when I do- it’s most likely on a “practical” item. If I like you I would much rather spend time together and DO something together. That way I don't have more 'stuff' do deal with to a holiday or birthday.
I give gift cards to family that live far away & I happen to know for sure that they shop at the store the card is issued for. This lets them get what they really want, cuts out returns (if I gave something they really didn't want), and saves on shipping a large gift across the states. I also have a few friends that wouldn't use a gift card for years, and it would probably expire before use, so I give an actual gift to them.
I think that, as with gifts, it's best for a gift card to reflect the likes and interests of the person receiving the gift as opposed to the giver imposing his/her likes and interests on the receiver (trust me, my parents did the latter for many years).
My teen-aged nieces love to receive Barnes and Noble gift cards because they can pick out the books that they want to read, whereas if I gave them Discover Store gift cards, they would likely not get used (or the gift that was purchased would languish).
When a cousin was going through a tough time medically, financially, and emotionally, I sent her an e-gift certificate for Amazon.com with a couple of suggestions for items that I thought might be helpful and a request that she get a little something for her young son. I don't think that gift was perceived as lacking thought or care.
I always enjoy getting gift cards, but I know that sometimes people would rather get a gift. It depends on the person and what they want. If I can't afford to purchase their whole gift but want to chip in toward something they really want, a gift card is a great way to go. Also, if I want to send a gift to someone out of state, I like gift cards because I don't have to worry about budgeting for shipping as part of the price of the gift.
Almost all of our family and friends are not local. We don't travel to them (who can afford 7 plane tickets?), and they don't travel to us, so gift cards are the perfect no-stress gift to mail. And I appreciate them in return. I have one or two relatives who still prefer to send cash (checks), and while that's nice it does usually go to bills. At least a gift card I know I'll get something out of it, even if it's stuff for the house - I consider a well-stocked cleaning closet a gift in and of itself. No extra shipping costs, no lines at the post office or UPS/FedEx store, no finding a perfect-sized box and filling material, no early deadlines. I'm all about reducing stress in December.
Some people are so difficult to buy for... but you just can't beat the personal touch of a well-chosen gift.
It may sound greedy, but I was actually disappointed when we got cash for our wedding gifts. My husband's family spread the word that we were looking for cash gifts (don't know where they got that idea), and we didn't have a single gift to open after the reception. I view milestone ocassions as a great chance to show how much you know and appreciate the person - and you don't have to spend a lot of money to make your feelings known.
A $20 bill or gift card just doesn't express the same amount of affection. If you don't know the person well enough to pick out something they'll really like, you probably shouldn't be exchanging "gifts" or gift cards with them.
I think gift cards are acceptable in many cases. I don't want my wife or mother-in-law buying tools or electronics for me. In those two categories I am fairly particular about my needs and wants. eg. Crescent wrenches -- they're as likely to give me a set of metric generic brand ones as imperial unit craftsman (either of which may be fine, but I don't need metric units at the moment).
They're also useful when someone wants to contribute towards a larger goal. My MIL gave me a $150 BestBuy certificate for my birthday last year, which was to be applied towards getting a Wii. She knew I wanted a Wii, but didn't want to spend that much on me.
On the other hand, if I gave my wife a gift card for our anniversary, there had better be a darn good reason. It might fly if it's a gift card for a spa treatment or something...
Gift cards are great for people you don't know very well - there are all these occasions when I'm buying for a coworker who is leaving/getting married/having a baby, or for someone my partner is related to, etc. They're about exactly as personal as choosing something off a gift registry, and a lot less work.
But it's infuriating when someone who is supposed to know and love you does the gift-card thing - it's just like, yeah, I couldn't bother to put any time or thought into this so here. I would rather just not get a gift.
Gift cards are great for those cousins / relatives who seem to have everything they could possibly need / want... A big one is teens since they are constantly changing there minds on whats cool and hip. I'll give them gift cards and there much happier with that then with a gift that was so last year, or something they would have to stand in line at the busy return counter to return. Plus an added benefit is the sales pop up right after Christmas and they can get more band for the buck!
I just now had a chance to read this. Great one, Julie. My husband and I did the pirate thing last year. It is indeed a very cheap costume. Love the additional link resources as well.
You can also follow me on Twitter and Trek Hound.
I am a giver of gift cards mainly because I usually can't think of the perfect gift. On occasion I will find something that is just right for a particular person but that is a rareity. Reading the comments previously written, many people are stating that gift cards are impersonal and that they feel slighted by the giver for not having put effort or thought into the gift. I think it depends on where the gift card is from. I am usually a practical gift giver because that's normally what I like to receive. If I can't use it for something, the item has much less value to me. My husband has tried to teach me that a gift can be special if it is a luxury or treat. Something you wouldn't normally do for yourself. My favorites are Starbucks & Victoria Secret. Even though I love the overpriced cappucinos at Starbucks I can't in good conscious pay $5 for a cup of coffee. However if someone has given me a gift card--well....
I think you can put just as much effort into a gift card as the item itself.
Gift Cards are great...nobody knows what I want better than me, give me the means to get it. My only complaint is make sure you use non restaurant cards, favs are Amazon and Home Depot/Lowes
I think gift cards are great for teachers and other such recipients to whom you want to express your appreciation for your services but you don't know them well enough to pick out something personal, but cash is too tacky.
For others, if I don't know what to give them (such as teenage relatives) I will just gift them some cash. I would only give someone I know personally a gift card if it was for something I knew they loved: a specific bookstore; a massage; their favorite restaurant; etc.
I hate gift cards. They are just more pieces of plastic that go right into the landfill after one use. Just give cash!
I second the other recommendations for Digsby. It, unlike Pidgin, also works with Facebook chat, which is the main reason I switched to it from Pidgin.
Gift cards are a good idea if any of the following apply:
- The person in question likes shopping. You are essentially giving them a shopping trip.
- The recipient is unemployed or in financial distress. In this case, gift cards are a GREAT idea.
- You know of a really great store that the person in question would like, and you're pretty sure he/she doesn't yet know about it. It's fun to visit a new store and have money to spend that isn't yours.
- The recipient is saving for a large purchase, and your gift card can be put towards it.
Otherwise, they are at best too much of an easy out, and at worst, just thoughtless. My father really dislikes shopping and often had unused gift cards after the holidays until we agreed to spend his gift cards on his behalf. This is just a waste.
As a teacher who has received many "teacher presents" I love gift cards, especially for bookstores, Amazon.com and Starbucks! So much better than a mug! :)
First of all, i think it is so funny that the giveaway is for a gift certificate. too funny. Now that that is out of the way, There is nothing more thoughtful than a gift card. less clutter for my house, less hassle for buyer- perfect for folks who live far away- saves on shipping!! I think they can be thoughtless but that isn't always the case. I get and give giftcards even on anniversaries. My music loving husband always as things he wants to buy at iTunes or Amazon. They aren't given as thoughtless gifts or received as such when they truly reflect the receiver's goals and interests.
Not for your spouse (that would be a cop out) but otherwise it is still a nice gift.
but you need to know your recipient.
I don't give gift cards to my mother in law, for example. She has everything so sentimental items like jewelry are appropriate for her but my nephew, who loves iTunes get Apple gift cards and is happy to be able to choose his own music, books, etc.
There are also unique gift cards, like your local sports team. It's more convenient to buy a gift card for a ballgame than to choose a date and buy a ticket for someone else.
My way of thinking is you should be greatful for any gift no matter what it is. If I buy you a gift card, I took the time to choose the vendor and purhase it. If you didn't like the gift I would have chosen otherwise, I saved you the time of returning it. You will probably get more value out the giftcard because if I bought you an item I would have gotten it on sale, so I'm spending more money on you this way. I've given you options: you can buy several small items, put the card toward a larger item, save it until the item you want is on sale so you get more value from the card. There are some instances when gift cards are inappropriate (such as an anniversary gift to a spouse), but for the most part they are a great gift.
I agree with you that sometimes one may spend more money than originally intended when seeking for deals. However, I've found that the time I put into looking for them really does save me money even after factoring in the time.
When it comes to grocery shopping, I put in about 2 hours of deal searching/reading flyers/ getting coupons together every two weeks and I end up saving enough to make the time worth it. When you go to a grocery store and purchase $100 dollars worth of groceries (and yes, they are things we use), for only $25-35 dollars, I consider that time well spent.
Assuming you know the person you are giving a gift to that should be the determining factor, for some it makes sense for other… maybe not. Giving my brother a gift card it perfect, he can use it and doesn’t have to move it. Just don’t give me one (unless the alternative is something I don’t want or need), I treat it like cash and therefore have a very hard time spending it. If and when I do- it’s most likely on a “practical” item. If I like you I would much rather spend time together and DO something together. That way I don't have more 'stuff' do deal with to a holiday or birthday.
I give gift cards to family that live far away & I happen to know for sure that they shop at the store the card is issued for. This lets them get what they really want, cuts out returns (if I gave something they really didn't want), and saves on shipping a large gift across the states. I also have a few friends that wouldn't use a gift card for years, and it would probably expire before use, so I give an actual gift to them.
I think that, as with gifts, it's best for a gift card to reflect the likes and interests of the person receiving the gift as opposed to the giver imposing his/her likes and interests on the receiver (trust me, my parents did the latter for many years).
My teen-aged nieces love to receive Barnes and Noble gift cards because they can pick out the books that they want to read, whereas if I gave them Discover Store gift cards, they would likely not get used (or the gift that was purchased would languish).
When a cousin was going through a tough time medically, financially, and emotionally, I sent her an e-gift certificate for Amazon.com with a couple of suggestions for items that I thought might be helpful and a request that she get a little something for her young son. I don't think that gift was perceived as lacking thought or care.
I always enjoy getting gift cards, but I know that sometimes people would rather get a gift. It depends on the person and what they want. If I can't afford to purchase their whole gift but want to chip in toward something they really want, a gift card is a great way to go. Also, if I want to send a gift to someone out of state, I like gift cards because I don't have to worry about budgeting for shipping as part of the price of the gift.
Almost all of our family and friends are not local. We don't travel to them (who can afford 7 plane tickets?), and they don't travel to us, so gift cards are the perfect no-stress gift to mail. And I appreciate them in return. I have one or two relatives who still prefer to send cash (checks), and while that's nice it does usually go to bills. At least a gift card I know I'll get something out of it, even if it's stuff for the house - I consider a well-stocked cleaning closet a gift in and of itself. No extra shipping costs, no lines at the post office or UPS/FedEx store, no finding a perfect-sized box and filling material, no early deadlines. I'm all about reducing stress in December.
Some people are so difficult to buy for... but you just can't beat the personal touch of a well-chosen gift.
It may sound greedy, but I was actually disappointed when we got cash for our wedding gifts. My husband's family spread the word that we were looking for cash gifts (don't know where they got that idea), and we didn't have a single gift to open after the reception. I view milestone ocassions as a great chance to show how much you know and appreciate the person - and you don't have to spend a lot of money to make your feelings known.
A $20 bill or gift card just doesn't express the same amount of affection. If you don't know the person well enough to pick out something they'll really like, you probably shouldn't be exchanging "gifts" or gift cards with them.
How do I find one of these for $49.00 as stated in the ad?
It just launched a few days ago, but it's gotten a lot of great coverage in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, etc.
Go to Ask.com, click on Deal$, then you can either search for something specific or browse the categories.
Worth checking out!
Honestly, gift cards are the gifts that give TWICE--first when you recieve it and second when you use it. They are my favorites!
Thanks,
Jill
Jill's recent post: My Funny Valentine.
I think gift cards are acceptable in many cases. I don't want my wife or mother-in-law buying tools or electronics for me. In those two categories I am fairly particular about my needs and wants. eg. Crescent wrenches -- they're as likely to give me a set of metric generic brand ones as imperial unit craftsman (either of which may be fine, but I don't need metric units at the moment).
They're also useful when someone wants to contribute towards a larger goal. My MIL gave me a $150 BestBuy certificate for my birthday last year, which was to be applied towards getting a Wii. She knew I wanted a Wii, but didn't want to spend that much on me.
On the other hand, if I gave my wife a gift card for our anniversary, there had better be a darn good reason. It might fly if it's a gift card for a spa treatment or something...
Gift cards are great for people you don't know very well - there are all these occasions when I'm buying for a coworker who is leaving/getting married/having a baby, or for someone my partner is related to, etc. They're about exactly as personal as choosing something off a gift registry, and a lot less work.
But it's infuriating when someone who is supposed to know and love you does the gift-card thing - it's just like, yeah, I couldn't bother to put any time or thought into this so here. I would rather just not get a gift.