Am I being tacky???

[hemispheredancer]

When family members ask me what DD wants for Christmas I want to tell them a Visa gift card. See, she is saving $$ to pay her way to go to Discovery Cove in March. It is $270. She needs roughly $200 to meet her goal. There isn't much else that she wants (that we aren't already planning on buying). I would much rather her get the gift card than cash since cash is so easy to spend. I was just looking for input on this...

BTW...Discovery Coves sells GC in $25 increments, but...they charge you $8 to ship it FedEx (for tracking purposes). That's why I thought the Visa/MC/AmEx gc would be easier.

 

[Christine]

As long as someone is asking YOU what she wants and you aren't telling them (without being asked), I don't think it is tacky at all.

But, someone will think it's tacky, I'm sure.

 

[Disney Doll]

I would say something more like "Well she is trying to save $270 to go to Discovery Cove next year. I know some folks are giving her VISA gift cards towards that , but I certainly don't want to dictate what you should give her".

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I don't think it's tacky, but I might have worded it a little differently--mention what she wants to put the $$ towards (if you didn't, you may have paraphrased). Personally, if I knew a young person saving towards something special, I would be happy to contribute towards it as a gift. But I wouldn't just give my kids or nieces money, just because I'd rather it be something special for them. I might go the gift card route, if I knew they liked a particular store. Does that make sense?

What you suggested is, to me, no different than my MIL giving my kids Disney Dollars as a gift before their next trip to WDW.

 

[SC Minnie]

I agree with the others. If they ask make sure they know she is saving for something in particular and that's all she has asked for but let them know they are free to give whatever they want.

My neice and nephews are their teens and I would much rather give them a GC than try to buy something they MIGHT like.

 

[Missy1961]

I think if you word it like others have suggested, it would be fine. As an aunt, I'd rather hear that they are saving toward something, could you get them a GC? In fact, that's what I've done for my older nieces & nephews the last few years.

 

[Chicago526]

Just be prepared that they could ignore the request. I was planning a trip for myself to go to Disneyland in Feb 2004, so for Christmas 2003 when people asked what I wanted, I said Disney Dollars for my trip. Out of all my relatives, only my one brother listened! Even my mom, WHO WAS COMING WITH ME ON THE TRIP gave me a gift cert to Best Buy (and I hate Best Buy to boot!).

 

[mtblujeans]

There was an article in yesterday's paper about American's "having so much" that gift cards are becoming "acceptable" as gifts. I don't know why they would not be acceptable in any case! It would make it alot easier for the gift-giver to just put a gift certificate in an envelope and be done with it, too!

 

[lulugirl]

If someone is asking, I would assume they really want to know what she wants. You are giving them an honest answer, nothing tacky about that IMO.
As another poster pointed out, it's nice that she's saving for something that is important to her.

 

[m&m's mom]

Great idea. The only thing I would question is why a Visa GC instead of cash. I know there is a cost for American Express GC and that might add to the cost. Also cash does not require you to go to a certain place to get. AE GC's are only available at banks (ok, maybe at AE offices too).
All of my nieces and nephews asked for GC's. Works for me!

 

[SunFloridaDisney]

I think it's a great idea, however I know people (like a certain SIL) who just HATE the idea of gift cards, and people who give them. (She thinks you don't care enough to find just the right gift )

I love gift cards.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would tell them something that you were going to buy her and you give her the visa CG.

 

[mickeyboat]

I would tell them something that you were going to buy her and you give her the visa CG.

Me too - unless it was something personal or something very special that you would like to get her yourself.

I am not a big fan of giving or receiving gift cards or money in most situations. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it just seems impersonal and thoughtless. I mean if you give me a gift card and I give you a gift card, why don't we just save our money and buy what we wanted to get ourselves in the first place?

But, I understand that many people don't feel this way, so if someone specificatlly requests a gift card, I would probably get it, especially if they are saving for something in particular.

Denae

 

[eeyore kelly]

I don't think it is tacky at all.

 

[hemispheredancer]

The only reason I would suggest they get her a gc is that cash in her purse is so incredibly easy to spend. At least the she can tuck the gc away and know what its purpose is. A lot of our local banks offer the MC or Visa gift card. Not sure if there is a cost associated with it. I am sure the buyer could check with their bank to see if these are available.

 

[mickeyminnie]

I don't especially think it is tacky. However like the above poster mentioned, something about gift cards really bugs me. I can't decide. I guess to me it feels like they don't trust you to pick out something nice. I also hate that the reciever knows exactly what you spend. I have 2 teenage neices and all they ever want it gift cards, bug then I feel like it all has to be even. What if I wanted to spend a bit more on something I really liked for one than the other. I don't know, I guess it is impersonal to me to some extent.

However I do understand the wanting to save up for something special like a trip so that is why I don't think I would be offended if you were asking me in this situtation, but when their mom says oh just get a gift card, then I feel a bit put out, you know what I mean.

 

[Pooh67_68]

I am not a big fan of giving or receiving gift cards or money in most situations. I can't quite put my finger on why, but it just seems impersonal and thoughtless. I mean if you give me a gift card and I give you a gift card, why don't we just save our money and buy what we wanted to get ourselves in the first place?
Denae

I'd rather a GC than you buy me something I don't want, don't need, will never use, etc.


OP, I think asking for a Visa GC is a good idea.

 

[princess momma]

I, personally, would love to hear that someone on my list would like a gift card. I'd give them to everybody if I thought it would go over.

Unfortunately there are those people who think gift cards are the easy way out. I do plan on giving a lot of gift cards this year.
If people don't like it - TOUGH !!! It's a gift, and I get to decide what it is.

 

[Marseeya]

I think it's a great idea. My FIL has been giving the kids gift cards for Christmas for years now and they love it! They always look forward to their gift cards.

I wouldn't be offended by that at all, especially if I asked what they wanted.

 

[ahutton]

As a back up plan, is there other gear that she could use on that adventure in case they just refuse to buy gift cards? Like an underwater camera, a swim wallet, anything along those lines?

Another option might be to see if Sea World will allow you to add dollars to a card once it has been delivered (recharge it?) and get a $20 card to start with, and then they can pledge however much extra they want to add?

As for service charges, I believe EVERY card has some type of charge associated with it. Many banks also start to charge a fee to the card if the money sits on there too long.

What about short term savings bonds as an alternative? Or could they deposit into a special trip account you start for her? Then it isn't cash in hand, and many banks and credit unions have accounts that offer good yields for "special fund" accounts.