Anyone else giving gift certificates?

[jdads2]

This holiday season is a little crazier than most. We haven't done 1 lick of shopping and only the basics of decorating. With our upcoming WDW vacation, our work schedule and with the kids now suffering from colds it doesn't look like we'll be getting any shopping done.

We've said, for yrs, that we should just give gift certificates so that we can take advantage of the great sales after Christmas. Well, it looks like that's what we'll be doingthis year. This won't include the smallest of kids, but everyone else seemed to be behind this thinking.

We also have a "cousins club" type of thing and we pick names and exchange presents. This year we decided not to exchange and donate the $$ to the city mission. We have our kids pick out toys that they like and donate them to 'Toys-for-Tots' as well but this will be our first time donating as a large group.

Not blowing our own horns, just showing another example of simplifying gift buying this year...1 less gift to shop for.

I am hoping that by just giving a nondescript gift that it takes some of the commercialism from Christmas and puts more emphasis on being together with family and friends.

 

[Lorix2]

We are giving them for the adults too. It's so hard to buy for couples too, so I think GC's are just right for them and anyone else you're not sure of what to buy.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

We have been giving gift certificates to the kids in the family( neices and nephews) for several years now. Its just so hard when you are not with them all the time to know what they already have or even what they are into this year. We always buy a gift certificate and a small something to go with it. The kids love it. I know mine (GC's from their aunts and uncles) love to take their GC's to the store after Christmas and shop to their hearts content. They love to see just how much they can get for what they have to spend.

 

[KathyFP]

I will do gift cetificates for my staff.

This is wonderful:
This year we decided not to exchange and donate the $$ to the city mission.

 

[jimmytammy]

We give gift certificates to some family members. I love getting them as it gives you the choice especially if items are on sale. My kids also love getting the gift card/certificates.

 

[CamColt]

I always give gift certificates. Its easy shopping and everyone seems to love them. Even my nieces who are now 10 & 14 are getting some.
Id rather receive GC's than to get a bunch of stuff I dont like and wont use.

 

[Annie&Hallie'sMom]

Last year mom & dad gave me a gift certificate to the salon where I get my hair cut (I used to get my nails done there too, but now that's an expense I can't afford any more). I've been using it all year long and will "use up" my last bit on Saturday when I get my hair cut (actually I don't have quite enough $ left on the certificate, so I'll have to chip in a few bucks, plus tip). It was a great gift and I didn't have to pay for hair cuts all year long!

 

[katerkat]

We're asking for mainly GCs, since we apparently need to buy a lot of sweaters! And as much as I love my family, I don't trust them to buy me clothing.

 

[jx3smom]

We give gift cards to our nieces and nephews and my FIL. I just have no idea what they all have and what they want and I know my boys love receiving them instead of a shirt they'd never wear or a cd they'd never listen to. We also give my dad a gift and some gift cards for Cracker Barrel to use when he drive to Fl. in January. He takes 4 days going down and likes to stop at CB for some of his meals.

Last year we gave each of our boys $150 gift cards to Best Buy. We bought them other gifts but they didn't know what they wanted for each of their "big" gift so this way they added to other cards received and got what they wanted.

 

[Kirby]

We're giving more gift cards this year than ever before. Home Depot, Wal Mart, Target and Blockbuster will be getting a lot of out money this year. Gift cards are really good for college kids.

 

[dvcfamily41801]

Tons!!

I am doing gift cards for my son's teachers for AMC theaters, GC's for restaurants for my dad, my brother to Best Buy, our Balto family does a GC exchange and that is just to name a few.

We love getting and giving them

 

[CourtasanSatine]

I'm giving DBF a GC good for a dinner with me(along with the DVD)

 

[jamsmom]

My parents are so difficult to buy for! So, for the last several years, I get them a gift certificate to Wal-Mart/Sam's. The amount varies, but they always like it. SOmetimes, I get a GC to Piccadilly (a cafteria) that they like because it has a drive through.

 

[catsrule]

yes

 

[disykat]

We've done it too, but haven't decided yet about this year. My 11 year old dh just got his first gift card for his birthday last month from his grandparents and was THRILLED about shopping for his own gift. He put gift card on his Christmas list. I think he was more excited about that than he would have been about cash. I agree with him - somehow cash just goes in your wallet, but a gift card feels like a gift.

 

[ducklite]

We're giving my in-laws one. They are retired, and enjoy going to Atlantic City once a month, so we're going to give them a gift certificate for one of the casino's that they can use for dining, a room, or a show.

My mom is giving my son one--he wants a Fooze Ball (sp?) table, and has been saving his money for it. Mom is giving him a GC for the store that carries the one he wants. Between that and his savings he'll have enough to buy it.

Anne

 

[mudnuri]

Our Neices and Nephews are hitting the age where toys are lame, and what they want is $$$$$$...we recently had a Boarders book,music,movies open up in the area, and I decided that this year, each of them would get a Boarders Gift Card.

This way, they can buy a DVD, a CD, or HEAVEN forbid one of them pick a book (thats doubtful)...but it gives them the opportunity to pick what they want, it's not a waste of $20.00 like some toy would be.

My SIL called the other night to ask what my DD's wanted, and I told her to get them Boarders GC...now the difference, is that my 2 DD's will get books!.....YEAH!...

So, yes we do GC's....I also will be getting a GC for my Brother and his wife...not sure where yet...

Brandy

 

[caseylouandtyler2]

We have been giving GC's to MIL and FIL for the last few years. Every year MIL asks what I want, I always tell her a GC to a certain store I like to shop in. I NEVER get the GC. I've been married for almost 14 years does she really think I needed that pot holder/spatula spoon gift set?

This year she asked again, and again we told her GC's. DH even told her to give DD a gift card to Border's (she LOVES books, the only kid I know to ask for a new bookshelf for her 5th birthday). MIL tells us a week later she purchase a toy for DD that teaches her the alphabet. Yeah, that's going to be used DD can already read.

Anyway, GC's all around this year. Border's, Target, Walmart, Koh'ls, Best Buy, Michael's, AC Moore, Chili's, Outback.

It's just easier and less stressful.

 

[mickeysaver]

We are doing this exclusively next year. We have a plan of buying cards of varying amounts all through the year to different places and then sort them our for distribution next year. We won't miss the money if we just do it along the way like we do now with buying goodies all year long. I think it will work out better. There are no little ones left in the family. We have mostly old foggies and teenagers and neither group is easy to please. lol

Gotta love a gift card! Maggie

 

[Pin Wizard]

I think I'll be visiting Giftcertificates.com again this year. I used them a couple years ago...EASY! And the person gets to choose the store they want to us it at!! Wrapping gifts and mailing out those packages is just too much work! LOL!