Love/Hate gift cards

[yasmina]

I have a love/.hate relationship with gift cards. I love them, especially when they are for my favorite place in the world, book stores.

However, when they are generic cards from stores like Sears, Target, etc., I usually forget about them. Or if I do use them, I spend more than the value of the card, so it's more money out of my pocket. Yes, the cost of the item(s) to me directly is less, but I still have to shell out money from my wallet.

How about you?

 

[Darcy03231]

I love them. Anyone who knows me will get them for places I shop at frequently. Since I know the dollar amount on them its up to me if I just want to spend what they've given or if I want to add more to it to get something else.

 

[sumrmist]

I dont mind them for me. But when my kids get them then I end up spending a ton more money.

 

[UMTerp]

I like them! When my kids get them they can only spend the amount on them unless they add extra money from their allowance money. They enjoy getting gift cards!

UMTerp

 

[Bob Slydell]

We're actually much more used to dealing with gift cards now than a couple years ago. DS' school sells gift cards for a fundraiser, so we've adjusted the way we shop now, in many cases buying the gift cards in advance of certain purchases that we know we're going to buy soon. And all our grocery shopping is done with GC's.

 

[Mkrop]

We're actually much more used to dealing with gift cards now than a couple years ago. DS' school sells gift cards for a fundraiser, so we've adjusted the way we shop now, in many cases buying the gift cards in advance of certain purchases that we know we're going to buy soon. And all our grocery shopping is done with GC's.

We do the same with gift cards for Ds10's school so I rarely shop without them.

I like them bc I can usually find something. Target I always shop there so I could use them for my regular purchases.

Sears or Macys, if I cant find clothes, I buy something for the house like new towels, maybe something I wouldnt have replaced but probably needed it. Like right now all my bathroom rugs are on their last legs (but this will be the year I dont get any like that)

Otherwise I hold onto it, get clothes for the kids, Dh or I use it on bday presents for others during the year.

 

[Todd&Copper]

I really like them for places that I go to anyway b/c I know I'll use them. And I like restaurant ones b/c it forces me & DH to go out for dinner.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I love to give and receive gift cards. I am one of those practical gift people... I want to use what I get and I want the gifts I give to be used as well.

Nobody has complained yet!!

 

[rparmfamily]

Love to get them, don't always love to give them, lol.

 

[Robinrs]

Those of you who don't spend them or want them... ship them to ME. I'll send you my address...

 

[leafette]

Those of you who don't spend them or want them... ship them to ME. I'll send you my address...

Hey, I was going to post the same thing! Giftcard Haters, send them to Atlanta, and Robin and I will go shopping!

 

[Robinrs]

Hey, I was going to post the same thing! Giftcard Haters, send them to Atlanta, and Robin and I will go shopping!

Way to GO, leafette!

For 14 years, the radio station I worked for gave us gift certificates for the mall the week before Christmas. I looked forward to it every year! I'd grab my girlfriend and we'd go shopping! She has 5 foster (now adopted kids) and we would buy them everything they wanted! It was so much fun NOT to worry about prices for once, mostly I got things for everyone on my list and MAYBE a thing or two for me!

Last year my job gave us a $250 gift card for the same mall. I got my son a gift I NEVER would've been able to afford! It was a blessing!

Sorry, I see gift cards as a way to do my favorite thing about Christmas...GIVING! I'm not real good at gifts directed towards me, never have been. I use them to bless others... then the rest of the year the blessings return to me in another way.

 

[Cool-Beans]

I love them. I know they aren't personal and blah, blah, blahbiddy-blah...but I like to buy what I want.

My favorite gift, each and every year of my life (especially when I was broke), is the one I get from dear old dad. Cash. It's legal tender for all debts public and private!

 

[juligrl]

Love them! I get to pick what I want for me!

 

[swea_pea1]

I don't mind gift cards, but I don't understand the point of gift card exchanges. They started this at work a couple of years ago. I buy a gift card for $20, I get a gift card for $20.

It doesn't make sense to me...maybe I'm a scrooge, but I save myself the $20.

 

[trappednabox]

I hate giving them to family and I hate getting them from family. They just feel so impersonal to get from someone who is supposed to know you.

 

[LisaZee]

For some strange reason, I hate to GIVE gift cards, but I LOVE to receive them.

I just feel like when I give someone a gift card, I've given up. It's like I couldn't hold out to find that one perfect gift I know they'll love, so I'm giving them today's equivalent of a check in an envelope.

BUT, I don't feel like someone's given up on me when they buy one for me! I'm like "Oh cool, spouse! Let's hit the mall!"

What's WRONG with me??? I can see the inconsistency, yet I don't care.

 

[yasmina]

Last year, dd9's 3rd grade class put on a production of "Annie" for charity. To raise even more money, the parents organized a raffle for gift baskets. One of the baskets, which we won contained over $200 in gift certificates and gift cards to local restaurants.

We haven't used any of them

 

[arminnie]

I love them, especially when they are for my favorite place in the world, book stores.

A relative of mine sends me a B&N gift card for my birthday and for Christmas. I must have 6-7 that I have never used.

I love book stores but prefer to shop in small local bookstores. I just never seem to go in the B&N or else I don't have my cards with me.

 

[Sandy321]

I hate them - what ever happened to good ole cash?

I mean really, cash doesnt expire, and well in the case of gift cards - they charge you money if you DONT USE IT!!

Cash...

good ole cash!!