Opinions on gift cards vs actual gifts

[eeyorethegreat]

For some, it is fun to shop for the people they love. I don't find it stressful at all.

My sister adores starbucks, but times are tough. So my gc for her means she will enjoy herself, and take the time to treat herself.

Movie cards for my niece and nephew meant they saw Toy Story 3 in the theaters.

Etc. This is why it isn't just about handing around the same $20 bill.

And I agree. Gift giving is just a fun way to celabrate so much more.

Right I agree with you it is fun to find gifts for the people you love but Reading the boards and listening to people talk about the holidaysfor many it isn't just about the people they are close to it is about extended family, that the only time there is any communication is at Christmas when there is a gift exchange expected. $$$$ is spent giving people they really don't know or have a relationship with gifts or gift cards that one isn't truly sure will be used simply because it is Christmas and that is what they feel is expected. That is the part that gets overwhelming and stressing not the gifting to people they love and communicate with often. We used to try to gift to "everyone" at the time we were mac n cheese poor after Christmas we were in debt for all the gifts we felt we needed to buy because it was expected even if Dh didn't really know his cousin (for example). After a few years of that as a young couple with our own kids we decided to limit it to only people we were close to.

Anyway I think gift cards are fine if given with thought. DH once gave me a gift card to the local bookstore. I stretched that gift card almost a whole year buying a book here and there when I wanted one. I was a gift that gave to me all year and I was so pleased to be able to go get a book that I wanted because I could use what was on that card. So gift cards don't need to be impersonal when they are given with thought based on what you know about that person. The key is knowing the person well enough to know exactly what kind of gift card to get that will make the recipient feel like you really thought about what they enjoyed.

 

[littlezar]

I love gift cards! As was previously mentioned, I'm much more likely to treat myself with a gift card than cash. I just finished emailing my sister in law about Christmas. I had ideas for my 7 year old niece and 4 year old nephew and she told me which ones were good and I told her which things my 4 year old likes and will send her a list for the older 3 later with which video games they want. My older brother will get my boys $25 Toys R Us gift cards and the boys will love them. When the boys get gift cards, they know they can spend it on whatever they want - doesn't matter how junky I think it is.

 

[angierae]

DD15 prefers gift cards because she'd rather have 5 $20 gift cards and be able to save up and buy something for $100 than have 5 $20 gifts. The video games and electronics she wants are expensive - too expensive for any one person to buy it for her. But if Aunt #1 gives her a $25 gift card and Aunt #2 gives her a $25 gift card, she can go buy that $45 video game. Neither aunt can really afford to spend $50 on her for Christmas.

She ends up with few junky gifts that get ignored after a month this way.

 

[lyncecelia]

I plan on giving some gift cards this year with gifts...

My dad wants to build a fence, so I'm going to give him a $20 gift card to Lowes with his gift. He absolutely loves that store, and I have no idea what he wants in there. Plus I'm in NH and he is in FL, so a GC is easier to ship.

I plan on giving DSis12 an iTunes GC with her gift (a hand-me-down iPhone that she's been BEGGING for) so that she can get stuff with it . I think that's reasonable. I also am getting a $25 Visa GC to get accessories since I need to attach a credit card to her iTunes account to make one, and no way in HECK am I attaching my CC

In stockings, I plan on doing it too. I got DBF and his 3 older kids wallets to go in there. DBF will get a Hannaford (grocery store) GC for him to buy his king crab legs or expensive steaks that I have no idea what he's looking for. I'll also put a 7-11 GC because he always buys slurpees.

the kids I might do a Walmart GC for $10 each so they can get a toy there whenever we go and not beg us LOL.

When I was growing up my uncle would always give us Target GCs and I LOVED it! I could get exactly what I wanted and had no issues whatsoever. I actually found one in my wallet recently which helped me buy a pair of pants I needed. It's very useful.

My dad always gave Barnes and Noble GCs to my cousins. It was a way to encourage them to read, but we had no way of finding out what each kid enjoyed reading/what books they had/etc. It made more sense.

As we got older, my grandmothers always gave us cash. It was easier for them, and we could use it on whatever we wanted. (Though, of course, from one of them we always got a lecture on how we should saved it. Wish I listened! .)

All in all, I think there is no problem with GC. I understand some people have issues with it, and that's fine. I 100% respect it. But I love it, and have actually been asking for iTunes GC a lot because I'm addicted to music and am all out. (I refuse to use my CC on my iTunes either because 99 cents here and there adds up!)

 

[SnowWtch]

This year I am doing more GC b/c money is tight and I want to stay on budget. It's hard to shop for my family and my mother even said she'd prefer a gift card to her favorite restaurant or Michael's. I love getting gift cards. DH is out of work so us getting a GC may mean a movie night or eating at a restaurant. I'm actually hoping for another Fresh Market one this year so we can combine it with one from last year and get a nice whole beef tenderloin when they go on sale.

 

[pearlieq]

Why gift cards? Why not just give cash? You get to the same place with fewer restrictions.

The restriction is actually what makes the gift great for me.

If you give me cash, I'm going to feel compelled to put it in the bank or use it to cover everyday expenses. I can always think of a practical use for cash, and I'm not good at treating myself.

If you give me a $10 card to Noodles, I HAVE to treat myself to a yummy lunch!

Not everyone operates this way, but for those of us who do, gift cards are the best gifts!

 

[C.Ann]

Why gift cards? Why not just give cash? You get to the same place with fewer restrictions. Gift cards cut down on flexability.Why would you guarantee a certain store a sale and cut down on the flexability for the receiver?

For example....my kids love video games. These are sold at many places and sales run at different times. If a gift card is given, it means that we are locked into one particular store....and you guarantee that store a sale. So the game goes on sale.....at another store. In the end, it costs more to use the gift card rather than to purchase the desired item for the best price. I am all about getting the best price. Don't get me wrong...all gifts are graciously received. Maybe some folks think that a gift card is more personal than cash. But in my view...it is only more restrictive.

I think that gift cards are a headache. Just give cash. No restrictions. Very flexible. Very efficient. And you can buy what you want where you want.

DGD (12) usually gets gift cards from other family members; her DH's adult cousins; family friends of her other grandparents; and because they aren't around her often enough (or live out of state) she has received GC's in the past to stores that really had nothing of interest for her (or style, if it was clothing).. So this year those of us who are aware of the situation will be giving her cash instead and maybe a little something else to go along with it.. (Like starting a Christmas tree decoration collection for her or something of that nature..) She still has 2 GC's left from last year - was hanging on to them in hopes of finding something (didn't want to hurt the feelings of the giver), but there just wasn't anything suitable..

I don't mind GC's - if the person knows me well enough to get one for a store that I actually shop in - but if it were a clothing store or something of that nature - it would just go to waste..

So unless you know the person extremely well - what their interests are and where they tend to shop the most frequently - then I would go with cash..

I agree. Cash goes for necessities, out of habit. I love the cards because they make you do something nice for yourself.

With an adult - maybe - but tweens and teens usually have their necessities taken care of by their parents..

It really boils down to the age of the receiver and how well you know the habits of that person..

 

[Michelle and crew]

With an adult - maybe - but tweens and teens usually have their necessities taken care of by their parents..

It really boils down to the age of the receiver and how well you know the habits of that person..

I dont know, lol, cash burns through the pockets of teens, too.

 

[C.Ann]

I dont know, lol, cash burns through the pockets of teens, too.

True - but at least they would probably be spending it on something they want - not household cleaners; bath towels; a new mop; etc..LOL

 

[sophie832]

LOVE getting gift cards, since then I can pick out whatever I want. Sometimes, DH and I will pool our birthday gift cards (our b-days are less than a month apart) if they're for the same store, and use them for one big item.

As far as giving gift cards, I do it on a case-by-case basis. For example, I asked DH's youngest sister (17) what she wants for Xmas this year, and she immediately said she wanted a gift card to get some clothes. I would never know what size or type of clothing to get her, and I'd rather she be able to pick out what she wants. DH's parents are a little harder to shop for, though, because his dad always ends up spending more $ than what's on the gift card, which upsets his mom, and his mom never really uses the gift cards. So, we'll have to figure out something else for them.

Personally, I'd rather give gift cards than actual gifts, because most people tell me they don't know what they want when I ask them directly, and I'm terribly at figuring out what to get. I always put thought into what store I'm getting the card for, though, since I want to get them a gift to a store they actually like.

 

[Michelle and crew]

True - but at least they would probably be spending it on something they want - not household cleaners; bath towels; a new mop; etc..LOL

hehehe...true!

 

[burberryplaid]

I personally love getting gift cards. I know it's hard to buy for people and unless I go right out and tell you I want X you might not know what to get me.

My only niece who is 7 lives in Colorado and it has become too expensive to ship things to her (unless I get free shipping) so I started buying a gift card for my sister to use to buy her gifts from us. This way I know she is getting something she'll like.

 

[snowy76]

I like to give gift cards along with something small that the can be used with the gift. If I give a starbucks gift card then I might also give a coffee mug and some dove chocolates. Or if I give an itunes card then I also give some earbuds or an ipod case. It shows the receiver that I put more effort than choosing a handful of gift cards at the grocery checkout and giving them one of them.

You beat me to this!

We have four teens we buy gifts for (two of our own and my DSis's two girls). One year I did movie gift cards but made little themed gift bags for them with boxes of candy, popcorn, drinks included - even pocket sized packs of tissues for the tearjerkers!

I would actually consider doing the grocery card (we have Wegmans, so I think if I got one I'd probably blow it in the cafe on lattes and lunch!); but maybe I'd include one of those reusable grocery bags that can be folded and zipped up into themselves, or a coupon organizer or something. Depends on the recipient.