Do you give gift cards for Christmas?
By Geminigirl
@Geminigirl (1909)
United States
September 9, 2007 9:55am CST
I used to give gifts all the time, but you know how it goes with gifts. Sometimes people like them, sometimes not so much. I know when I receive gifts, many of them son't suit me, so I re0gift them, sell them, or donate them. Do you give gift cards for Christmas? I have found that this works really well for me and my family. I give a restaurant gift card to one person, to her favorite restaurant, and she loves it and uses it, and looks forward to it every year. To another I give a blockbuster gift card, because he really loves to rent movies. To another I give a Wal Mart gift card because they have lots of needs and they can go to a super center and buy groceries, clothes, pet food or whatever they need. I personally would much rather get a gift card or cash for Christmas, that way I can pick out exactly what I want or need, and there is no waste.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Even though my family and friends would much more prefer to get the gift ourselves and send it to each other, these days with the rise of postal fees it's just not feasible anymore. So instead of paying the high prices to send actual gifts, we just put a reasonable amount on each of the gift cards and send those to each other. Much more cost effective and easier on the pocket book.
2 people like this
@jeweledbluerose (3061)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I also think gift cards make it more fair as well. You can give the same amount to everyone, without having to do a lot of guess work, and making sure you aren't spending more on someone than you did on the rest of the list of people you were getting gifts for.
2 people like this
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I agree. Why spend $10 for postage, when you could add that amount to the amount of your gift card, and send it first class mail? Great thinking.
1 person likes this
@wirelessb (82)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Gift cards seem to work well when you don't know a person very well. Granted, you can get exactly what you want with a gift card, but a gift card also says "I wasn't sure what to get you so go and get something yourself". However, if it works in your family, I wouldn't mess with it. Just my opinion.
2 people like this
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Thanks! Yes, it seems to work really well for us. None of us need or want to deal with a bunch of knick knack type gifts or clothes that don't fit or aren't our style.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92800)
• United States
9 Sep 07
Or if you have a dad like mine who always says he never wants anything for Christmas, and actually means it. I know I could give him things he would like, but I want him to have something he loves. So it isn't that I don't know what to get him, it's that I want to make sure he has the opportunity to get exactly what he wants. Of course, I never give him gift cards every year.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (92800)
• United States
9 Sep 07
One of the favorite gifts of my sister, that I gave her, was a wallet full of gift cards. She thought it was just an wallet until I told her to open it. Then I filled all the 'slips' with gift cards to her favorite stores. They weren't of big value, but 5 dollars to Bath and Body Works, 5 dollars to Blockbuster, and then ten to Walmart and ten to Lane Bryant. She loved it. They were all stores she'd be going to anyway, so this let her get some stuff for free. I can't remember all the ones I did, but I think Old Navy was in it too. And the wallet was cute, but since it wasn't the main gift, I didn't spend too much on it at all.
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
15 Sep 07
Wow, that is a really cute and unique way to give gift cards. I'll have to remember that!
1 person likes this
@archer1811 (1098)
• Philippines
11 Sep 07
I dont. What i gave for christmas are groceries and fruits and clothes. I dont like giving gift checks/cards. I love giving gifts and wrapping too.
@Geminigirl (1909)
• United States
15 Sep 07
Groceries and fruits are some wonderful and practical gift ideas!
