Do you think people should give Gifts Cards. or buy Presents at Christmas?

As you may remember, money used to be considered the lazy man's gift as it took NO thought & very little effort. We hand made ALL our gifts & most people appreciated the effort!!! As our society has evolved, giving money has become expected by many. My niece will tell me real quick to buy her NOTHING & just give her money so she can pool all the money she receives & buy something really nice. I decided I didn't want to give her money this year & give her a gift from the heart. She's just turned 13 & I have NO clue what she might be interested in, so I emailed my sister-in-law asking for help. She sent me my niece's Christmas Wish List. She wants a popular purse that costs $150-200. She wants a Nintendo DSI which costs $150-200. I don't remember what else is on her list as I went into shock by the time I saw the first 2 items. I don't have the money to spend this kind of money on myself & she's NOT the only one that I'll be buying for, so she's going to get money for Christmas. She doesn't want a gift card because that limits her to where she can buy!!! When it comes to gifts, I prefer to give gifts...yet I prefer to receive cash...go figure!!!

Good morning...cd! As you have already responded to my discussion...You know that I really like "Gift cards!" They really reduce at lot of waste and time! Like if there is something wrong with the gift you receive...color, size, a flaw..etc. But I had a rotten experience with a gift card from Walmart...my son gave me a gift card to Walmart, a generous one of $200.00 and it came in very handy, when the cash flow was low...I used it, and had a balance of $38.00 left...that is STILL 38 dollars left to be used on the gift card. The following numerous times that I have gone to Walmart...that $38.00 has just DISAPPEARED into thin air....and they have me over a barrel...as when I go to town, I have a Ferry to get me there, and a last one home at night (6:30 p.m.) and always have a "long list" of shopping to do in the time....several times, I have spared a few moments...gone to the Office and waited in a long-line-up, until time pressure has made me leave, with problem unresolved. All my calls are long distance, and have waited far too long on the phone to get this rectified....to this date, to no avail! AND I have heard of this problem from others...so I guess I would have to say "Gift Cards" are nice...BUT DON'T leave a balance on them! Cheers!

I don't mind gift cards if they're for someplace I'd shop anyway. They're easy to carry or mail, too. I was in Home Depot a week ago and they had a Christmas tree all decked out in gift cards... their cards were in little orange aprons. They were so cute.

I used to buy presents for everyone at Christmas. I would put a lot of thought and energy into buying the perfect gift, when I would receive 3 Christmas towels that the person obviously didn't put any thought into. N ow I am buying more gift cards. It is just too hard to find something that everyone would like. This was I am happy, the receiver of the card is happy because they can buy whatever they want. It just seems that a lot of people are doing this...since you see gift cards being sold everywhere today.

Ive done both before... gift card for CDs n DVDs n Games and presents of wmeelies etc.. But a gift card is soo easy to get for anything really and is the best option for the person ur unsure of what to get... Although it can be seen as lazy and lacks thought and effort.. But i don't se it that way. I see it as My freedom to get what I want and not something that i will never use...

I think it would be better, in the gift cards or letter they can express what they want to say and what they want to tell to their loved ones. Do you want giving letters or cards rather than giving such material things? So I am planning to give my parents a card and I want to express my feelings by writing to them. I miss my family so much.

At my age there isn't much I need anymore expect for my crafting supplies..so I appreciate a gift card. I give gift cards to many of my family because is helps with the shipping cost as only one of my kids and his family live around here..it was cost me a ton to ship gifts to everyone.

I think that giftcards really are a good way to be sure that the recipent gets what they want. It can be very hard to buy for some people and you never know if the gift you choose is really something that they needed or wanted. With a gift card, they can just get whatever they want.

I haven't tried giving gift cards. I usually bake brownies and fruit cake as gifts. It also depend on my budget and preference.

Whatever works for them and the reciever. I think some people prefer presents and some people prefer gift cards, so the best thing is really to think about who you are giving the present to. I would be happy to recieve both gift cards and presents myself. It's the thought that counts anyway, right? :)

Hi crazydaisy! I think to be safe, gift cards would be the best gift if you don't really know what the person wants for Christmas. I love buying gifts for friends and family but if I'm really clueless then that's the time I think of buying them a gift card instead. :) I don't want them opening their gifts and frowning that they had it already or they wouldn't use it anyway.

its a nice thing to do and as you said, they might come really handy. after all, christmas must have presents too :)

I think either is ok. If you give a gift card the person can select the item that they want. I have gotten many material objects that I didn't like for christmas and of course I don't want to be like, hey I don't like this do you have the receipt so I can return it and get something else. I have gotten clothes that I would never wear in a million years, but I don't say anything in fear of hurting the persons feeling.. I think buying a present for someone is good only if you know the person wants it or you KNOW they would like it/needs it.