Five reasons to avoid gift cards this holiday season

After a major health set back and financial ruin I told all family to leave me out of the gift giving food fight. Going into debt to buy a bunch of stuff that so often misses the mark, and getting stuff that was hard to interpret, (if it's the thought that counts, what the hell are they thinking?) I just decided to opt out and save myself and many others some trouble. Let that be my gift. Now I save myself the misery of the gift exchange and frankly don't miss it. I don't waste the whole season shopping for something for someone to exchange for what they actualy want. Maybe a framed photo I shot that they liked, but I keep a lid on it

i love getting gift cards! target ones are my favorite! or clothing store ones because if i had the money i wouldn't be able to spend it on clothes without feeling guilty but if that's the only place i can spend the money i won't feel guilty!! yay win-win :D

I like to get gift cards as a college student, because they are more useful then most items that I would get unless it is something that I asked for. I also feel guilty when I use cash to buy things that I want, and a gift card is a way for me to set aside and say that was a gift and it makes it more special because I won't buy textbooks with it so I am really getting something that I want, and not just what I need.

I love getting gift cards. But only if they don't go to a super specific store. Like, it's better to get one to wal-mart instead of some craft store. Every christmas, I ask my parents to get me a 20 dollar gift card to wal-mart instead of buying me something. It's a lot easier. and funner. It feels like I have my own credit card for a few days. I don't understand why everyone hates gift cards.

1. I love gift cards. My wish list includes stores I'd like gift cards from. It allows me to get exactly what I want, not what someone else thinks I want.
2. I use my cards as soon as I can. There's no reason not to.
3. Buying something a few dollars more than the card value is much better than leaving $3 unspent on the card. IMO
4. That's the gift givers fault for not knowing where the giftee likes to shop...
5. This is the receivers fault for not using it. The monthly fees don't normally start for a long time.

I know people who ONLY buy real gifts. That's fine and dandy to give someone something more "personal" but all of that nostalgia gets thrown out the window once they open it up and it's not something they wanted or can use...

I love getting gift cards as long as they are not those cheap $5 ones that you can't buy anything with.

I like the gift cards . Not only are they fast ,and simple,but if you think about it.It gives the people time to think about what they might want or need,and some cases like my kids,they love them because they have more than ,famliy member to think about.One of my kids if you call a 47 a kid,who is very well off,not rich ,but comfortable,in her job and her life.Takes some of the cards,like Wal-Mart, Marsh, Kroger,and gives them to the people in need or to the Church.And she tells us that it's not from her,but from our whole Family.We also give to the church in the same manner,plus other ways also.That way it more helpful to the church,and the people who get them.Thank you .Happy Thanksgiving

1) i love to receive gift cards. that way i get exactly what i want. And i like giving them too so that the recipient can get whatever pleases them.
2) those who haven't used them probably just tucked them away somewhere and forgot about them.
3) how do they encourage overspending? It's your own fault if you spend more than what your gift card amount is. you can always pick something that is the same price of the GC. i don't buy that bogus excuse.
4) that's why you give ones from stores like Target, WalMart, the mall, that way they have a whole store they can pick from.
5) Amex and Visa cards both charge an activation fee as well as maintainence (sp.) fee. I don't buy those for ppl because it's wasted money. That's another $5 i could have added onto the card for them to use.

Did anyone else find this article a little un-true?

I love them!

I don't know who doesn't love getting gift cards. If I get cash, I will inevitably spend it on groceries or gas or other necessities. I have to spend my own cash on those things so if someone gives me money that can only be spent on things I want like clothes or music or books then I love it. It gives me money to spend on extras.

I LOVE getting gift cards and giving them, but there is an important rule to follow. To make it personal, be sure the gift card is appropriate for the person you are giving it to. For example, I'm a vegetarian and would not think too highly of someone giving me a gift card to a steakhouse! That would show no thought. But, if you have an avid skier on your list, a gift card to their favorite ski sports store would be thoughtful.

Whoa, Writers_block! You surprised me! You have some really good points here, all of them I personally use when considering gift cards as presents. BUT I was surprised to see someone as shopping-conscience as you seem to be put BLOCKBUSTER on that list of supposedly-safe stores. I'll tell you this much, Blockbuster IS going somewhere, fast. Shop Safely! : )

http://news.search.yahoo.com/search/news;_ylt=A0geu8WexP1KCE8Bw0NXNyoA?ei=UTF-8&p=blockbuster&fr2=tab-web&fr=yfp-t-701

That aside, I use the gift cards I receive, and I appreciate them. I give them occasionally, but like to stick to more traditional gift-giving.

Happy shopping all!
~Peace

I sometimes buy gift cards for myself. For example, if there's a restaurant that I frequent, I may buy a $100 gift card for myself. At first blush this makes no sense... until you factor in the "bonus" gift card - often as much as $20 to $25 that the restaurant gives you as part of the purchase.

$120 worth of buying power at a restaurant I know I'll visit for $100? Not bad in these times.

I love gift cards because it's like free shopping! My parents usually give me gift cards to the stores I usually shop at like Nordstrom, Target, etc. and I like going and picking something out myself. They usually give my hubby Home Depot or Lowe's gift cards.

I think gift cards are great for the people on your list you don't know what to buy for. Just get the Visa or Amex ones so they can use it anywhere they want. Even for groceries, which is something much appreciated in this economy. You can even send Amazon gift cards via email for people who are out of state which is easier for everyone and they can get anything in the world on Amazon! I personally LOVE getting them! Also, Netflix has gift cards and I am going to send a couple of those this holiday season.

I LOVE receiving gift cards! I have so much stuff that I don't need already. It's a waste of money when someone gets you a gift you won't use and then you are stuck holding onto it because it is a "gift". BAH! I would rather get a gift card. Especially to a nice restaraunt I normally wouldn't visit because of the cost.

Sure, gift cards are fine if you know what the recepient likes. If they have a favorite restaurant, get a card . If they like music or to read, think Barnes and Noble. If they dote on their pets, think PetsMart.

I have to 100% disagree with this post. I love getting gift cards. Of course they have to be places I actually shop. Like Target or Old Navy. I also love getting gift cards to places to eat. Like Outback or Chevys. Its expensive to go out and eat so I love one for that. My sister, sister in law, brother, cousins and mom all love getting gift cards. It might not be that personal but they can get what they want.

When your grandchildren live 500 miles away and you have no idea what they want for Christmas, gift cards are great as long as someone responsibly shops with them so over spending doesn't take place. If you did shop and send, the post office often gets more than you paid for the gifts in the first place.

I think gift cards are a great idea, especially for teens or people who are hard to shop for. Everyone knows the holidays are a busy and often stressful time, so why carry the pressure of finding a gift someone can possibly dislike?(and then have the hassle of exchanging.) As long as they like shopping at the place you buy the gift card from, no matter the price, it's a useful and practical gift.