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Gift cards will always be my gift of choice — to give and to get.
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I love giving and getting gift cards for the holidays, even though some people say they’re impersonal.
My family asks for them, and I like the personalization of choosing a place they love to shop.
They also save time, and can come with discounts or bonuses.
I am fully aware of the shade commonly thrown around gifting gift cards — they’re impersonal, they’re “too easy” as gifts, and you might as well just give someone cash. But I’ve been a longtime lover of gift cards, in both offering them as presents to everyone on my Christmas list, and also in receiving them.
Here’s why I stand by gift cards, and why I continue to give them to the majority of my friends and family during the holidays:
1. My family asks for them every year
Those near and dear in my life ask for gift cards, for the holidays and for birthdays. Case in point: A few weeks ago I asked my brother what he wanted for Christmas this year. He texted back that he would love to get something from Best Buy for his new laptop. Translation: Get me a gift card, sis.
I responded in kind that I love shopping on Etsy. As a hardcore sticker and stationery collector, a robust amount of credits stashed in my Etsy account to make purchases from my favorite sticker creators on the platform equates to pure bliss.
I also plan on giving a gift card to my stepmom to her favorite retailer so she can purchase sundry items for an upcoming cruise to Cancún, and a one to my dad at his favorite premium market, so he can enjoy fine foods that he otherwise wouldn’t splurge on.
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2. They’re customizable
Because you can get gift cards based on a person’s likes, needs, and where they love to shop, they do have a touch of personalization and require thoughtfulness. Plus, the recipient can spend it on whatever they want, whenever they want. Fun fact: According to the CARD Act, gift cards can’t expire before five years, so there’s plenty of time to use them.
Beyond family, I also give them to my mail carrier, hair stylist, and folks at the post office. How do I figure out what to get them? I try to gauge their likes based on our conversations.
3. They offer the gift of time
Not only are you gifting store credit to their favorite places to shop, but gift cards also offer the gift of time.
How’s that? Well, on my end, I don’t have to lug packages to the post office during the crazed holiday season, only to stand in a long line and dole out more cash for shipping. Plus, I can purchase gift cards online, or go to a store that offers a wall of different gift cards from other retailers to choose from.
I’m also helping recipients save time. They don’t have to trek to the store to make a return if they don’t like, say, a particular model of air fryer or holiday candle gift set that I picked out.
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4. They can be sold at a discount, or come with bonuses
Another perk? Some retailers offer a bonus if you purchase a gift card during the holidays. For instance, if you spend $20 on a gift card, you get a $5 one for free. Some companies partner up with other retailers, so if you spend a certain amount, they’ll throw in a gift card from their partner. I’ve also scooped up discounts on gift cards during special promos, like 10% off gift cards up to a certain amount.
Credit card issuers sometimes offer discounts on gift cards to certain featured retailers. In other words, you can get a higher denomination for the same amount of points, or an added percentage on the value of gift cards to certain companies they’ve partnered with. For example, if it’s a retailer that’s offering 10% added value if you redeem your points for a gift card, you’ll get $110 instead of $100 for the same number of points. Or it’s 20% added value, that’s $120 instead of $100.
Those who frown upon giving gift cards can move to the back of the line. (Yes, I’m looking at you.) Picking out gift cards to folks on my gift list have long been my go-to for the holidays, and as a gift card devotee, that’s not going to change.
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