This is the issue I have with the enforced gift giving to begin with. I’m an adult: if the item I need is reasonably priced, I’ve already bought it for myself; if it’s not, I don’t find it incredibly appropriate to ask someone else to foot the expense.
I wouldn’t mind gift cards for, say, clothing stores, though. I can’t know if it fits or hangs well without trying something on, and if someone guesses, they’re just as likely to guess wrong as to guess right, which means there are two trips to the store instead of one. For example, as far as I have discovered, there is exactly ONE style of jeans that fits me well in the waist/butt/hips, and comes in a long. Even other styles from the same brand don’t have a long version of my size. Even aside from style issues – my mom tries hard, but unless we go shopping together I end up with clothes that clash with my coloring or make me look frumpy. Sigh.
Actually, going clothing shopping with me is the better option if there’s time. I hate clothes shopping because it is so. damn. difficult to find things that I need, that fit, and that look good on me. If I’m going to spend multiple hours hunting down the one sweater out of 50 that’s worth buying, it’d be nice to have company, at least.
I’d love a gift card to a camera store, too, but this goes back to not being appropriate to ask for. There’s lots of equipment that I’d like to get; the reason I haven’t done so myself is that this stuff starts at more than $300.
I love them! I got a gift card for Amazon for my birthday in JULY that I still haven’t used because I’ve honestly amused myself for the past few months considering what I could get with it. Well - I’ve had to move twice since then, so acquiring more stuff has been impractical, but I legitimately have had fun thinking about what I’ll buy with my gift card. It’s just nice knowing it’s there.
No, I think it makes sense. It sounds kind of like when some people justify $1 every now and then on a lottery or raffle because it buys them some daydreams… except in this case you really will get to use it! I take my time with gift cards too (unless they’re for gas or groceries, which I appreciate getting from my parents).
Sure, I like them. But if you notice that certain occasions (e.g. birthdays, Christmas) are turning into a gift card exchange, consider dropping the gift part and just getting together for dinner or lunch instead. We’ve done this with my friends and family, and it’s awesome.
I don’t like them - to give or receive. The phrase “it’s the thought that counts” to me means not that you remembered to give them a gift, but that you thought about them and picked out this gift.
One of the things I like about gift giving is that I have lots of fun thinking about and tracking down what I think is the perfect gift. I find it hard to believe that those of you who say “you have everything you need” literally would not appreciate something fun and interesting based on your interests.
I consider it a fun challenge to figure out what to get everybody, and I do most of my “gift shopping” in my head before I even enter a store. My uncles, who are always hard to buy for? I’m going to put together a neat car washing accessory set, since they are car/motorcycle freaks. My grandma? A new, fuzzy bathrobe, since she’s just lost a bit of weight, and I have lots of happy Saturday morning memories of hanging out with her in the kitchen.
My husband’s family has a habit or literally emailing you the link to what they want, and it’s expected that you go out and buy it for them. I find that soul-crushing and devoid of any happy Christmas spirit. Sure, it’s convenient, but a little robotic, you know…
Yes, I do. In my opinion “it’s the thought that counts” means you’re grateful that someone though to get you something… not that they tried to figure out what you’d really like. I think gift certificates are the perfect present for people you don’t know well enough to pick out a good gift for.
Whenver I’m asked what I want for Christmas I always say “inexpensive restaurant gift cards”. When asked which one I want I tell people to surprise me. I love the results.
You see, my wife and I are doing just fine financially. If we needed something, we’d have already gotten it. If we wanted something, we’d have already gotten it. You’re down to giving us something we can use (and probably don’t really want, or we’d have it already).
What we need is excuses to go out, and an inexpensive restaurant gift card to someplace we’ve never been is the perfect excuse to do just that. It doesn’t have to cover the meal - in fact, I’d prefer that it not do so. It’s just to give us an incentive to get off our butts and go out to eat now and then.
And you can give as much (or as little) thought as you want in terms of deciding what would be a restaurant we’d like to go to.
I like to have somebody think of something they like that I might like and wouldn’t get myself. A gift card is not this. It’s the same as a twenty that I have to spend at a particular store and worth nothing outside that store. It’s worse than receiving a twenty you can spend wherever. A present can make you go God this is awesome, and I’d never have thought of this in my whole life.
I’d rather have all attempts at picking an awesome gift than a gift card for a cash amount at a store.
I am in with the ‘it depends’ crowd. If I give gift cards they fall into one of two categories:
a card for an experience (dinner, movie, wine tour) that the person would otherwise not want to spend their own money to do but will enjoy.
a gift card to a store that they like to shop at but are too cheap (frugal) to get everything they might want there.
In both cases, I write a little note saying why I got the card and what the ‘thought’ was that went into it. (For example, I am getting my BIL a gift card for a speciality model train store since he is finally getting to set them up in his new home and will need things like trees, fences, etc. but there is no way I could know what he needs or wants.)
In the case of recieving gift cards, I like the same two categories. However, I am always happy to get a gift card from my in-laws. They try hard but they just don’t know me that well. At least a Sears gift card can be used for something I would like (even if it is just socks).
I don’t mind receiving them. Actually, I really like receiving them when the giver puts some thought to it. A gift card to Target is likely going to end up used on household stuff, and so is not really much of a gift. A card to my local yarn store with a note that says to indulge in something I really want, is a very thoughtful gift.
They’re ok. But I’ve gotten to a point where I really don’t want anymore stuff in the house. Gift cards = stuff I’m supposed to buy. If I need something specific, gift cards are great. But, the best gift I could ever get would be someone cleaning my house, taking the kids somewhere or making dinner without me having to tell them what to make, where to make it, when to make it, who’s eating, buying the groceries, etc.
My birthday was a couple of weeks ago. My husband got me the single best gift he’s ever gotten me: a night of my choosing at a hotel by myself. He also threw in some spa services at a swank spa nearby. I haven’t cashed in yet, and I do wish he’d be able to join me, but he wants me to have some alone time and a full night’s sleep, something I haven’t gotten for well over a year.
A gift card is not an ideal gift: Ideally, someone would get me something that’s really cool and which had never even occurred to me. In fairness, though, if I can’t think of something for someone to get me, then I can hardly blame them for the same failing. So I tell friends and family that if they can’t come up with anything else, an Amazon gift certificate is always welcome.
I own a service-oriented business (dog walking and pet sitting) and sometimes instead of a cash bonus at Christmas some of my clients give me gift cards for our local restaurants, spas or a coffee place. While the cash is far preferred, the gift cards to these types of places are great because me and my family can have some dinner out, I can go get a manicure, or enjoy some coffee and it feels like a “treat”.
One client in particular gets me a really sizeable gift card (I mean like $100+) to a restaurant that we wouldn’t normally be able to afford, so my husband and I get to look forward to an annual date night at this place and not fret about spending the extra money after Christmas.
I do occasionally get a $10 Target or Walmart giftcard, and while I appreciate the thought I’m kind of like, what am I going to do with this? A year’s worth of personal service to your home and your precious pet and this is the best you can do?
I love them. My friends and family know what I like (books, candles, very expensive natural bath stuff, home stuff, spiritual stuff from certain religions, craft stuff), but they don’t necessarily know what I already have since ALL of my family live 2000 miles away. So, a gift card tells me that they know the general categories I like, and want to contribute to that without creating more stress for me.
Same for giving them. For example, my father does missionary work in the Sudan, and whenever he goes, he leaves EVERYTHING he takes with him (all camping gear, clothing, etc.). So, an REI gift card for him is perfect - he knows what he needs and how much, and what will get the best “bang for the buck” when he leaves it.
I also give donations to the Seva Foundation and Heifer International, because frankly, my family has all the material shit they could possibly need and we are all in the “less is more” mindset.
BTW, I spent most of my gift certificate today at Amazon and it was so much fun! I got three books, all recommended by Dopers from threads I started in GQ. I’m gonna learn some new stuff!
Depends on the gift card. If it’s to Amazon or Walmart or something huge and generic like that, not really. Those fall into the category of “general shopping,” which is a chore at best and torture at worst. If it’s someplace like the fabric store or Lowe’s, I like them quite a bit because I enjoy that sort of shopping and am happy puddling around whether I ever buy anything or not.
