It’s the holiday season, which means it’s time for gift card threads on the dope. A lot of times we read “I’d rather have the cash” as a reply. Personally, unless you’re my parents, children, or wife/girlfriend I believe cash is both appropriate and something I would love to get this Christmas. None of the toy or clothes gifts I got as a kid match the thrill I got when my grandmother would slip a $5 or even $10 bill in my Christmas card. When is it appropriate to give cash as a gift? Has there ever been a case where you got cash as a gift and would have preferred something else? And would you say the same if you got a check or money order instead of actual paper bills?
I recall getting a new wallet (something which was on my list) as a gift once with cash in it. That worked.
When you are Chinese 
Everyone probably knows we give and receive cash in red envelopes for Chinese New Year’s, but the thing is nowadays, cash is given to young people for almost any occasion. If family friends visit me, they’d give me cash. If it’s my birthday, my family and relatives would give me cash. Whenever I visit relatives in Asia, they’d give me cash. Even for Christmas, I get cash. And in turn, I sometimes give red envelopes to my younger relatives or (ABC / Chinese) friends. I’ve gotten so used to receiving cash that I don’t really care who gives it to me.
When I was a kid, my sister and I would be thrilled every time New Year’s rolled around. Seeing all those fat red envelopes was like hitting pay dirt.
It depends on the person.
If it is a kid - no. There must be some toy/game/clothes you could find.
For an adult, I would say the rule of thumb is if you think they “need” cash - if you know they don’t have a lot of money or could use it for something practical. Usually some family member or very close friend - and I would discretely give it to them.
After I grew up and moved away, my parents would always get me some nice gift or two, but basically always gave me an envelope with cash to get what I needed, or catch up with bills or whatever. Plus, they figured it would at least cover the cost of me flying/driving home and buying gifts for others in the family - very practical.
Otherwise - cash is sort of a lazy gift for an adult - you didn’t have time, or were too unoriginal to think of something they would like.
Still - I would rather have cash than a gift card. Gift cards force you to go to a store you might not like, and usually you wind up spending more than the gift card to get something you really like, so it is sort of forcing you to spend even more money.
I hate giving cash or gift cards because to me, it means I didn’t care enough to spend time thinking of/shopping for a gift that would be appropriate for the person.
However, this year, my college-age son is getting cash for Christmas, as that is what he really needs and wants. New jeans, a sweater, a wallet, etc. are all lovely, but he already has plenty of those, and are rather wasteful since he can use the cash to fill his gas tank so he can get to work or take his girlfriend to dinner and a movie. Why “waste” $300 on nice but unappreciated gifts when I can hand him the same $300 and make him happy?
But I still feel uncomfortable with the whole thing.
I vote 'when you are giving to a kid you don’t know very well".
It is not appropriate for my mother-in-law to give me $20 for my birthday - I make about twenty times what she does. She means well, but sheesh…
Regards,
Shodan
Cash is always great unless you have enough for everything you need. You can actually spend it on what you need the most.
A cash to cash exchange is a waste of time and stupid. Exchanging names for Christmas and everybody giving cash or gift cards is stupid.
When my niece was leaving the country in a week for close to a year. One of her grandparents gave her local currency for where she was going. Even better.
Generally I try to give stuff, or at least a gift card to somewhere they want to shop.