The No-Fail Gift

When I first met my husband, he was challenged in the gift-giving department. The gifts he gave his friends year after year were reams of white paper and blank video cassettes.

I kid you not.

His reasoning: they are things people always need and can use. It wasn’t until he proudly shared this with new friends we’d made after we’d married, and they laughed uncontrollably while I woefully shook my head that he began thinking something in his equation might be missing.

I’m happy (and relieved) to report that my husband has evolved greatly in his gift selection ability. Still, many of us get stuck about what presents to buy, whether for loved ones or business colleagues. I have a new favorite gift to give. Previously, I would have shrugged it off as too impersonal since it doesn’t show that I know your favorite color, scents, designer, etc…. But having witnessed genuine glee after giving this gift to a number of people, I think it tends to hit the mark. I’m talking gift cards.

What’s great about gift cards is that they allow you to be personal but not presumptuous. Whether your friend loves books, iTunes downloads, a local restaurant, movies, dolls, cosmetics, gardening, or power tools, there’s a gift card out there for you to give to them.

While it’s fun to give gift cards to just about anyone, I love giving them to people I have a friendly relationship with, but whose specific likes and dislikes I don’t really know, like certain babysitters, the school bus driver, and teachers. School-age children tend to feel like they’ve hit the lottery when given a gift card to one of their favorite stores.

Gift cards can be purchased directly from retailers, both at their physical and online stores. To give a gift to the planet, you might consider purchasing the American Express Give Green Gift Card, which can be used just about wherever American Express is accepted. For every Give Green Gift Card purchased, a seventy cent donation is made to American Forests, a non-profit that works to protect and restore forests, and “enhance the natural capital of trees.”

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

iii q.

6:19PM PST on Dec 29, 2011

what's wrong with cold, hard cash???

send a green star

Susan W.

9:16PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

with asthma and allergies the less time i spend in crowded stores with lots of people wearing perfume is a godsend to me.

Thinking of giving one to my dog in shape of a bone. After 9 years what do you buy a dog that has tons of toys and sweaters and coats for winter already. Time i let him choose. haha!!!

9:11PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

I have known people who think gift cards are tacky. I for one think they are wonderful.

I can't count the number of years i've had to endure of receiving scented gifts. Considering i have asthma and allergies these gifts are useless to me. I felt leftout as i watched other people enjoying their gift as i put on a happy face about mine. I also feel bad that the person spent money on a gift that can not be used by me.

My daughter loved getting Starbucks, i-tunes, Tim Hortons, Caire's. She loved to be able to go by herself or with friends and buy something that she likes.

I was just given a gift card to Starbucks by someone who buys their coffee there. I don't drink coffee & their hot choc. sucks. Tim Horton's is more my liking. Though Starbucks makes really good ginger cookies. So i guess i'll use it to buy some treats to eat.

Seeing as i love to garden and this person knows this about me but didn't know whether i drank coffee or liked Starbucks a card to Canadian Tire would have been better.

Sometimes i think people need to stop and think about what the recipient likes and not just get something they like and assume the other person likes it too.

This is why i love gift cards to a whole store where the person can buy what they like or what they truly need.

Gift cards are not impersonal. You are showing the other person you care enough about them that you want to make sure they get a gift they will like and possibly need.

Also for people like me w

Kath R.

5:26AM PST on Dec 19, 2011

I love getting gift cards.

5:18PM PST on Nov 18, 2011

some people feel giving cash or gift cards is cold & thoughtless!

not us!

they are the perfect gifts! the recipient can get what they really want or need, without having the giver's tastes imposed on them...

Tim C.

9:55AM PDT on Nov 3, 2011

thanks

Michele W.

8:22AM PDT on Jun 24, 2011

I love getting these as a gift...and giving them too.

KrassiAWAY B.

12:47PM PDT on May 2, 2011

In Bulgaria we don't have gift cards.

Joy W.

4:55AM PST on Dec 23, 2010

That' s a great idea, thank you.