The Gift Card

Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
The Gift Card
15
Thu, 12-21-2006 - 6:37pm

How do you feel about giving/getting gift cards?

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Avatar for northwestwanderer
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
In reply to: cl_shywon
Thu, 12-21-2006 - 7:16pm

Love getting them AND giving them! I usually will give them in combination with something more personal though...and since I prefer to get a gift card rather than cash, that's why I give them (the whole do unto others thingie). I always feel like cash ends up going to pay the mortgage or something, whereas I *have* to get something for myself with a gift card, ya know? So that's why I prefer getting them.

I gave my teen nephews and niece Barnes & Noble gift cards rather than picking out gifts for them because I don't really know their taste any more. So they can get a couple books or CDs or DVDs--whatever they want. For my mom & sisters, I got them each some jewelry I thought they'd like, AND a gift card. So that way if it turns out they don't like what I picked out, they can still get something they like with the gift card, LOL.

Sheri

Avatar for cfk_3
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-1999
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 2:32am

I went to Walmart tonight at 10:30 and still had to wait in line, couldn't believe it. I'm so excited though, I found a massage pillow there for $35 with kneading balls inside of it. It's almost as good as the ones in the malls. You know the ones that you put $1-$5 in and they massage anywhere from 1-5 minutes? I tried it out when I got home to make sure that it wasn't bogus and it's great! I'm sorry, I had to share that ... I got it for mom and dad. She is always asking him to rub her neck. I'm very pleased!

Okay, gift cards. They tend to stay in my purse and get forgotten. I usually use up my Starbucks card(s) but just a couple of months ago I had to toss one for a mall that originally had a balance of $50. I didn't realize that if you didn't use it, after so many months they start deducting money from it. I went to purchase something and had a zero balance. I have another one (also over a year old) for Pier 1 and I am hoping that it has some cash left on it!

Like you, I do not enjoy giving them. Although, I must say that they come in handy when in a pinch. I enjoy the whole process of picking the present out, wrapping it and seeing their expressions when they open the gift.

I laughed about your mother buying ugly clothes for you. Mine does that too. Every once in a while, I'll get something wearable. I tell her every year, "If you have to get something for me, please don't get clothes." and it never fails, every year, I find another rectangular box sitting under the tree. Gotta love 'em though : ) They try!

Sorry, I drank two cups of coffee before I went to Wally World and as you can see, I'm still experiencing the effects!

-- This is bbw by the way. I forgot I had this screen name (from a couple of years back) and decided to start using it instead. The CFK_3 is an ode to Jack White, of the White Stripes and the Racounteurs.




Edited 12/22/2006 2:45 am ET by cfk_3
Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 10:28am

I've had gift cards that I forgot about too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 10:31am

I totally agree. I am not a big fan of giving them but I LOVE receiving them. LOL

Only because people never know what to give me so they almost always give me bubble bath and bath and body works stuff or candles. And I can't use bubble bath because I'll get a yeast infection and I have so many bath and body works scents I don't even know what to do with. It just gets overwhelming when every year you get 5 sets of bath and body works. THe past two years I've gotten wine from my boss, I am like SCORE. I like that much better than the body lotion she got me the first year. LOL

This year my friend just flat out asked me what I wanted so I sent her a link to a martini set I wanted that was like 20 bucks. So I'm hoping she ordered it.

I too enjoy finding the perfect gift for someone and do not like receiving lists from people telling me what they want. But if I am really stuck I'll ask. For example I have a friend with 3 little ones, I bought her two littlest ones gifts and I couldn't think of a thing to get her oldest, she told me cold hard cash because he loves money. So I got him a crisp new 20 dollar bill and put it in a card.

Smile,

Deirdre

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-15-2005
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 10:49am

LOL - I'm the same as you - I love getting them because I buy things I'd never get myself otherwise. I just got a set of ruby earrings and a ruby necklace with a gift card. I would never have gone off to buy that for myself.

But I don't like to give them either. I like putting thought into a gift and thinking about how pleased the recipient will be with their present.


iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 11:13am
My mother knows not to buy me clothes unless she runs them by my father first. He and I have the same taste. She and I do not.

Smile,

Deirdre

Avatar for cfk_3
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-1999
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 11:21am
That is unusual, isn't it? Your DAD has good taste in clothes!? My mother has outfitted my father since they were married : ) Lucky you, though!
Avatar for cfk_3
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-14-1999
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 11:23am
Well, good luck ... may the two minute line fairies be with you today ; )
iVillage Member
Registered: 08-16-2005
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 11:37am

My father was a clothing buyer for a department store for 22 years before they closed so he knows how to pick out clothes and he knows what I like. While my mother tends to buy clothes that SHE likes instead of buying clothes that ***I*** would like.

It isn't that the clothes are ugly per se just that they aren't my style, more my mom's style.

Smile,

Deirdre

Avatar for cl_shywon
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
In reply to: cl_shywon
Fri, 12-22-2006 - 11:39am

I have a closet full of BBW stuff, too.

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