Anyone doing gift cards this year?

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Anyone doing gift cards this year?
22
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 5:18pm
Hi, all. Have been reading posts on Christmas shopping, etc. I thought about baking cookies, nutrolls, etc., but am not sure if that is OK or not. Some of my friends are diabetic, watching waistlines, etc. Sooo-what about gift cards? Is anyone doing them? Do they go to waste, and people not use them? I want to keep the amount small $50 for parents, $25 or so for close friends). I thought about gasoline cards or grocery cards or gift certificates, but I am hesitant to give those. Restaurant cards or gift certificates? Do people use these? Would you be happy if you got a gift card to, say, Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond, or not? Thanks. Whiz.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 5:34pm
I LOVE it when I receive gift cards. I love store gift cards! I also would not mind a restaurant one. One of my favorites was a Starbucks gift card! YUM!
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-1999
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 6:05pm
Yeah, I agree...gift cards for a coffee hut or starbucks would be fun, also one to a restaurant...something that treats you & makes you think of who gave it to you, also maybe a movie rental place. I received one for Target once...but I purchased a bunch of stuff & just used it to help pay for the cart full, so it wasn't all that SPECIAL I guess.
Happy Shopping & Thanksgiving
cindylee
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 6:19pm
Hi, CLee and all. Thanks for the hints. Starbucks! That is a great idea. I was just in there, and didnt look to see if they had them or not. Oooohhh--the holiday coffees are great, and so are those scones! I did get a gift card for a friend who was moving to Colorado with her DH and son, and I didnt know what all was there (in her town), so I got her a Target gift card, and she said she used it for stuff for her son. I might try the Bed, Bath, and Beyond place. Thanks for ideas. Whiz.
Avatar for cl_beckymk
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 6:31pm

I know *I* would use them!!!!!

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 7:18pm
Hi, Becky. You are right---I guess I have to be careful where I get gift cards. Most people, I think, use bath stuff. I told DH I want a nice mixer and/or a recipe album. That is it. Then again, if one of my bills gets paid off, that will be enough. I dont have a lot of $$ this year, so I might get my MIL a magazine subscription--something like that. Whiz.
Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 7:31pm

I enjoy getting gift cards. Not that I get much or any. However, I like giving them. I wonder what would be a decent amount. I thought about giving McDonald's gift cards this Christmas to some kids including my neieces. Would it seem too cheap? I thought about a $5 gift card to McDonald and a cheap toy. For my husband's best friend (the jerk...for those who remember last year's story), I thought about a $25 gift card to a restaurant for him and his wife.

Our budget is very, very tight this year. We most likely end up charging all presents. (Construction on the house has drained us out.)

MYM

MYM

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 8:38pm

I do my points where you get e-mails and look at offers and I have their CC. I rarely buy anything from the offers (I just bought Polar Express from Overstock for 15 something but I think that's the first thing in a year). Anyway--from that I'm giving

$10-gift card to Starbucks for grandmother who adores coffee
$20-gift cards to gas stations-DH & I disagree I want to give these with homemade goodies to his uncle and grandfather who fit in the have everything category plus we only see them once a year so I just don't know their interests that well. DH thinks that's rude, has no alternative suggestions but thinks we should use the gift cards for holiday travel
$10-Blockbuster gift card for niece-they rent/go to movies all the time

I think I just have enough points now for a $10 Boston Market gift certificate and I'll buy another $10 for FIL. His wife is undergoing cancer treatment and he does not cook so I thought this would be helpful (I already had her gift bought prior to the cancer news).

Personally, I would love gift cards for restaurants or the truly practical gas cards.

Taleyna

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 8:54pm

I did get a Lowes giftcard for my Dad for $40 this year. He's got a new workshop at his house (kind of a retirement hobby), and I figured he could get whatever he wanted with it.

I think giftcards are a great idea. Sometimes they're great for helping to stay within a budget. For example, my husband loves going to our local Hobbytown USA store for all sorts of goodies for himself, and each trip he was spending over $100. So I went to the store and got a giftcard for $100, and I told him to make it last 4-6 months. So he knows he's always got money available for his hobbies (up to his limit, of course) and doesn't have to ask me for money or ask how much money he can spend.

Pat :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2004
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 9:00pm

Ooo! I definite LOVE the idea of the McD's gift cards and a small toy!! I have a 7 y/o, and I know for certain that if he received a McD's giftcard, he'd be bouncing around the room saying, "Let's go to McDonalds now, Mom!!! I want some chicken nuggets and french fries!!" LOL! :-D I think that's a fantastic idea. :-D

Pat :-D

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 9:01pm
I love gift cards. I think it's great to be able to go and get something I really want..especially right after the holidays when stores have the massive clearance sales to get rid of the extra holiday stuff. I would love a gift card from just about anywhere! I'm thinking of the same thing, but I have my parents, lots of siblings, niece, nephew...and then hubby's family. It's so stressful to have to afford to buy so many people gifts. I like gift cards also because it's easy on the shipping expenses. I know best buy gives you free shipping if you order a gift card, and it gets mailed to the recipients. I like that much better because some of the people I have to buy for don't check email, and I know that a lot of cash and gift cards get stolen in the mail because some people know that if the envelope is the shape of a card, it most likely has something in it. My dad has worked for the postal service for 30+ years so I've heard all kinds of stories.

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