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.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 11:28pm
Hi, Taylena. Am glad you responded YOu gave me ideas. I have tons of nieces and nephews, but basically, we're going to get something for DH parent's anniversary, and parents for holidays. I ususally send gc for Figi's, but am looking to do something different. There are essentially no big stores where my mother lives, so I am at a loss on what to give, unless I get a gift certificate to a catalogue she likes. Hey---I would be thrilled with a gc for gas, and so would my DH. He drives all over for work, and gas is still expensive--$2.69/gallon! The gas cards give me ideas, especially for people who have to drive a long distance. whiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 11:30pm
Hi, Pat. The Lowes thing is a good idea, too. I did get DH a gc last year for Kragen auto parts stuff. That way, he could get floor mats, windshield washer fluid, wiper blades, etc---the things he always forgets to get. WHiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-12-2004
Thu, 11-17-2005 - 11:32pm
Hi, poodlepower. Thanks for the tip on mailing gc. All of the extended family lives back east, so rather than send them in an envelope, I think I will ask if they can be sent to them. Whiz.
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-14-2003
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 1:35am

My mom and dad live in a small town also. In years past I have called up a local store and ordered a gift certificate. They are happy to take my information and always offered to mail it to my parents or to me. This has worked for a local hair salon that my mom goes to and a hardware store that my dad likes.

Hope this helps.

Windy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2005
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 6:24am

I LOVE gift cards! DH and I are on a very tight budget, and my mom has started giving gift cards to me for my birthday or Christmas. I bought new shoes with the one to Nordstrom (I went to Nordstrom Rack - their clearance center) I got a $100 pair of shoes for $50, and they'll last for years. There's no way I could have bought $50 shoes, even though I didn't have any warm winter shoes. I would have bought cheap ones and replaced them next year. I also got a gift card to Bath and Body Works. My mom knows I love their lotions, and I wait for the half yearly sale to use the card. I wouldn't buy fancy lotion right now with money being tight, but it makes me feel so pretty to wear something I love, and my mom knows that.

My DH and I received gift cards to Target when we got married, and loved them. We bought our pots and pans, an entryway table, and a few other items. We even used some of the $$ on the cards for maternity clothes when I was pregnant 4 months after our wedding.

I've also received gift cards to Gap, Starbucks, Macy's, and a few other places. I like those because they're pretty upscale, and I can save the cards for a real treat for myself. I just love that!

Image hosted by Photobucket.com


Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com


Image hosted by Photobucket.com
Image hosted by Photobucket.com

Lilypie Baby Pic
Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 9:13am

Glad to hear someone else loves the idea of mcDonald's gift card w/a toy. I'm definitely going that route for the kids we have to give to.

MYM

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-10-2005
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 11:53am

I'd be thrilled if I got a gift card, especially for stuff that I have to buy anyway. I keep asking my parents to get me one for the grocery store but so far no luck. Dad just says if you want groceries just come over and we'll go out and get you some. He just wants me to come around more often. :)

My cousin and her boyfriend always get gift certificates to resturuants and the movie theater. They really seem to like it.

The gift certificates to McDonalds are lots of fun for the kids. I usually pick some up for my cousin's kids and then offer to take them out to McDonalds. The kids all love that because I'll let them play in the Play Place and not try to rush them around like their parents.

Avatar for mymartes
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 11:56am

You want to come over and take me kids to McDonald. LOL!!!

MYM

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-07-2005
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 12:53pm

I love to get gift cards! I especially love them for restaurants because I don't always want to cook, and we certainly can't afford it all the time.

I gave gift cards last year! Everyone got $25 for different places depending on their interests, Ulta, Best Buy, Kohls, Borders, Petsmart (my mom was looking to adopt a cat, so I nudged her a little), Booksfree.com, We concentrated more on our kids last year.

This year I've been diligent on our shopping and have kept almost everyone around $20, except the kids. I'm making blankets for a lot of people, and throwing in those mix in a jar things. We're doing it as cheaply as possible.

We are almost done! I need to buy fabric for the blankets and get those started! Whew!

Michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Fri, 11-18-2005 - 12:58pm

Hi Whiz!

Yeah, we're doing them too. I actually spend less money when we DON'T do gift cards, because I ususally hit the sales and get things for a lot less than the gift card (a shirt for $13 instead of $25 on a gift card), but DH has 6 grandkids, I have 5 nephews. DH and I love to go out for a good steak, so family ususally gets us gift cards. We are being so frugal this year, and grandkids are getting $5 cards for McDonalds. Yeah, I feel horrible, but they are all scattered and we hardly see them, ranging in age from 3 to 15. DH's adult kids get gift cards for grocery store. Also have two Dec birthdays in there, so we have to deal with those! Two of my nephews are in their teens and would rather have $$ anyway for things they are saving for, so I go to the mall and get the Visa gift cards so they can use them anywhere.

My brother and his wife are on a tight budget too, so I'll probably get them certs for Home Depot or BB&B to get things for the house.

Kathy

  Image hosting by Photobucket