I guess its not too early to agonize over gift giving. I used to dread shopping for holiday gifts for friends and family… what do they want, what size, what color, will they like it, can they return it??? In addition, all the crowded stores and TIME it takes to look for things and return them after. (Bah Humbug!)
In the past few years I’ve decided to make it easy on myself and purchase PLASTIC. Yes, the perfect gift for anyone… GIFT CARDS!! 
I love that you can buy gift cards from any place or online, from restaurants, salons, hardware stores or ANY store. I’m actually looking forward to the Holidays this year. ( big sigh of relief).
GIFT CARD PROS…
Easy to buy (go to the store or online).
Easy to mail (no long lines at the post office, and the cost to mail a package).
Easy to wrap .
Easy to store until the Holidays.
One size fits all.
They get to buy what they really like.
No return lines.
Everyone likes them (except little kids. They want a real tangible toy).
GIFT CARD CONS…
You don’t get to unwrap a great big gift (unless you put the card in a big box and wrap it, I’ve done that before).
So, If you want to make your life a lot easier and less stressful this Holiday. Gift Cards are great! Do any of you buy gift cards? Do you like to recieve them as a gift? How do you wrap or package them creatively to give as a gift? Do tell…
1. Cathy you are right on target!!!!! I also love gift cards! they make fabulous gifts, and I try and come up with creative ways to give them….tucked in a box of chocolates….inserted in a new wallet or glove, they always look nice with a bottle of holiday spirits!
Thanks for the reminder and to boot you can always hit “after holiday sales” and even get more bang for your buck!
thanks again,
alli
by Alli — 11/8/07 at 8:12 am #
2. Hi Cathy…we’ve never lived near family, so we LOVE gift cards!
Another idea is to cleverly package them in something tangible…like a coffee mug or stationary box. How about including it with a pretty “to do” list note pad, with the first to-to being “go shopping!”?
Susan Smith
http://www.roomsthatwork.com
by Susan Smith — 11/8/07 at 10:42 am #
3. Great ideas Alli,
Arn’t gift cards great. Just thought of a few more ways to give them…
Place a gift card underneith a clear glass dessert dish, when the recipient is through with dessert, the card appears.
Tape or glue the card in the paws of a cute stuffed animal.
Tape a ribbon on the card and hang it in the christmas tree for someone to find. Or buy 20 cards with $5. on each card and decorate the tree with them.
A million ways to give them….
by Cathy — 11/8/07 at 1:29 pm #
4. Love your ideas too Susan,
A few more…..
If the card is to a jewerly store, place it in a little jewerly box, or drill a little hole in the card and attach it to an inexpensive necklace or braclet.
For a man, if the cards to a hardware store, place it inside of some work gloves.
If the cards for someone who likes to scrapbook, make a cute scrapbooking page about shopping with it.
Alright….time to quit LOL.
by Cathy — 11/8/07 at 1:42 pm #
5. Hi Cathy,
The best gift that I can give and receive from family and friends is a gift card. That answers all of the problems and makes life so less complex. Shopping to buy something that the person does not need or want is so frustrating. And many times you are given gifts that you really don’t need. The gift card enables me to buy something for someone else many times.
I love the gift card! Thanks for reminding me to get mine in check.
by Betty — 11/8/07 at 4:08 pm #
6. Hi Cathy,
I have already started buying my gift cards. I feel so much better that I am getting that part done. I am not giving big money cards as I did last year. Everything is so much higher.
Carla
by Carla — 11/8/07 at 7:34 pm #
7. You’re so right Betty,
Everyone I’ve given cards to just loved to get them. Even if its for a small amount. At least they can get what they want or put some money with it and save for what they want. Life is too short to waste trying to find the “perfect gift”.
Thanks for the great comment and Happy Shopping.
by Cathy — 11/8/07 at 9:25 pm #
8. Hi Cathy,
I like to include a gift card with a special ornament. Nothing too expensive, just something that shows you thought about the recipient and it will still give them something to remember for the next holiday season! Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!!
by lynn — 11/8/07 at 11:00 pm #
9. I’m with you Carla,
The cards don’t have to be BIG money. Just buy what you would normally spend to buy the gift. I think you can get the cards in $5. amounts. Most of the people I know are thrilled with anything. Don’t fill like you have to spend more than you normally would… I don’t.
by Cathy — 11/9/07 at 12:38 pm #
10. A great idea Lynn,
Love the ornament idea, it just “Dresses” up the card a bit, and is a rememberance from you.
Happy Thanksgiving to you too!!!
by Cathy — 11/9/07 at 12:42 pm #
11. If you are giving a “dinner out” gift card it can be fun to wrap it in a chinese cardboard takeout box or put a paper plate in a box with a plastic fork and paper holiday napkin and place your gift card in the middle of the plate.
But my newest phase in gift cards is to try to choose something extra special — like an expensive dessert place or chocolate store or an exclusive beauty salon etc. so that the person gets to experience something special they wouldn’t normally indulge in.
joan kosmachuk
http://simpleeffects.com
by Joan [...] — 11/9/07 at 5:59 pm #
12. Really cute ideas for gift cards Joan.
Love the idea of giving a card to a fun, out-of-the-ordinary place that you wouldn’t buy for yourself… dessert place, spa, nail salon, facial, massage, cooking class, theater, interior design consultation, car wash and detail, flower store, make-up redo, teeth whitening, the list goes on and on….
Thanks for the great ideas!
by Cathy — 11/9/07 at 9:24 pm #
13. I love getting gift cards and I also love the ease of giving them. But I still like the traditional gift giving too. I know it takes time that none of of seem to have (isn’t that really sad), but it just doesn’t seem as personal somehow. Maybe we all just became too privileged/spoiled that we are not as appreciative as we should be when someone gives us a gift? Maybe we just have too much already.
by doraan — 11/18/07 at 11:24 pm #
14. Hi Doraan,
I agree with you. I do give gifts as well as gift cards. Some people are so hard to shop for, that gifts cards seem to be the answer. Yes, its a shame that the Holidays have become so hectic that we can’t take the time we want to enjoy it more. Maybe when that happens its time to cut back and simplify a bit.
Thanks so much for your comments.
by Cathy — 11/19/07 at 12:05 pm #