Comments on: Love Them or Hate Them, Make the Most of Gift Cards this Holiday Season

By: Affluent Pauper

Affluent Pauper — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 19:02:47 +0000

If you’re a business owner giving a gift to another business owner, the IRS allows you to write off up to a max. of $25 per gift.

By: Paul in Michigan

Paul in Michigan — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 18:30:53 +0000

I only get gift cards for people. My kids are too picky and they are spread out over the country. I stumbledupon (literally, that tool is great if you shop a lot) a site called giftzip (www.giftzip.com) that, from what I can tell, is just a giant hyperlinked directory to retailers that let you send cards by email. It saved me a ton of time and I never had to set foot in a store or deal with traffic. Sue me if you think it is impersonal, my kids love it and I’m done shopping.

By: Being Frugal at Christmas Time - Lynnae’s Christmas Tips | Money Smart Life

Sun, 07 Dec 2008 17:57:37 +0000

[...] Love Them or Hate Them, Make the Most of Gift Cards this Holiday Season @ Frugal Dad [...]

By: RCDL Roundup - On the First Day of Xmas | Rich Credit Debt Loan

RCDL Roundup - On the First Day of Xmas | Rich Credit Debt Loan — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 13:33:30 +0000

[...] Frugal Dad says Love Them or Hate Them, Make the Most of Gift Cards this Holiday Season. [...]

By: Lauren Limon

Lauren Limon — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 16:55:16 +0000

Haha, I went to comment, then read the comment above. I was going to say that I was a teacher until this year and received Dunkin Donuts gift cards, which was awesome except I’m in a very small minority of teachers who hates both coffee and donuts!

So my suggestion is: Use those unwanted giftcards for bloggy give-aways! My $10 parting giftcard from June, is currently up for grabs for whoever guesses my baby’s birthday and size.

By: Rebecca Rivera

Rebecca Rivera — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 05:22:35 +0000

HI! For my birthday someone got me a Visa giftcard from Walgreen’s. I was so appreciative. However I noticed it cost them $4.95 to buy me that card, plus the value on the card. The worse thing was that because it was like a credit card but not registered (like in my name & address) no where would take it. I tried online at three different stores I liked. No good. I tried at the gas station, it also did not work. It finally worked at a store, but by then I was so frustrated. So these are not the same as cash. I think homemade gifts, food gifts (that are homemade preferably), or cash is best.

Exception: I do give all the teachers, garbage men, and post woman gift cards to Dunkin Donuts. I can not give them cash and I know they do not need another $5 candle, etc.

-Becky R in NJ

By: FF

FF — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:03:15 +0000

LOL! I am definitely a big regifter. No one would no. The best one is when you get a gift card and regift it back to them, then tell them that you got it because you knew how much they enjoyed it. Works every time.

By: Friday Finance Findings for December 5th : Generation X Finance

Friday Finance Findings for December 5th : Generation X Finance — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 16:57:18 +0000

[...] Love Them or Hate Them, Make the Most of Gift Cards this Holiday Season – Whether you like them or not, chances are you may receive a gift card for Christmas this year. Not much you can do about it once you already receive one, but you can at least make the most of them. [...]

By: Concetta

Concetta — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:30:06 +0000

I would also recommend for teenagers using a cash card service like Facecard. I’ve been a member for awhile so I can give $$$ to my teenage cousins and they have told me that they’re very happy with it – they don’t lose the gift (like cash) and they can use it anywhere like a debit card.

And it never hurts that when I forget to buy a gift, I can send money fairly quickly! LOL

I’ve also done well with giving Amazon.com gift cards to teenagers – they can buy a lot more there than anywhere else.

By: Froogirl

Froogirl — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 14:17:36 +0000

What #14, Jon Kepler said. My husband typically gives me a gift card for a store I love but shopping in it is an indulgence. The value to me in the gift is as much about the shopping experience as the items I buy. My parents generally give me a gift card to a clothing store I frequent. I use it in the January sales. I much prefer that to my ILs who spend more than that and give me clothing from the same store (sans gift receipt) that almost always is something I either don’t like or need.