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No guilt trips over holiday gift cards; they’ve been at the top of wish lists for eight years No guilt trips over holiday gift cards; they’ve been at the top of wish lists for eight years
(about 13 hours later)
My husband and I were talking with our children about what they wanted for Christmas. All of them are in their teens, and any pretense of Santa has long been gone. The holiday has become their chance to break down our frugal barriers.My husband and I were talking with our children about what they wanted for Christmas. All of them are in their teens, and any pretense of Santa has long been gone. The holiday has become their chance to break down our frugal barriers.
But we do love to hear their squeals of delight at finally getting a coveted item. And then there are the gifts that fail.But we do love to hear their squeals of delight at finally getting a coveted item. And then there are the gifts that fail.
Last year, my husband bought our now-14-year-old daughter, Jillian, what he thought was the prettiest sweater. I warned him that she wouldn’t like it. But he loved the multicolored design and was convinced she would love it, too.Last year, my husband bought our now-14-year-old daughter, Jillian, what he thought was the prettiest sweater. I warned him that she wouldn’t like it. But he loved the multicolored design and was convinced she would love it, too.
When she opened the gift box, she turned to me and said: “Mommy, I think Dad made a mistake. This sweater has to be for you. The pattern on the sweater is something an old person would like.”When she opened the gift box, she turned to me and said: “Mommy, I think Dad made a mistake. This sweater has to be for you. The pattern on the sweater is something an old person would like.”
She laughed. My husband was crestfallen, although he laughed, too. But I was ready to give her college fund to her brother. I’m not that old.She laughed. My husband was crestfallen, although he laughed, too. But I was ready to give her college fund to her brother. I’m not that old.
This year, as the kids were rattling off what they wanted, I whispered to my husband, “Gift cards.”This year, as the kids were rattling off what they wanted, I whispered to my husband, “Gift cards.”
He and I no longer have any gift-card guilt. And we are not alone.He and I no longer have any gift-card guilt. And we are not alone.
Total spending on gift cards is expected to reach $31.74 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Gift cards have been the most requested holiday item eight years in a row. The federation said total spending on gift cards has increased 83 percent since 2003, when it began tracking people’s intentions to give the cards as holiday presents.Total spending on gift cards is expected to reach $31.74 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Gift cards have been the most requested holiday item eight years in a row. The federation said total spending on gift cards has increased 83 percent since 2003, when it began tracking people’s intentions to give the cards as holiday presents.
You don’t even have to give folks a physical plastic card. You can purchase electronic cards that can be delivered to a person’s smartphone. And it saves you the hassle of fighting crowds at the mall.You don’t even have to give folks a physical plastic card. You can purchase electronic cards that can be delivered to a person’s smartphone. And it saves you the hassle of fighting crowds at the mall.
It used to be that a gift card was seen as the lazy person’s gift of choice. For some, it shows a lack of creativity or thoughtfulness. But in a country where so many have so much and don’t really need anything, we should embrace the truth that gift cards are convenient. They relieve you of the stress of finding gifts for people who are hard to please. They help folks like me who don’t know what’s in or what’s cool. No more sweater slip-ups.It used to be that a gift card was seen as the lazy person’s gift of choice. For some, it shows a lack of creativity or thoughtfulness. But in a country where so many have so much and don’t really need anything, we should embrace the truth that gift cards are convenient. They relieve you of the stress of finding gifts for people who are hard to please. They help folks like me who don’t know what’s in or what’s cool. No more sweater slip-ups.
If you’re giving a card, here are some guilt-free shopping tips:If you’re giving a card, here are some guilt-free shopping tips:
●Do some one-stop shopping. I love that many supermarket chains and big retailers have large selections of specialty gift cards for restaurants, movie theaters and other stores. So don’t waste time going from store to store.●Do some one-stop shopping. I love that many supermarket chains and big retailers have large selections of specialty gift cards for restaurants, movie theaters and other stores. So don’t waste time going from store to store.
●Keep the receipts. On a few occasions, a gift card wouldn’t register when I tried to redeem it. Unfortunately, the giver hadn’t kept the receipt proving that money had been loaded on the card.●Keep the receipts. On a few occasions, a gift card wouldn’t register when I tried to redeem it. Unfortunately, the giver hadn’t kept the receipt proving that money had been loaded on the card.
●Give more than the card. To personalize the gift card, include a handwritten note. If I’m giving a gift card from a bookstore, I might pair it with a journal, pen or bookmark and the note. If I’ve ordered an electronic gift card, I’ll get a greeting card and write a note so I can hand the person something.●Give more than the card. To personalize the gift card, include a handwritten note. If I’m giving a gift card from a bookstore, I might pair it with a journal, pen or bookmark and the note. If I’ve ordered an electronic gift card, I’ll get a greeting card and write a note so I can hand the person something.
●Be creative about how you present the gift card. I’ve found some really cool cardholders. For a few dollars, you can buy holders that look like tiny purses. Or make your own cardholder. When I was searching for ideas online, I saw a creative suggestion courtesy of Pinterest from someone who was giving a gift card from Starbucks. The gift giver made the cup look like a mocha frappuccino by lining the inside of the cup with brown paper and adding white tissue paper at the top to look like whipped cream. You might use old movie stubs to decorate the wrapping for a movie gift card. On Pinterest, search for “creative gift card wrapping.”●Be creative about how you present the gift card. I’ve found some really cool cardholders. For a few dollars, you can buy holders that look like tiny purses. Or make your own cardholder. When I was searching for ideas online, I saw a creative suggestion courtesy of Pinterest from someone who was giving a gift card from Starbucks. The gift giver made the cup look like a mocha frappuccino by lining the inside of the cup with brown paper and adding white tissue paper at the top to look like whipped cream. You might use old movie stubs to decorate the wrapping for a movie gift card. On Pinterest, search for “creative gift card wrapping.”
●Don’t be embarrassed to give what you can afford. Some folks overspend on a gift card because they think a low dollar amount makes them look miserly. If you can afford just a $5 or $10 card, give it without shame. You may get recipients who will comment negatively on the amount or show their displeasure in some way. But that’s their issue, not yours. They are showing themselves to be ungrateful, and their bad behavior will save you money next year because you should strike them from your list.●Don’t be embarrassed to give what you can afford. Some folks overspend on a gift card because they think a low dollar amount makes them look miserly. If you can afford just a $5 or $10 card, give it without shame. You may get recipients who will comment negatively on the amount or show their displeasure in some way. But that’s their issue, not yours. They are showing themselves to be ungrateful, and their bad behavior will save you money next year because you should strike them from your list.
Readers may write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 or michelle.singletary@washpost.com. To read previous Color of Money columns, go to postbusiness.com. A photo posted by Get There (@gettherewp) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:15am PST
A photo posted by Get There (@gettherewp) on Nov 11, 2014 at 8:15am PST
Readers may write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071 or michelle.singletary@washpost.com. To read previous Color of Money columns, go to wapo.st/michelle-singletary.