When I ask people …Say what are you giving for Christmas almost everyone has said cash / gift card. What’s happened to putting a little thought into the gift? Isn’t that what it’s all about? Some of these people are giving cash to kids between the ages 4yrs to 13yrs. I think that’s just silly. What do you think?
I would rather cash or a gift card. I am sick of getting sh!t I don’t need or want. So much for putting thought into it.
well sometimes people don’t know what to give people so they just give them money instead of a gift so the person can just get what they want.
i think it is because they are to lazy/or dont have time to get presents, also they dont know what to get. So they dont want the kid to get mad at them because they got the wrong thing instead they r letting the kid buy it themselves.
I agree, they will be more excited to receive a gift than a gift card.
Idk.. I can see both sides. Personally I would rather get things that are ‘special’, something that reminded them of me. and I like to give the ones I love things I know they will enjoy, but when it comes to like secret santa presents at work, and I dont know the person then yeah gift cards are a great idea!
I’m with you on this one.
Furthermore, a lot of people that are buying gift cards this year are taking a big risk that the store will still be in business after the holiday season. There are a number of very shaky retail stores. This happened with the sharper image last year, and i suspect it will happen again to a few this year.
*Twas the month before Christmas*
*When all through our land,*
*Not a Christian was praying*
*Nor taking a stand.*
*See the PC Police had taken away,*
*The reason for Christmas – no one could say.*
*The children were told by their schools not to sing,*
*About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.*
*It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say*
* December 25th is just a ‘ Holiday ‘.*
*Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit*
*Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!*
*CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod*
*Something was changing, something quite odd! *
*Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa*
*In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.*
*As Targets were hanging their trees upside down*
* At Lowe’s the word Christmas – was no where to be found.*
*At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears*
*You won’t hear the word Christmas; it won’t touch your ears.*
*Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty*
*Are words that were used to intimidate me.*
*Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen*
*On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !*
*At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter*
*To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.*
*And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith*
* Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace*
*The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded*
*The reason for the season, stopped before it started.*
*So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your ‘Dream Tree’*
*Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.*
*Choose your words carefully, choose what you say*
*Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS ,
not Happy Holiday !*
My extended family sends gift cards but I refuse to reciprocate. Part of the gift is taking the time to seek out something specific for the recipient. When they send gift cards to myself and or my kids ; I simply take them and go and buy something for each kid and wrap it and put it under the tree with a label crediting the relative who sent the card.
People just are too cheap to pay for mailing packages.
The only time that I will give a gift card is if it is to someone that I don’t know very well and haven’t a clue as to what they would like.
It is silly but so much more easier than taking time out to find something that your loved ones would enjoy having.
I see (and agree with) your point of view…but like thousands of Americans, I fall victim to the “shortcut”
Cash or gift cards are nice. Sometimes you don’t know people’s sizes or even what they want. Kids – especially older ones love to shop for their selves. It’s nice to have special information about others (say sizes, types of things they like, etc) but sometimes people live far away from each other and this is not always possible.
a gift card would be nice but for little kids id get presents as they would just blow money on candy and stuff they don’t need as for teenagers a gift card or money would be nice to get for them so they can buy what they want a gift card or money would help elderly people too a gift from the heart is what its all about and remember the reason for the season is not about gifts but the birth of our savior jesus and the love jesus puts in our hearts for everyone
I agree. I think its because people are to obsessed with “pleasing” everyone. When I was a kid (and I’m only 23 btw), if I got something I didn’t really want…guess what? I said thank you anyway, because someone took the time to buy or make it for me. What ever happened to its the thought that counts…not how much you spend, or that the gift is perfect?
As for not knowing what they want, why not try asking? All I see is a bunch of excuses. The only reason I can see giving someone cash or a gift card is if they ask for it. (example: My brother and his wife were remodeling their house and asked for home depot cards)
Well thats my opinion. Sorry I’m a bit grinchy this season, I miss when the focus of Christmas wasn’t presents.
I agree sooo much. I really hate giving gift cards as gifts! I very rarely buy them at all, especially at Christmas.
A gift is only a gift when you put thought into it. It shows the person knows you well enough to know what you would like. Who cares if something is the wrong size, exchange it!
Unfortunately I have to buy ONE this year for my brother in a family gift exchange! He said he only wants a giftcard to this or that store, so what I am left to do. He will be the only one that gets a GC from me.
I get a good old fashioned Christmas present every year from she who must be obeyed – a pair of socks. Be grateful for small mercies.
I don’t think it’s silly…
I think it means they’ve lost interest!
I don’t know what to get!
(‘cept for a guitar and a well needed purse since my other one completely fell apart because of the store I bought it at [I had no idea it was cruddy])
So I asked for itunes gift card
iPod charger cord thingy
Target gift card
Mall Of America gift card…
I think it covers everything.
I agree! I hate giving gift cards. It feels lazy and lame. No one feels that excited when they open a plastic card. I can understand that they can go buy what they want, but it takes no thought or time. No love can be given through a plastic card broadcasting the store label. Ugh! Getting gift cards always feels a little disappointing just because part of the excitement of Christmas is finding out what someone picked out just for you. Something straight from their heart! Even if it’s something that doesn’t suit your taste, it’s still special because the other person put thought into it.
This year, we only bought two gift cards (for the same person). They’re for my younger brother who is turning 17 three days after Christmas. He’s very difficult to buy for and requested either gas card or store gift cards for Christmas. I didn’t want to give him gas cards since I know everyone else is for the most part. So I decided on two gift cards (one for Christmas and the other for his birthday) for his two favorite stores. I just hope they’re still in business after the first of the year!
For everyone else, special gifts were picked out for each individual person. We thought about each gift to make sure it would be special and enjoyed. My Mom’s gift is very special to my heart and I know it will be to hers as well. Our 12 year old Akita, Jazzy passed away this past August after we had her for 8 wonderful years. My Mom took it really hard as Jazzy was her fur baby! So, for Christmas we had a book printed of all of our favorite pictures of her to give to my Mom. I know it will make her cry but I know she will love it at the same time.
People resort to cash and gift cards because they’re fast and easy. Everyone is running around like mad people to fit so much in to one day that they skimp on the special moments. My boyfriend and I made sure we didn’t do that. We enjoyed our shopping trips even with the swarms of people and found gifts we were excited to give! I took the time to make handmade bows out of ribbon for each gift and wrapped them in beautiful gift boxes picked for each person. It’s only one day a year, and it deserves to made special! I know they will be grateful for the time and thought as well as the items inside. That alone makes me happy and looking forward to Christmas.
I hope you have a great Christmas!
Brit
Depends on the situation. I never buy gift cards because I want to put some thought into the gift and I tend to handmake most of my xmas gifts. Having said that, I always let people know that for ease on their christmas shopping they can get me a gift card. I am a very frugal shopper and will make sure I have coupons or not spend too much on a specific item, gift cards ensure that I get the most bang for the buck and whoever gave them to me didn’t have to stress over what to get (although I am not hard to please). My kids don’t get gift cards yet (3 to 9 years old) but my oldest may be soon and that honestly doesn’t bother me. I get to teach her how to budget that money out, how to shop with it….it’s a great learning tool if used right.
I think it’s okay if they hae a specifical thing they want to save up for, but if they just want money for spendig on whatever it’s not that fair.
A lot of the time people automatically give me gift cards for Christmas, and i’m kinda like “…oh…” cause I feel like they don’t really care about buying me a personalised gift…hand-picked, you now?
Giving money to a 4 year-old? That’s ridculous!
Hey, I know why people give gift cards! People just do not appreciate any gifts anymore. People do not appreciate them, do not want or like them. Of the last 10 gifts I gave, I don’t think even one was liked or appreciated. I used to e a really good gift giver, what changed?
I am going into this season with dread. I sent a flower arrangement to an Aunt and uncle, I spent $63 dollars on it. I have no idea of their decor, I have never been to their winter vacation home, but I do know the Aunt’s tastes, and made sure there was a little gold in the arrangement. She likes gold. She won’t like the gift, I’d bet on it. I thought tele-flora had nice arrangements, and I picked an elegant one with greenery and candles.
Friends this year in my grade school friends group decided to give small handmade gifts to each other. Only one has the capability to do that year after year, the rest do not. So each one is getting a small ornament and 2 pieces of Xmas candy, one is a peanut butter cup Xmas tree and another is frere du rocher.
2 years ago I decided to give the one who’s name I drew some glass Xmas serving dishes, name brand, she entertains. I caught a big sale, and was able to buy another small dish which I did to make the $20 limit. She told me it was too much, twice.
Another friend is really unhappy with my gifts, so a couple years ago I resorted to giving her gift cards to the craft store. she liked them, but she was really cold about it, so this year I asked if she could just give what she would have given to me to her grandkids, siting the bad economy as a reason. I have not heard from her about it. I will be calling her later and seeing if she is even talking to me about it or in general.
Our work group last year had one man on it, so we all had to buy generic presents. I decided on a gift box of cocoas. With a $10 limit, it was difficult to find anything. I wrapped up really fancy with gold paper and a fabric bow suitable for hanging on a wreath or a tree. It was not liked, either. Thank goodness this year my new work group decided to skip the presents and give to 2 soldiers in combat zones. Great. The gum and cough drops cost less, and I hope the soldier can use or trade or give away what he got. At least he knows that somebody back home cared.
I think that is what is missing, it is the caring thing. Always in the past, people were happy to get a present, the knowing that someone cared enough to buy them something was enough. We are so greedy!
I gave a little bag of Halloween candy to each of my work group. The oldest of us opened the bag, and started of in a loud voice “i don’t like this kind, I don’t like this kind…” there were 6 pieces of name brand chocolate in the bag. She liked 1 of them, the second she said she sorta liked. I could not believe she did that, shut up, give the ones you don’t like to the grandkids, and again, shut up. It was candy for heavens sake, my theory was out of 6 pieces of candy, surely each one of them could find one they liked. I was right, she found one she liked.
So, I am relieved to have gift cards to give. I wrap them nicely, or put them in a nice gift bag, I do not put the person’s name on the bag so it can be reused, I hear that is the polite thing to do. And I am am giving the daughter of a friend [she is 13] a $15 gift card to k-mart [it is what she wants] and she is getting a hand made necklace and earrings [they are professional quality] and they are a little more adult than a 13 year old’s usual jewelry gift, so I hope to have an edge.
I love the movie “While you were Sleeping” The main charactor played by Sandra Bullock goes to “her” new family’s Christmas party with a gift, a poinsettia plant, and was given a gift “from Santa”. She sat and hugged it. I want that back, that feeling, that someone thought enough of you to get a Xmas gift for you, on the idea that you might come to a party.
My Aunt was sending me a Xmas ornament every year for awhile, the outlet store for Lenox was on the way to her vacation home. I liked them all, and sent her a thank you card. But one was special, it was a gingerbread man, all in Lenox trademark beige and pinks. I love it. I would have bought it myself, but I did not knowing there was a possibility that I would get it from Aunt. I did. And I did not care that she got them at discount prices. good for her, smart, too. It was because of those prices that I got a gift! this year and last year I got a check for $25. I always buy something special with it. This year I bought myself a new Artisan mixer for Xmas, and I am telling her that her gift went toward’s that.
I’m a gift hugger, I just wish there were more people that thought that way.
and Jules poem is right, I have to call people as a part of my job. I often say Happy Holidays, I always have, especially if I’m not going to see the person that season. I was corrected on the pphone, I said Happy Holidays and was corrected by the person who told me Merry Christmas in a certain tone of voice that made me know I was not being wished a Merry christmas, but being corrected. So sure let’s use Christmas to protest political correctness. I say let’s not use it, let’s celebrate it, each in our own way, and quit USING it.
Thanks for asking this question.
i just dont buy gifts cards i buy gifts as well some time the cards are easier to get. ..dependes on the person tho..
i agree! i think a gift is alot more meaningful if its personal. id rather have my friend make me a nice card or buy a silly “inside joke” present than an expensive gift anyone could give you. Happy holidays!