Gift Cards or Cash?

Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:16 am

After years of getting gift cards for christmas, I started to wonder why anyone buys these things to give out. Is cash really that impersonal? How much more thought does it take to give someone a gift card over cash (which mind you can be used anywhere and doesn't expire). I want to see what everyone else thinks on this subject, so post and poll away.

Post by **Atx_Versa** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 8:27 am

I like cash...that way if I dont spend it all, I have the option to throw into my savings.

Post by **mightyversa** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:13 am

I like cash because I will not be limited to where and what I can buy. With cash, I can go where I want and buy what I want whenever I want, so yeah, better than a gift card!

Post by **Knightro2** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 10:21 am

Unless you get a Visa or American Express gift card. That is normally what I do instead of limiting someone to where they can buy stuff.

Post by **faction** » Mon Dec 22, 2008 7:14 pm

gift cards can be useful for those people who you know would spend it on crack or something stupid if left to their own devices.

at least if I give a card to kohl's, I know the recipient has a good chance of getting some new clothes or a blender or something.

but cash is nice too. especially if a person has some bills they have to pay. (like how in the heck am I going to afford the next propane fill-up for my home!)

Post by **CopyChief** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:28 am

I used to be a huge fan of gift cards for last-minute gifts. Cash has a fun factor that cards can't match because spending it is harder to track and purchases, even small ones, can feel so frivolous. A close second to cash, I think, are the new(er) Visa stored value cards. They're fun and unrestricted in terms of where you can spend them -- not quite as free from restrictions as cash, of course, but not confined to one store or shopping center.

Post by **Urq** » Tue Dec 23, 2008 5:34 am

CASH is KING!