Don’t you hate it when grandma buys you a sweater for Christmas that you know for a fact you will never wear and will have to make a trip to the store to return?
Buying gifts is not easy because people are picky. In fact, we return 10% of all gifts after Christmas.
Cash is thoughtless. At least when you get a gift card, people 
think of you while shopping and the effort you put into choosing the right one.
While some cards are annoying, others make great practical gifts and keep your spending in check in the process. Check out these 10 places to get a great gift card without spilling your Eggnog:
10. Prepaid Visa Gift Card
The granddaddy of all gift cards – practical, affordable as you can load any amount of money on it, useful no matter where you go. Some see lack of imagination, I see choices.
Give a prepaid Visa gift card.
9. Bed Bath & Beyond Gift Card
For women this store never disappoints. Some things aren’t cheap, but there are plenty of goodies I could spend hours looking at before buying. From practical and affordable kitchenware to candles and towels – fun doesn’t end at leaving the store.
Give Bed Bath & Beyond gift card.
8. Gas Card
This may sound like a lame idea but people hate paying for gas. Next time they fill up, they’ll be thinking of you! Beats the heck out of grandma’s sweater.
7. Etsy Gift Card
Some of the most amazing things can be found on this craft site. If typical is not your thing, check out Etsy, where even $20 can go a long way.
6. Victoria’s Secret Gift Card
Five panties for $25? Hello!! Fact: women like to feel sexy. If you are a clueless guy this year, you can’t go wrong with a gift card for Vicky’s. Just be sure it’s not for your mom (or grandma).
Give Victoria’s Secret gift card.
5. Newegg Gift Card
A nerd heaven, Newegg is my go-to place for electronics. Electronics are typically expensive, but even a small amount of money can buy something practical and fun on Newegg.
4. Walmart / Target Gift Card
If Walmart and Target are your recipient’s common destinations for shopping, why not give them something that will directly save money out of pocket while reminding of you at the same time? Stuff is fairly cheap in these stores so you don’t have to wreak havoc on your bank account.
3. Starbucks Gift Card
Cheers me up every time! Peppermint Mocha? Yes please! Want to be super awesome? Let them know the next several cups of the world’s most addicting coffee are on you!
2. Amazon Gift Card
The range of products on Amazon is short of mind-blowing. Whether they’re into sushi sets, Lego sets or movie sets – all sorts of neat stuff can be found on Amazon … on a budget!
1. Their Favorite Restaurant Gift Card
Yummy yummy food! Who doesn’t love to eat? To make this an awesome gift, make sure to get a card that will pay for two people (you want them to have fun with company without worrying about costs). Also, check to see that their favorite restaurant is nearby and won’t make them spend the same amount of money on gas just to get there. Don’t get me wrong, I love thoughtful gifts, but nothing is more exciting than the thought of my favorite meal in my tummy. Oh… and I didn’t have to pay for it!
Good post Veronica. I love getting gift cards because I can then buy what I would like, which means I know it’ll get used. We buy gift cards for several family members and try to get them to places we know they like but never take themselves to because they might not spend on themselves.
John S @ Frugal Rules recently posted..Giveaway: Four Simple Ways to Save Money on Groceries
It’s a great way to get someone to try something new isn’t it? I gave one to my mom several years back for a spa because she’e never been to one, now she won’t shut up about how great it was haha.
Hah, the boy adores Newegg too! He purchases the bulk of his electronics from there and receives a nifty discount. The VS and Bed, Bath and Beyond are neat ideas because normally I wouldn’t think to spend money on those things, making a gift card a rare but special indulgence. (Psst, wonder if Nordstrom offer gift cards?
)
Jennifer Lynn @ Broke-Ass Mommy recently posted..Win $100 Cash with the ‘How to Save Money on Grocery Shopping’ Giveaway!!
Oh yeah, Nordstrom has gift cards, you better bet on it!
Great idea. I love getting gifts of things that people really need and can use. Things like gas and grocery coupons are perfect for that.
Miss T @ Prairie Eco-Thrifter recently posted..How Controlling Holiday Spending is Like Controlling Your Holiday Weight Gain
Right?! I wish the last card I got for a restaurant next town over was a Walmart card instead… Much more practical and closer.
Maybe because I don’t need many things I wouldn’t want a gift card for a special store, although you can’t really go wrong with the ones on your list. I would take the Visa card, or maybe Victoria Secret
I usually give cash to my little brother, with a nice packaging, so he can spend it wherever. My own personal gift card!
Pauline recently posted..How to save money on grocery shopping
I found out about the Visa cards from one of my employers. He would give me one every Christmas
Very useful cards! For a while there was a bug where you could purchase things with 0 balance. I think Visa realized it and fixed it fast.
At my husband’s job, they’ll have these random giveaways for Starbuck’s gift cards. When he does win one, he always gives it to me. He knows me too well
That would be a giftcard that I would happy to receive no matter what time of year!
Mackenzie recently posted..Goals For December: Giving Back
Aww, he’s sweet! I used to get Starbucks gift cards with my Chase Ultimate rewards and give them away as gifts. I’d rack them up every couple of months for $50 and people would always wonder why I’m buying starbucks cards. Well… they were the best bang for the buck in rewards at the time.
I either buy items or give cash. I find gift cards or vouchers rather restrictive. Good ideas though, what you listed here!
Noir Hussen recently posted..Making Informed Parenting Decisions
Believe me, there are time when I wish I got cash instead of a gift card. I tried thinking of the most practical cards that people would appreciate and actually use. The thing with cash for me is, I feel removed from the person who actually gave me the gift. If my favorite restaurant is nearby and I used a gift card I got from someone I love, that would make me think of them rather than just using cash. Especially if cash is deposited into a bank account, then it wouldn’t feel special at all.
I love getting gift cards! That is seriously my favorite gift to receive by far!
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..Saving Money Grocery Shopping…and a Giveaway!!!
What’s your favorite place to get gift cards from?
anywhere really. I like Wal-mart gift cards because then I can use them to buy groceries. That is how lame I am. =)
Holly@ClubThrifty recently posted..Saving Money Grocery Shopping…and a Giveaway!!!
I love getting Home Depot Cards. When I get one I feel that I don’t have to justify buying a new tool or renovating some small project that I didn’t want to spend my own money on.
Justin@TheFrugalPath recently posted..Tracking Expenses: A Budget’s Foundation
When my brother bought his home I gave him Home Depot cards
He loved them. It wasn’t much compared to what he spent later on renovations but a little is better than nothing. Like you say – buy a new tool or something.
I would take a Target card any day over most other cards. We only have Walmart in our town, so a trip to Target is a true luxury. I’m sad, I know.
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..My Most Memorable Christmas
Haha, can’t blama ya, Target is great! I’m lucky to be living near a Target that I can walk to. It’s a nice change of scenery once in a while.
I had never heard of Newegg before. I’ll have to take a look. Thanks
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..Novemeber 2012 Goal Review
It’s a California based company (actually not far from here), not sure if they are popular outside of U.S. or even ship outside of U.S.
I absolutely love getting gift cards as gifts. I would much rather go pick out something myself and it saves the gift-giver time. I asked for Home Depot gift cards this year
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..10 Things I Learned from Working at Pizza Hut
Haha, I bet! How are your projects coming along? How are you finding time to work on them and blog at the same time?!
Glad you mentioned Newegg. It’s where I bought most of the parts to build my computer. I didn’t even know some of these places like Etsy offer gift cards, good to know
I agree that not all gift cards are the same. I once got an A&W card, not very useful because I don’t go there often :S On the other hand, I love both giving and receiving Amazon gift cards 
Liquid recently posted..Weekend Business and Blog Roundup – Dec 1st
I used to shop at TigerDirect but then realized Newegg had the same or better deals and much faster shipping. They over-achieve on shipping speed every time
These are all great Gift Card ideas. I would also throw in a “Home Depot” gift card for someone who is handy around the house and makes frequent trips there. Gift cards are always my last minute default if I need something quickly and I don’t have time to shop
Deacon @ Well Kept Wallet recently posted..Why Young People Need to Invest in the Stock Market
Looks like many people like Home Depot. I guess I should have added that!
These are all great ideas… although, I’m not sure what I would do with a Victoria Secret gift card, as I wear boxer briefs and I don’t remember seeing them in there the last time I was in the store…
Although, I could buy something for my wife – which is 2 gifts in one
Jason Clayton | frugal habits recently posted..7 ways to enjoy Traveling, have an amazing Vacation, and still be Frugal
Hahaha, 2 gifts in one – exactly!
I like the creativity with your mention of Newegg. They’re awesome and offer lots of goodies at bargain prices.
Eddie recently posted..Some Marry The Wrong Person Knowingly
You just pointed out the exact reason I mentioned them
Kudos.
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