What are the pros and cons of gift cards,

[haele]

3. Depends on how close you are to the person and if you know they'd like something else.

The kidlet wants cash for Xmas, doesn't want gifts unless you purchase them off her Amazon Wish List. Picky about clothes, hasn't nailed down "a style", and her size yo-yos constantly, so if you bought clothes, there's a 90% chance it wouldn't fit when she tried it on and it would end up in a corner until she collected clothes to trade in, never worn.

So my mom, who doesn't do online shopping (grew up in the depression and doesn't trust the internet with her money) gets the kidlet a $50 Visa or similar gift card (she goes to the base PX with me a lot, so a PX card covers pretty much anything she wants), and she can purchase what she thinks she needs. Her boyfriend is the same - give them money so they can get what they want or pay off a bill that's hanging over their heads. Socks, clothes, home-made items or knick-nacks don't mean very much to them. They just want shopping therapy or emergency stash (make sure if you get a Visa, it's good for at least a year for that purpose).

So a card might work for some. However, lots of us old fogeys to whom "the thought is what counts", prefer something to remember the giver by.

Haele