Gift Cards - Quite Possibly the Perfect Gift

Are you looking for the perfect gift? The gift that goes with everything, always fits, and is even easy to wrap - and ship? Well, gift cards may fit the bill.

Here are a few reasons why you should consider getting gift cards.

Gift cards are available from most major retail chains. A lot of smaller stores now have them, too. You can even get them from restaurants and fast food chains.

Gift cards are easy to buy. They reduce the hassle of shopping, especially during the Christmas holidays. How long did it take you to find the last gift you bought? Gift cards are easy to find and pay for - especially if you buy them online. The only decisions you have to make are which store to get the card from and what amount to put on the card.

Many stores allow you to put any amount you want on the card. You're not restricted to a particular dollar value. And unlike the old gift certificates, the recipient won't see how much (or little!) you value them, unless you give them that information. (And actually, a gift card in a small amount may not be all that tacky. Cards with small amounts are great for gift exchanges and Christmas stocking stuffers. And a $5 card may be just right for a child.)

There's almost no chance your gift will be returned. If you get someone a gift, and you don't see that person often, you may not know if they returned it. But from their point of view, it's much easier to use a gift card to buy exactly what they want than to make a trip to the store and wait in line to return something they don't like or need. And if the gift was purchased online, think how annoyed they'll be if they have to pack it up and pay to ship it back. The only time a gift card is useless is when it's from a store that the recipient doesn't, or can't, shop at.

A gift card may have a lot of buying power. It may not matter to you if you pay full price for something. But if you get someone a gift card, they could use it during a sale and get some really good deals. It's even been estimated that a $100 gift card could buy as much as $150 worth of merchandise if it's used in January, when many stores are trying to clear out merchandise.

But be careful when you're choosing gift cards. Here are some things to consider:
- Some cards have expiration dates, after which they can't be used, or can be used only if a late fee is paid.
- Keep the recipient in mind when you're choosing the store. Make sure the recipient shops (or eats) there, or likes the kinds of products the store sells. Make sure the store is convenient; don't get someone a gift card to a store that has no locations anywhere near them. If you get a card from an online business, make sure the recipient shops online.
- When you're choosing an amount for the card, keep the prices of the items in the store in mind. A $50 gift card amount may sound high to some people, but it may not buy much at a very upscale store.

Gift cards used to be really popular when the giver didn't have a clue what to get the recipient. While that may still be true, there are a lot of other reasons to choose gift cards. In many situations, and for many people, they may just be the perfect gift.