Dec 3, 2007

Gift-Card GotchasBy DalrympleFool.com

I can be a little old-fashioned about certain things, like table manners, thank-you notes, and the idea that gifts should be objects chosen with the recipients in mind rather than cash disguised as a colorful plastic card redeemable at your local grocery store.

But, love them or hate them, there will be nary a stocking in the land without at least one gift card inside this month. More than half of this year’s shoppers plan to buy at least one. If you’ve got a gift card or two on your shopping list, consider these tips for making them gifts without grief.

A gift card can actually be an extremely thoughtful gift, provided you put some thought into it. It can get you out of a jam when you don’t feel qualified to pick out the present yourself. Take your favorite aunt, a fiendish knitter, for example. If you don’t know a worsted from a woolly mammoth, a gift certificate to a yarn shop can be the perfect gesture.

They’re also great for those presents that can’t be wrapped and stashed under the tree, like a massage, a romantic dinner for two, or a trip in a hot-air balloon.

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