Christmas Gift Cards: Give the Gift of Choice

Before you know it, the holiday season will be here, and the search for the perfect gifts will commence. You’ll make a list of the people for whom you’ll need to buy and scour the stores for something that your friends, family and colleagues might like. The Christmas season can be stressful and inconvenient, but of course, it’s worth it to see the smiles on the faces of the people you love. By why not give the gift of choice?

Christmas gift cards are convenient, easy to buy, and they allow your loved ones to choose the things you want. There’s always someone in your life for whom it is difficult to shop, so why pull your hair out trying to find something creative? Instead, purchase a gift card at one of their favorite stores, put it in a pretty envelope, and you’ll be ready to move on to the next name on your list.

You can find Christmas gift cards at almost any retail outlet, as well as restaurants, movie theaters, theme parks and more! Some of them even have holiday themes on their cards, so you can choose an aesthetically pleasing gift card. Some companies even combine their gift cards so that they can be used at a multitude of retail stores nationwide. What could be more convenient?

For Dad

Dad’s are always difficult to shop for, so take a look at the things he likes. If he enjoys tools and woodwork, how about a gift card to Home Depot or Lowes? If he needs more clothes for work, try a gift card to Orvis or Eddie Bauer. Maybe your father enjoys the occasional game of golf, in which case he’d enjoy a gift card to Golf Galaxy, or maybe he enjoys fishing, so you could go with Bass Pro Shop.

For Mom

Gift cards to Bath & Body Works are always appreciated by Moms. You might also try a gift card to Target or TJ Maxx, or perhaps a card that can be used at Macy’s or Dillard’s. If she likes to cook, you might do well with a gift card for Williams Sonoma.

For College Kids

College kids are notoriously poor, so they’ll appreciate just about any gift card. College kids are especially drawn to electronics stores, such as Frye’s, Best Buyand Radio Shack. They might also enjoy a more generic gift card to Wal-Mart, Kmart or even a grocery store. Help a college kid to decorate the dorm with a gift card to Linens-N-Things, or perhaps a gift card to Bed, Bath & Beyond.

For Teens

If the teenagers you know are like most teens, they spend most of their free time at shopping malls. Many shopping malls nationwide have gift cards that are good at any store in the entire center, while specialized gift cards are also appreciated. Teens also like gift cards to electronics stores (see College Kids), and to movie theaters, such as AMC or Cinemark.

For Children

Most kids will appreciate a gift card to toy stores, such as Toys R Us or KB Toys.  Usually, however, children like to unwrap presents, so you might want to purchase a stuffed animal or inexpensive toy to wrap along with the gift card.

For Colleagues

Colleagues are by far the hardest to shop for, so Christmas gift cards can come in especially handy. One of the best gift cards your can purchase for colleagues is for restaurants, since almost anyone will use those. You might also want to go in on a gift card with other employees so that the card can be larger, especially when purchasing a gift card for your boss.

One of the best things about gift cards now is that they can be redeemed online or at brick-and-mortar stores. If you live across the country from a loved one and want to send a card for a store near you, they can always pick out what they want online. You can also purchase a card online for a store that doesn’t exist near you by going to their website.

Gift Card Facts:

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