Each year for Christmas there is an exchange of gift cards and the following July or August I ask myself "WHY?". Don't get me wrong, the thought behind the gift is genuine, except when it is convenient - but even then it is sincere. The down side is that when the kids receive cards I some how end up swapping them for cash. Good old fashion, cold, hard cash that they can spend wherever their little hearts desire. No strings, no fees.
How did we arrive at giving cards instead of money? Its not as if they come in a pretty box with a bow to be unwrapped. Oh sure the 3D ones are cooler than worn out money, but isn't it the same concept: "I didn't know what the heck to get you for Christmas." Only now its more like "I didn't know what the heck to give you for Christmas, but I've decided you should shop here."
I will be the first to confess that I don't know where some of my 'teen' family members prefer to shop. In fact, last year I finally gave up trying to make it to some trendy store and gave a couple of them cards from Walmart. Why Walmart? Because if the day of the week ends in 'y', I'm either at Walmart or Kroger, and given the choice between the two, I figured they would rather use the money to get a CD or DVD than produce or cheese.
Here we are one year later and I still feel guilty for taking the easy route, so I've decided to make it up to them by boycotting gift cards and will instead give CASH. That four letter word that brings a smile to every teenagers' face.
...but to keep the record straight, I personally wouldn't turn down a gift card from oh, say B&H Photos, Merrill Photos, Ritz Camera, ... For that I would happily make an exception to the boycott.
You really have to know the person well to give a gift card - cash is always better!! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's a well-know fact that all teens prefer the color green to any other gift hue. I agree with the impersonality of gift cards! I'd like a gift card from B&H et.al. also!
ReplyDeleteI so agree with you! My boys buy most of their clothes at Casual Male, which is a Big and Tall store, and, as you can imagine, they hardly ever get gift cards for those stores, so I end up with a lot of Best Buy and Target cards that I've traded them for cold, hard cash. You are also right about the gift givers, they are always motivated by the best of intentions. I always remind the boys (well, now men) not to lose sight of the love and kindness of those who remember them.
ReplyDeleteGotta' love cold hard cash! Great photo -- love the DOF
ReplyDeleteI so agree! I've also given gift cards. .. and found "dead" gift cards in my kids' rooms when they've sent me to retrieve something to mail to them at school. . . Once in a while, I'll create a little "gift card" with scrapbook stuff, and tuck real cash inside it, and this really does work much better! I would not turn down a B& H gift card either. I never heard of Merrill Photos before. . . I just may have to check them out :)
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