Gift cards - yes or no?

The Christmas music is playing, the Starbucks holiday cups are out and it's not even Thanksgiving. If you are like me you have almost finished your Christmas shopping... oh wait you haven't even started? Can you believe all I have left is the kiddos, the hubby and my Dad. Yep that's right and the only reason Dad is not done is because Dad doesn't like gift cards. Which leads me to my question of the week...

Gift cards - great gift or no thought? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Here my 2 cents - This year I worked my tail off was lucky to get an award from work. This award could be used to purchase gift card with award points. Hubby and I talked and decided to get our Christmas shopping done and save ourselves and our checking account by getting almost everyone on our list a gift card. For each person I thought about which store to go with. I thought about their hobbies and what they liked and made sure to make a good fit.

Then I started reading about a backlash on gift cards and how they are impersonal and take no thought. I tend to disagree. Personally I would much rather get a gift card then another vanilla scented bath basket. I like the idea that people can go and get what they want or need with a gift card.

I may be in the minority but I even like the idea of gift cards for kids. I love taking K shopping and letting her figure out how much she has to spend and picking something out that fits her budget. I think the idea of a gift card for a book store for a 5 year old is a wonderful idea. Yes, I know exactly how much you spent but I don't care. It really is the thought and anyway I am a Mom and a shopaholic so I already know how much everything is. I like the idea that you can have a budget and stick to it and not have to worry about wrapping paper and cards and bows.

And just to make things a little more personal I'll be sure to add a picture of the kiddos; because you know that's what Grandparents really want. If you need it to be a little more personal I'll let you take the kiddos for a whole weekend... my treat. Oh wait... that would be a gift for me. I am sneaky like that.