GIFT CARDS

JQ Lounge had a blog on gift cards. Apparently a newscaster was fairly negative about them. I took issue with his assessment. I would far prefer being given a gift card than something I wouldn't have bought even had I the money. Too often in my life I have been asked what I would like. I remember wanting a blender, years ago, that I could take the bottom off, wash the blades easily, and even use a Ball jar as a container. I was given a blender that had none of the features I wanted and I was too poor to exchange it and buy what I wanted. I lived with that for many years and hated it all the while I had it until I could finally afford the one I wanted.

When I was a child it was so wonderful to get any gifts and stores had few choices within a category, unlike today where the choices are mind boggling. A whole toy department would have fit into any tiny store of today. There were not the commercials and ads that make even children so clear on the computer game they want out of the hundreds available. That is why I believe that a gift card IS a thoughtful gift, provided it is from a store the person can get to and would want to shop in. For people who like to eat out and can't afford some places, a gift card to a restaurant is good. For theater and concert goers, tickets they might not have felt they could afford is yet another pleasant gift. You probably wouldn't give your grandmother tickets to a concert of YOUR favorite rock star but you try to know her tastes well enough to figure out what she might like.

As my grandchildren grew up, before gift cards were as popular and available as they are today, I gave them money envelopes with cash inside. It was evident that they preferred to have cash to spend money on what they wanted rather than have someone try to guess what they might (or should) like. Shopping for gifts is what I do when I am sure I know what someone wants, can't buy for themselves, or hadn't allowed themselves to buy. Sometimes it is nice to receive something you didn't know existed and that someone thought of you and knew you would find the tool, or whatever, useful. Gift giving requires time, thoughtfulness, effort, and knowing what people need, want or can use. In today's world, many of us no longer have the energy and resources to do that for family members who are distant and whom they may see rarely, often not within the last year. Some don't need money but can use things not readily available in their area. Today, with online shopping, even that is no longer a problem. Almost anything can be found and ordered from all over the world.

Actually, my vote would be to do away with all Christmas presents (or Channukah) and just buy whatever throughout the year you see or find that someone you like might want and that is affordable for you.