getting carded

So.  I made my Christmas list (as per the request of the in-laws).  It was filled with a nice selection of things of various genres and various price points.  I sent it off to the in-laws and then I get my list from my sister-in-law.  It strongly resembled what her husband’s list looks like every year:

Gift cards from store “a” for purpose “x”.

Gift cards from store “b” for purpose “y”.

This makes me nuts.

I will be the first to say that I think gift cards make great gifts.  I love getting gift cards.  It is like bestowing upon me the gift of shopping for something that I want.

That’s a great gift.

However, I find it mildly insulting to be asked for gift cards on a Christmas list.  I feel like it is someone telling me that I couldn’t possibly pick out anything they like, so I shouldn’t even try and just give them the cash instead.

This is especially annoying to me because I am famous on Mr. Mouse’s side of the family for buying great gifts.  I’m not joking.

Doubly annoying – now I have to come up with something to get for the people who just ask for gift cards because I refuse to let the Christmas gift exchange come to a big cash swap.  At whatever point that we are just buying each other gift cards, we need to stop all together and just let everyone keep their own money and buy themselves what they want.  Yes?

Now that I have sufficiently ranted about the gift card, here is a list of times where I think a gift card is a lovely gift and perfectly appropriate gift:

• Weddings (I will be honest and say that gift cards were my favorite wedding gift and are now the gift that I always give.)
• Anniversaries (Not too many people outside of the couple gift for anniversaries, but my in-laws have given us gift cards for our anniversary to a place that makes a nice date for us.)
• Surprise Gifts (ex: your husband had surgery? let me get you a gift card to a pizza place and you can order pizza on a rainy day that you don’t feel like cooking)
• Group Gifts for a non-occasion occasion (ex: your wife is having a baby? your co-workers and I all wanted to go in together on a gift for your family.)
• Gift Exchange Games (gift cards are a no-brainer when it comes to buying a generic gift for an unknown recipient.)
• Stocking Stuffers ($5 to Starbucks in the stocking is like buying me a fancy coffee, wrapping it up and hanging it from the mantle.)
• Care Packages to College Students (they’re always hungry)
• Experiential Gifts (ex: spa day or pedicure)