Best and worst gifts

[MouseWife]

Ooo!! I got a Starbucks giftcard! I am itching to use it right now!!!

I think that is totally true about kids and giftcards. The one who wanted one told me where from. I think it also helps them {in this case} not to spend it on something else {like they would cash}.

I usually give Target cards because the store has a lot of things and there has to be something someone would like.

But, I like this concept of the 'Visa' card because you can use it on line to purchase things like a credit card. While someone may not like to go to stores, there is so much on line to buy.

And, I will exchange the gifts I messed up on and not make them do it. I don't want to give them an errand, either. Although I wish she'd at least try the thing on!!

But I get it about guys not wanting to shop and I get it also about knowing someone and what to buy them. Unfortunately, my family gets what they want all year so there isn't much I can get them. And no, I can not get them the 2007 Mustang. If I could I'd be driving it myself!! Rented an '06 twice and it was fun!

[BarTopDancer]

Best gift = XM Radio from my mom and dad.
Worst gift = none

I turned on the TV this morning and they were talking about some websites where you can sell and swap gift cards.

Card Avenue - I think they said this one was free
SwapAGift - I didn't hear if this one was free.

In CA there is a law or statue that says gift cards cannot expire, nor can they lose their value.

[Alex]

Yeah, I know they don't lose their value. But eventually they get tossed in a thorough house cleaning. I have a Wal-Mart card in my nightstand that must be three years old. I've been to Wal-Mart countless times since I"ve had it but it will never get used.

A gift etiquette question. You liked your XM radio gift so that is wonderful, but in general what is the thinking on giving gifts that continued use by the recipient would require an expenditure?

For example, a coworker got some new computer game as a gift. It is an MMORPG and comes with three months free play. But after that, my coworker would have to pay $12 a month to keep playing. Cell phones, gym memberships, XM Radio, etc.

[BarTopDancer]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Yeah, I know they don't lose their value. But eventually they get tossed in a thorough house cleaning. I have a Wal-Mart card in my nightstand that must be three years old. I've been to Wal-Mart countless times since I"ve had it but it will never get used.

Put it in your wallet. Then you'll see it when you're at Wal-Mart

A gift etiquette question. You liked your XM radio gift so that is wonderful, but in general what is the thinking on giving gifts that continued use by the recipient would require an expenditure?

For example, a coworker got some new computer game as a gift. It is an MMORPG and comes with three months free play. But after that, my coworker would have to pay $12 a month to keep playing. Cell phones, gym memberships, XM Radio, etc.

Since it came from Mom and Dad they paid for a year of service. But, as a personal rule I avoid gifts that come with a subscription fee unless I know they wanted the game/item to begin with.

[Alex]

My wallet is already too full of stuff I have to carry around with me for me. All the slots are filled and some double filled.

Besides does whoever it is that gave me the card (I have no recollection) really want to be saddled with the cosmic record of having purchased me, for my birthday or Christmas (or maybe it was for that Web site I helped with), two bags of cat litter and a couple rolls of paper towels.

No, better that when they stand before the Pearly Gates and St. Peter (or whoever it is that stands there) asks them to justify themself they are able to say "I once gave Alex $30 to spend at Wal-Mart with which he may have bought something that brought him great personal enjoyment" than "I once purchased for Alex $30 dollars worth of cat litter and he spent the next month scooping poop out of it."

Really, by not using that card I am saving somebody's soul.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

A gift etiquette question. You liked your XM radio gift so that is wonderful, but in general what is the thinking on giving gifts that continued use by the recipient would require an expenditure?

Good question. I guess it depends on who is giving it {like her folks, they paid for the whole year } but if your kid bought it for you, I doubt they would be expected to cover so much time.

Phones. We have switched over to the pay as you go phones for the kids. We bought them the phone and gave them phone cards. Every now and again we replenish the youngest ones {he rarely uses his phone, so, this is great for us $$}.

If I'd bought someone else the phone, I would give them a phone card with it and that would be it. I would be giving a pay as you go phone to someone who already had one, just upgrading it. Or, as in my daughters case, who had a phone whose contract was expiring and I wanted to encourage her not to spend so much on her monthly phone bill. I told her she could budget and save a lot of $$ and she has.

If I received something, I wouldn't expect too much but I also shouldn't be expected to go right out and get right into it. Like if they'd given me a paintball gun...uh, maybe when I'm ready....

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

My wallet is already too full of stuff I have to carry around with me for me. All the slots are filled and some double filled.

Maybe you could buy a new wallet?

Try on line. Although I recall having a helluva time trying to order things via Target {on my old computer with a million blocks/issues, that could have been it}.

[Snowflake]

Best Gift: A Christmas day of peace and serenity, no drama, no angst and calls from many wonderful friends. With an afternoon nap with my kitty, a nearly perfect day.

[Alex]

You are suffering under the misapprehension that shopping online is not shopping. I have no more interest in doing it on a computer than in a real store (my online shopping is exacly the same as in real life: I don't go to the web site unless I know exactly what I want and then the goal is to minimize the amount of time spent there).

I bought the Movado watch that Kevy linked to in the other thread (actually Lani did because after she found out I got her a Christmas present she decided she had to get me one; but ultimately it will be my money that pays the credit card bill so it all the same). I never looked at another Web site or another page on that Web site. Perfect shopping experience.

And my current wallet is perfectly the right size (total shopping time: 4 minutes, it was within two feet of the door at Wilson Leather). I'm not looking for a solution to the unused Wal-Mart gift card. I'm completely fine with having it in my nightstand until I clean or move and then throw it away.

Someone got the small pleasure of giving me a gift.
I don't have to shop, which is a large pleasure.
Wal-Mart gets free money, which they enjoy.
Some prison worker in China wasn't oppressed to serve my overindulgent globalized eco-imerio-consumerism. The ungrateful bastard probably didn't even notice.

It's win-win for everybody.

[MouseWife]

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

You are suffering under the misapprehension that shopping online is not shopping.

Hee hee. Must be that girl/guy thing.

Originally Posted by Alex Stroup

Wal-Mart gets free money, which they enjoy.

Nooo!!!! You can't help them!!! Give it to your mail carrier. That is the least amount of trouble to put you through, you go to your mailbox daily.

I had a guest come in with a handful of gift cards. Found them in the garage as they were cleaning. He had about $150. Cards he had forgotten about. I don't think I would. I love to shop. Even if it is just to see what is out there. I don't change up the house a lot but I do like to see what options there are.