Gift cards make great stocking stuffers — just as long as you don’t stuff them in a drawer and forget about them after the holidays.
Americans are expected to spend nearly $30 billion on gift cards this holiday season, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant gift cards are the most popular, making up one-third of those sales.
Most of those gift cards will be redeemed. Paytronix, which tracks restaurant gift card sales, says around 70% of gift cards are used within six months.
But many cards — tens of billions of dollars’ worth — wind up forgotten or otherwise unused. That’s when the life of a gift card gets more complicated, with expiration dates or inactivity fees that can vary by state.
Reward points if using a credit card to purchase.
Also, some stores in the states at least, like Kroger, give their own points for fuel.
Also cash feels much less personal when giving a gift.
“I know you like X, so here’s a gift card to experience more of X” feels more thoughtful than “here’s some green cotton, do whatever”.
Except most people give gift cards to places I don’t actually shop at.
This is the one.
Grandma sends you a $150 gift card to Brookshires but you live on the West Coast, a few thousand miles from the nearest.
I’d much rather just get the green cotton