Gift Cards

Oh! Hadn't thought of that. I've already bought one.

I had heard this before but thank you for the reminder.

I have a nephew who is very difficult to buy for and decided this year I’m resorting to voucher or cash so cash it will be.

If you buy your gift vouchers from a well established company you shouldn't worry about them going bump. Already bought gift vouchers from Amazon and M&S. Don't expect them to go bump anytime soon.

If your intended recipient has a large shopping mall they visit, many of these do their own gift vouchers that can be redeemed at most of the stores. Just before lockdown I bought some for a niece who luckily could redeem them when the centre reopened. Some she'd been given for a particular lingerie chain were worthless, such a shame.

I think Martin Lewis and others recommend giving cash rather than cards. I always do, now.

If company you know and is still trading surely no problem and so much easier than trying to think of something they probably don’t like or need ??

I used to always give vouchers but due to the currant climate I will be giving cash from now on.

Even well established companies can go bust. BHS, Debenhams and many other High Street big names have gone to the wall. Stick to cash!

I personally don't like gift cards. I give my grandchildren money then they can buy what they want from anywhere, they are not restricted by having to use a particular store group.If there is nothing they want right away it can go into their bank account for another time.

Paper money is a universal voucher. It doesn't run out and you can spend it wherever you choose.

My eldest daughter always requests Itunes cards for Christmas so thats what she gets

I must admit, I've never understood giving someone money (i.e. gift card) that they can only spend in one shop, rather than cash money, where they can spend it anywhere they like.

I always prefer to give (or receive!) cash rather than a voucher. It’s so easy to put a voucher in a ‘safe’ place and forget about it until too late. We have just found a very, VERY old Interflora voucher, no date on it, so will try it out on Monday at our local florist! ???

I live in East London so buy Lakeside gift cards, they can be used in any store in the shopping complex

I give 2 of my young grandsons gift cards from a large well known toyshop for their birthday and Christnas. Part of the joy, my daughters say is them going in on a regular basis to choose and spend their money till it is gone. It does make them decide and not just buy rubbish. My daughters I buy M&S vouchers so they can buy nice lingerie as they are both past the Victoria Secret era!

I used to buy my parents a gift card when my father was alive to ensure they treated themselves to something other than just hoard money I gave them amongst their hundreds of thousand in the bank account. I now know, after my future son in law’s dismay a few winters ago that gift vouchers can become worthless if the company goes to the wall. His own mother gave him a Top man voucher and it was worth half when he used it. My mother gets a hamper now of luxury goods that she would be too tight to buy for herself. I give my adult children cash as there is usually something they desperately need for their houses. I used to enjoy a voucher myself years ago but not so much these days in the current high street crisis.

The thing that really gets me is these cards now have a “sell by” date. Really? If you’ve paid your money, surely the vouchers should be valid for ever?

I've got a Hilton voucher. You can't use it to book a room so you miss the cheap deals and pay far more at check out. I don't know what to do with it.

I give One4all cards from the Post Office. Good selection of outlets available and they shouldn't all go bust.

John Lewis are doing a good selection of "experience days", ranging from £29.99 up to £299.00. They cover everything from afternoon tea for 2 to sky diving, all across the country. You just choose your price range, what type of experience you're wanting to give and the recipient chooses the date and venue. They're guaranteed valid for 2 years.

I buy one4all cards too. Good selection of shops and eateries to spend them in.

I was given the One4all card, a couple of years ago. Very, very versatile. So I will be going to the PO next week to pick up a couple.

each year my son buys a voucher card from the post office for his aunt, this one does a number of shops, so we know she can buy something she really wants.

I give my three siblings gift cards as I want them to actually buy themselves something specialty rather than just spend the money on day to day living. They have good jobs so don’t need the money to pay bills or buy food but it’s nice to treat themselves. I ask them which shops gift card they would like, one sister usually has John Lewis so she can buy something for her house, my brother varies between Amazon ( if he has something in mind) or M&S if his partner is choosing something for herself. My other sister lives in the US and only gets a gift if she is coming over here for Christmas, we never post things to each other. I get her an M&S card as she misses their underwear!