40-Day Challenge Day 9

A Gift Card is not “just like cash.” A Gift Card buys your recipient store credit, subject to that store’s rules. Unless you are certain the store is your recipient’s favorite, it could land in a junk drawer, lost, eventually forgotten. Cash, on the other hand, works in every store and more. Cash comes with no rules, policies, or hassles. It always fits, and cash is the perfect color. If you must buy Gift Cards, try to get them at a discount. Visit Rasie.com to search. Costco and Costco.com also sell Gift Cards at a sizable discount.

Listen …

Some say giving money as a gift is tacky and unimaginative. I disagree, provided you put a modicum of care into how you package or present it. Money is a great gift. Money always fits, and it’s never the wrong color.

Apparently, I’m not alone in thinking that money is okay. Sales of Hallmark greeting cards designed to hold cash have increased by nearly 200 percent in the past few years. Banks will trade wrinkled, dirty old money for newly printed, crisp bills for no fee. If you’re clever, you’ll figure out how to fold those bills into fun origami shapes (Google “origami money” for instructions). Tuck them into tiny ring boxes or other appropriately sized containers.

You can always personalize cold cash with a warm note. A few XXs and OOs—the universal symbols of kisses and hugs—will make the gift even more valuable.

Where are you on the Gift Card vs. Cash matter? Weigh in using the comments below. 

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