Do you do these?
We give them to our kids in their stockings and I was wondering if anyone else did. We also get them a couple of lottery tickets...just for fun.
I always thought it was pretty lame, until after I had my son. Who. Loves. Giftcards. Reeeeally loves them. And has since he was a toddler. And loves writing these looooong thankyou notes explaining what he got with them and how much fun he has had.
And... I think the lottery tickets are a GREAT idea. I might co-opt that one!
When I was raisng my 3 kids as a single Mom money was always tight. One year I won a canoe at our church bizzar. Yes we could have used it for fishing and cub scouts but since I drove a car it was not really practicle and we would not get alot of use out of it.
The canoe came from Academy so I discussed my problem with the manager. He let me exchange the canoe for gift certificates in varierty denominations. I cut out pictures of things my kids wanted like skates, dart board, fishing rods, sports team jacket, hunting clothes, tent, shoes..... and put a gift certificate that would buy the item wrapped package with the picture.
My kids did not finish using those gift certificates until the end of summer always shopping for the dest deals! They are grown now but they still talk that Christmas.
I don't like gift cards for little kids. But my inlaws used to do huge "stockings" ( huge box of stocking type stuff with gift cards and food stuff). But that was for us adults. =0)
I have done gift cards to the movie theater for my kids in their stockings. My inlaws send the grandkids a $20 gift card to walmart every year christmas and birthday. The kids look foraward to it every year. Most the time they would rather get money or gift cards than gifts cause then they can get what they really want. My oldest would love to save his money for a new pet sugar glider. But I told him we didn't have the room cause we don't have room for another cage. Or I would let him. So now he wants airsoft stuff. So he knows he has to save his money cause we don't get that for him. I think gift cards are great once they are past a certain age. When they are young they don't understand the entire concept. But as they get older and one person can't afford to get them what they want I think they are the best! That's how he got his Wii a few years back. He paid half with Christmas and Birthday money and we paid the other half. To me it's thought my kids to value money in a way more! Cause to them it's money and they have to really want it to spend their money on it. Sometimes if it's Walmart if they want something from some where else we will give them cash and we will use it.
I do not, but my mom gives the kids gift cards as well as 1 small present for Christmas. It works out perfectly so she doesn't have to try to pick out clothes or games/toys when she's really not sure. They love it, too because it puts them in charge & they can take their time picking stuff out. My 12 year old actually held onto his $50 Amazon card from August so he'll lump that in with whatever he gets for Christmas for 1 or 2 bigger things.
No, but gramma gave my kids each $30 to Toys R Us and it was great. They had a blast trying to decide what to buy and bragging to everybody that they picked it out.
My son is 8.5 and LOVES getting gift cards and has for several years. Target, iTunes, etc.
I don't do it, but think the idea is great. The kids are always wanting something of their own choosing, right? My son, every time we go to the grocery store says "toy aisle! toy aisle!" and if he had the gift card, he could easily pick the one/two toys he really wants, no 'earning it' for mom to buy it for him.
How old are the kids?
My kids are 4 & 7 and I've given them $5 Target Giftcards and they love them.
