If gift giving was a love language, it would definitely be a top one of mine. I get true joy out of searching for the perfect gift for someone for every occasion. I also have a love for DIY projects and can whip up a lovely handmade gift whenever needed.
But there is one gift I never liked to give in the past – gift cards.
I don’t mind if someone gives me a gift card, I cherish them and treat them like cash. But for a passionate gift giver like me, they just never feel like “enough” for me to give them to someone else. It was once deep-rooted in me that a gift needs to be a tangible item for the recipient to open.
But over time, my stance on gift cards has slowly evolved. I have begun to gift them more and more … and believe it or not, I kind of love giving them. Do you want to know what really changed my perspective on gift cards? Motherhood.
Becoming a mom has made me a gift card giver. I still love the hunt of finding a great gift and the tedious task of executing perfect gift wrapping, but now, more often than not, you’re getting a gift card from me.
Here are 3 reasons why I’m giving you a gift card:
1. They are practical. I don’t always know what you or your family may need or want the most. Aside from close friends, I don’t always have a great idea of what you or your family may already own. Even when a gift seems like a great idea to me, I truly don’t know if it’s desired by you.
Motherhood made this evident for me. It’s easy for me to assume your child loves Sesame Street because my child does or that you could use a new insulated tumbler. But what if your kid isn’t an Elmo fan and you have a cabinet already overflowing with cups? I would rather you have a gift card to a place I know you frequent or like so that you can use it in whatever way will best benefit your household.
2. They don’t take up space. I don’t want to be responsible for adding more “stuff” to your home. I remember being overwhelmed at the amount of “stuff” we accumulated in preparation for our baby. Well, that has nothing on the amount of items that accompanies him as he gets older. There are so many toys. So many books. So many cups. So many outfits. So… much… stuff. There simply isn’t space for it all. A gift card allows me to be mindful of your space.
3. They save time. I just don’t have the time to shop that I had before I was a mom and definitely before COVID. Gone are the days where I could leisurely peruse TJ MAXX shelves with no time restraints. Gift cards are efficient.
Gift cards are lifesavers
I enjoy gift giving far too much to give a gift card every time, but there is no denying my newfound love of those plastic cards. So if you get a gift card from me, please don’t take it as a slight and don’t assume I didn’t put much thought into your gift. A gift card actually represents me trying to be as thoughtful as possible to you and your family.
A few ways to spruce up a gift card gift
- Add a small gift to it. If you are giving a coffee gift card try putting it inside of a new coffee mug.
- Be strategic about the gift card vendor. Gift cards allow for a lot of flexibility. Think carefully about the recipient and where they would get the most use or joy out of a gift card.
- Think of experiences. Gift cards are a great way to provide an experience to someone else. Think about giving a gift card to try a new restaurant or a new family activity.
- Shop small. Gift cards are a wonderful way to support a new business or local shop.