Holiday season is that time of year when many become troubled with the choice of a great and thoughtful gift for a long list of friends. Gift shopping generally brings with it a significant stress factor, as one needs to put plenty of creativity into coming up with a unique gift idea. Eventually, the thought process comes up with the familiar dilemma of either cash or gift card. But, is giving someone a gift card a better option than giving them cash?
What Is The Ideal Gift?
Before delving into solving the problem of opting for either cash or a gift card, let’s take a closer look at what the ideal gift really is in the majority of cases. The biggest problem with buying things is the pain of paying, according to the behavioral economy. Often enough, people feel pain when they buy something they “want” as opposed to something they feel they “need.” Buying something you want can trigger a feeling of guilt, which also appears when the depletion of your cash is visible rather than hidden or deferred. “So, the ideal gift is one I don’t have to pay for?” Close, but not exactly. Keep reading.
When Should I Use A Gift Card As A Gift For Someone?
If you are at all close to the person you want to buy a gift for, they’ve probably dropped a few hints here and there as to what they’d like. People love to receive gifts they’ve explicitly asked for. The lesson here is that you should buy people something you know that they want. By doing this, the gift will have a greater impact and be appreciated more. At the same time, you’ll have removed the pain of that special someone paying for it by themselves entirely. Alternatively, you should go with the gift card as a present if you aren’t sure what your friend or family member would like.
Why Do Gift Cards Make Great Gifts?
A gift card is an ideal present in situations where you aren’t sure of what kind of gift your friend or family member would like to get. Gift cards beat cash any day of the week. This might sound counterintuitive; after all, cold hard cash can be used literally everywhere. But, using cash can cause the “pain of paying” feeling , which is not the case with a gift card. If you are looking to eliminate any negative feelings the recipient could possibly feel when spending cash is given as a gift, simply opt for a non-cash alternative like a gift card at a retailer you know the person likes. That is why a gift card can be a very good last minute gift.
