In reading through some of the contest entries (don’t worry, you have ‘til December 14 to tell me what gift card you’d like to receive), I’m noticing a large group of readers fall into one of two camps—Need versus Want.  It looks like this:

•  Willingly Self-Sacrificing:  Get me a gift card to a store I shop regularly.  I might not buy anything exciting, but the gift card will reduce my financial burden.  And that, my friends, is a gift.  The gift of stress-free shopping.  The gift of a free box of diapers, socks for the kids, or groceries for the week.  Though the giver may intend for you to buy a more self-indulgent treat, saving money to you IS a treat.  A welcome treat.
• 

  The gift of guilt-free self-indulgence

  Unwillingly Self-Indulgent:  Get me a gift card to a store I never allow myself to enjoy.  If left up to me, I’ll make a more practical choice with my money.  The right gift card, however, would force me to do something for myself.  I could buy the Philosophy body wash at Sephora instead of just sampling it, buy an outfit from J. Crew instead of passing by wistfully, or go out to the movies with my husband instead of renting another video at home.  Permission to indulge, guilt-free IS a treat.  A welcome treat.

So if you’re puzzling over whether or not to get someone a gift card, a growing list of comments suggest the thought would be appreciated.  I know I’ve fallen into both groups at various times in my life.  I’ve used gift cards received at Christmas to buy birthday presents in January. And I’ve plopped down into a heated massage chair to have my feet properly pampered after months of being ignored.  Each experience a welcome treat.