Did you know that you can shop Costco WITHOUT a membership? According to this article I read on the Plastic Jungle Blog, you can enter and shop this members-only retailer with a Costco Cash Card instead.

That’s great news because it means you can GIVE a Costco gift card without fretting over the recipient’s membership status.

Who Wants a Costco Cash Card?

There is always something I WANT at Costco, but have to exercise self-control to keep out of the cart. How fun would it be to shop Costco with a gift card instead!?! Sign me up!

A Costco Cash Card makes a great gift for:

• Mother’s Dad – Yes, there are groceries galore. Explain that this gift card is only good for personal shopping. Then hold her to it!
• Father’s Day – Does he even know there are golf clubs, tents, batteries, and more inside this super store? I’m not sure I want my husband to find out.
• Graduation – Grad can stock up on everything from business suits to printer paper and a year’s supply of deoderant.
• Family – Besides the mundane things each family needs, Costco has great equipment for family playtime such as camping, water skiing, snow skiing, tennis, and backyard equipment. I’m not sure I want my kids to see this stuff either.

Costco simply works for a broad range of occasions and people–including Thank You gifts for coach, teacher, admin, and beyond.

Can Costco Deliver?

One drawback of a Costco Cash Card is that it is not fancy–in the least. But I think you can get around this limitation with a few tips.

Double your Discount

Costco also sells discount gift cards for local restaurants and attractions. If you take advantage of Plastic Jungle’s discount Costco Cash Card, you’re already saving 2% on your purchases. If you use THAT cash card to purchase a gift card AT Costco, then the savings increase. You’ll stack a 2% Plastic Jungle savings onto a roughly 20% Costco gift card savings. Nice.

I just spent most of the day at the LDS Family History center in Oakland helping a friend track down her ancestors. She’s going on a trip next month to Germany and wanted to know more about her heritage before embarking on the journey.

Online tools

Although the real help we received came from the genealogist at the center who helped us crack the code, the tools we used are available to everyone online. Primarily, we used Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org. Both have online tutorials to get you started.

Make History a Gift

I hadn’t thought about giving the gift of history as a bon voyage present until today. But watching my friend gather information that will ultimately shape her journey, help her decide where to visit, and move churches and gravesites to the top of a list previously filled only with tourist attractions inspired me. Now I think a kickstart into family history would be a wonderful gift for anyone taking a trip or starting an even bigger journey.

Consider a gift subscription to Ancestry.com for the following:

• Family Vacation – maybe they’ll find new places to visit.
• Newly Married – for the merging of family trees.
• New Baby – learn more about the gene pool you’re drawing from.
• Graduation – he passed world history, now it’s time for personal study.
• Significant birthday – find out who you really are.
• Anniversary – genealogy is more fun to do in pairs.
• Bereavement – maybe not immediately, but it can be therapeutic to find out more about the people waiting for us on the other side.

Make it Personal

While at the Family History center, the computers were abuzz with people searching, pondering, and digging for clues. And there was no shortage of personal stories either. Consider delivering a gift of history with a personal narrative of your own. Tell about the first time you met this person, character traits you admire about him, or your hope for the future in finding his past. Tie the gift card and your thoughts onto branches of a potted tree that can be planted to commemorate this occasion.

What do a candlestick, a Rascal Flatts CD, and a hot pink hoodie have in common? They are all things that I received as gifts from someone I love. When I look at these items, I think fondly of the giver who knew me well enough to get me exactly what I wanted.

Risk of Gifts

One benefit to giving someone an actual gift (rather than a gift card) is that the recipient is likely to think of you (the giver) every time he or she puts the present to use. It’s a risk, of course. Because if the recipient returns the gift or throws it in the back of the closet, they won’t be thinking of you at all. They might even be shaking their head, wondering what the heck YOU were thinking. (Size XL? Really? Purple? I never wear purple! Does she think I’m a big, fat Barney?!?)

Make a Gift Card Memorable

Though I do remember most of the gifts I’ve purchased myself with gift cards received, the bond isn’t quite as strong. Often it’s because the gift card seemed to fly out of my wallet as fast as it went in. And tracing the lineage of the gift takes too much mental muscle. More often, I would say, gift card gifts can be forgotten.

But there are ways to extend the memory of the gift cards you give:

• Make it Multiple. A friend of mine received a gift card for 10 free car washes as a thank you gift. His car was clean for a year. He thought about his benefactor every time he got into his fresh smelling car. A car wash gift card would be great for a family, for him, for her, or for Father’s Day!)
• Make it Reuseable. A gift card worth keeping around is one that can be used over and over again. Think $50 on a Starbucks card or $100 on a Jamba Juice card. Since the recipient is unlikely to use the entire dollar amount in one outing, he or she will have several free drinks on you.
• Make it Tweet-Worthy. Think adventure. Get a gift card to a fun restaurant, go-kart racing, hot air balloon ride, the opera, or something else out of the ordinary. Don’t push too far, but thinking a little out of the comfort zone is okay. Then when your friend updates his status or tweets his adventure, you’ll be the one he or she thanks.

Who cares?

The point of a giving a gift is not to be the center of attention. But if you’re worried your gift card might get lost in the shuffle of more showy gifts, then put a little thought into making the gift card be one that creates a lasting bond rather than one giant ruffle.

I’m either in love with Pinterest or have fallen into a time-sucking trap!!! So many creative people in this world. So many fabulously cute ideas. So many gift card inspirations! I’ll never get any work done if I keep pinning!

My New Board

I started a Board called Gift Card Holder Inspirations. On this board are all sorts of little gifty ideas that are cute on their own. But I think can easily be turned into Gift Card Gifts.

Add a Gift Card

Take this adorable Gift for the Golfer. It’s a paint can full of golf balls with paper bling all over it. That’s cute. But I’d like to see a GolfSmith Gift Card on top.

Why I like It

Besides the obvious cute-factor. I like this idea because it can easily be converted to any type of ball gift card. Golfing, Tennis, Basketball, etc. Fill the jar with tennis balls, malt balls, gum balls, and beyond. The tag, of course, can read, “Have a Ball on Your Birthday” or whatever it is you choose.

Download

You can use the “Have a Ball” Tag on our Digital Downloads section. Thanks Pinterest for giving creative people a way to share!

While trolling for gift card ideas, I came across the cutest of all ideas on the BatemanBuzz blog. I knew the second I saw it that I could convert this idea into a favorite gift card holder.

Great Idea For…

This idea is great for birthday, coach’s gift, Father’s Day and any time you want to reward (or say thank you to) someone who is into sports.

Here’s How

• Get a mason jar (I got mine at Walmart), but you could just reach into your cupboard
• Fill jar with gum balls, malt balls, foil wrapped chocolate balls, etc.
• Get a ball-themed gift card like Footlocker, Sports Authority, 24-Hour Fitness, Champs, MLB, Golfsmith, etc.
• Get crafty. Spray paint lid, tie with ribbon. String our “Have a Ball” Gift Card tag on the jar.

So cute. So Easy. What a ball!

Shop digital downloads to make your gift carding easier!