Got a TWEEN headed to Hunger Games this weekend? Let me help you save money before you blow it all on ticket prices and concessions.
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I love to give movie snacks or popcorn with a movie gift card. It’s simple and also works for most people. Download this cute “It’s Movie Night” gift tag to personalize your gift or let me do the work for you.
Besides websites like Plastic Jungle,
Cardpool.com, and GiftCards.com that sell used gift cards for less, there are currently very few opportunities to buy discounted gift cards on a regular basis. During the holidays, you might find the odd promotion. But typically new gift cards can only be purchased at face value.
I’m a fan of the big box warehouse store. Costco never disappoints (except when they switched from Diet Coke to Pepsi at the food court). So I am thrilled to see an increasing number of discounted gift cards available at one of the places I already love to shop.
Although the selection is limited, the prices are great. I often see $100 restaurant gift cards for around $79.99 or package gift cards like 5 x $10 Jamba Juice gift cards for only $39.99. That’s a 20% savings. Costco also offers discount gift cards for local stores and attractions.
Costco gift cards are paper based. Unlike the plastic cards on a rack that need to be activated, Costco gift cards already contain value and they look more like coupons. Since gift cards lack presentation anyway, the Costco cards are especially challenging. So my advice in this area, of course, is to deliver the gift card with something else from Costco. (We’re not trying to pretend you didn’t buy it there.)
The options are endless.
Just because the gift card itself is a little u-g-l-y, doesn’t mean you can’t make it attractive by adding something extra. The recipient will likely figure out you got the gift at Costco for a discount, but because the gift card is part of a meaningful gift, he or she won’t care. I know I wouldn’t.
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I love to see a gift card delivered in a fun, engaging, clever way. It doesn’t have to be crafty–just show a little thought and effort went into the gift. Well, I should have known my mom would come up with the best idea of them all.
On my husband’s birthday, Grandma showed up on our doorstep AS the GIFT CARD HOLDER. She tied a Fandango and a Coldstone gift card around her neck with a grosgrain ribbon and said, “These gift cards come with babysitting.”
I am lucky to live so close to my mom. She comes over every Friday night after she gets off work to teach my kids how to play the piano. After the lessons, she changes into her “Grandma clothes” and watches the kids while Paul and I go on a date. She says she’s not babysitting, she’s “grandparenting.” I don’t care what she calls it. I look forward to the night out with my husband all week. The gift cards were truly icing on a generous cake.
This is such a simple idea, but how often would your service actually be more meaningful than the gift card or gift itself? Think of those occassions when showing up might be the greatest gift of all. Deliver the gift card with a list of possible dates you’re available or a coupon for your time. Here are some ideas I thought of:
Of course not. The gift of time is always precious. But if you’re struggling to make a gift card more personal, consider putting your person into the gift like my mom did. So simple. So loving.
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Simple last-minute gift idea for Valentine's Day
Get Valentine a gift card and tie it to a potted plant. The plant will last longer than roses and won’t cost near as much. Add a simple note revealing your true feelings, which is all anybody really needs on Valentine’s Day anyway.
If you want to go crazy–buy a collection of gift cards and tie each one to a different stem. Use a theme so Valentine knows you picked cards purposefully (and didn’t just stand at the kiosk grabbing things.)
- Pedicure and shoe store
- Dinner and a movie
- Clothing store and salon
- Spa and bookstore
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Tennis lessons and tennis store
Or keep it simple and just write that heartfelt note.
Kids make bookmarks to go with bookstore gift card.
We just finished a family gift exchange and my kids are THRILLED with the Target gift cards they received. They also got iTunes gift cards from our dear friends and have already downloaded enough songs to keep them singing right through the winter break. My step-daughters gave Paul and I a gift card to the movies and dinner–along with free babysitting. (Priceless!)
If you still have some shopping to do – grab a gift card. Then grab a little something extra so the recipient has something to open and enjoy right away.
We love the gift cards and look forward to using them. And the carefully selected accessories made the gifts fun to open.
And don’t forget the electronic gift card options if it’s too late to ship. You can try sites like Tango card or Gift Card Mall found on our Links page. You have about 24 hours to finish that shopping list, so take my ideas and get to work!
Wish my iPhone had a flash!
I took my kids to see Toy Story 3 this morning. I don’t normally like the animated flicks, but I chuckled even more than the little ones this time. Toys I hadn’t thought about in years showed up on screen like old friends. (Including a few toys I coveted but never got to make friends with, like that three story Barbie Apartment!) But the best part of the day was using the gift card I found last week to offset the cost of admission.
This little Disney-Pixar flashback would have cost me $45 without the gift card. That’s a lot of money for a matinee, especially when I’m trying to stretch the family budget across a summer’s worth of activities.
While a movie gift card may no longer be the most original gift to give, it’s still a great gift for a kid, teen, family, or anybody who likes to go to the theater. The recipient might not use it right away, but is certain to appreciate it when they do.
Partner a movie gift card with some movie snacks, popcorn, or something relevant to the movie you think they’re most likely to see. For Toy Story 3, for example, get a slinky akin to the one in the movie. For the new Twilight movie, Eclipse, get a gift card to the movies with some fake blood and vampire teeth. Or, if you’re like me, a movie gift card would go perfect with a purse size salt shaker for the tub of popcorn I’d buy once I got there.
