Gift Card Rule #1: It’s Not About You
Pick a gift card the recipient would want, not one you think he should have.
A couple of years ago, a parent at our school collected money to buy the teacher a gift card. Then she asked other school staff where the teacher liked to shop. Unanimously, they responded, “Target! She loves to go to Target!” To which the room mom said in disgust, “I’m NOT buying her a gift card to Target. I’ll get her something nice instead.” Then she took the collected monies and bought a gift card to a swanky restaurant in town. It’s always bothered me that the room mom bought a gift card she would want rather than buy a gift card the teacher would want.
In selecting a gift card, pick a place at which the recipient likes to shop, dine, visit, or hang out. Only veer from this list if you’re positively certain your choice is a stretch the recipient wants to make—not a stretch YOU want the recipient to make.
