My sister sent me a link to this Date Night in a Bag gift idea and I love it. But not for the reason you might think. Date Night to Me My husband and I love going to the movies. But we found a bowl of popcorn and shows on the DVR to be much more practical after the brood started growing.

Source: thedatingdivas.com via Shelley on Pinterest

Think Baby

I love this idea for a baby shower because heaven knows when that newborn arrives, mom and dad won’t have a second to themselves for about 18 years. They will have to create date night in a bag, on the couch, with a fox, in a box, and whatever else ways they can figure.

I can honestly say that my husband and I probably wouldn’t swap this bag back and forth. But I do think it would make a fabulous gift. And the gals at The Dating Divas include several other date night suggestions. Each, would also make terrific baby shower or wedding day gifts. Thanks for sharing, ladies!

I’ve been posting a lot of Pinterest crafty gift card holders lately, but not everyone has the desire or time to get all croppy when it comes to delivering a convenient gift.

At Walmart, I saw this “Love ‘em, Bug ‘em” Hallmark gift card holder for kids. They have a variety of “bugs” that you can stuff with gift cards or other treats.

Kids Need More

It is especially important to give kids a little something extra when delivering a gift card. The “extra” does not have to be elaborate or expensive. It can be a pack of gum or a yo-yo. Kids just need a little trinket to play with immediately while waiting for the opportunity to redeem the gift card later. (Actually, we all do. But if you want kids to give you a “reaction,” then be sure to add something that warrants a response.

This “Love ‘em, Bug ‘em” Hallmark gift card holder does the work for you. Pick out a bug, add a gift card, throw in a lollipop…and head to the party.

A magic plastic card that buys stuff is not a new concept to kids. They’ve seen you pull those cards out of your wallet to pay for things a hundred times over. To them, a gift card is no different. It offers buying power.

Power Shift

One of the reasons my kids love gift cards is that having one gives them the power to purchase, the authority to decide. I distinctly remember my son having a fit over a denied request at the store one day. He bellowed, “Why do YOU get to decide what we buy?” Poor kid was so frustrated. My explanation didn’t help, but having a gift card on the next shopping trip did.

Learn how I help my kids shop with gift cards.

Kid in a Candy Store

This same son recently receieved a $5 gift card to Sweet Street, an awesome candy store in our little town. We spent at least 30 minutes going through the options and eventually he picked out two items that I definitely wouldn’t have purchased with my money. But he had the power to decide. (And oh did he relish the opportunity!)

Great Gift Cards for Kids

Five dollars at a candy store is perfect. It’s enough money to buy a treat or two without needing additional money but isn’t so much that the kid will get sick. Here are other inexpensive gift cards kids can enjoy:

• Frozen Yogurt or Ice Cream Store
• Jamba Juice
• See’s candy, chocolate store
• Subway, In-n-Out Burger, or other mom-approved fast-food
• Target or Walmart.

Although $5 at Target or Walmart would be tough because there are so many choices over budget. For stores that carry clothes or toys, a $20 gift card is a better choice.

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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.

Happy Birthday

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.”

Time is the Ultimate Gift

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.

You Be the Gift Card Holder

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:

• Moving. Gift card to home depot with your offer to help pack, unpack, clean, or paint.
• New Baby. GIft card to a sandwich shop plus your babysitting (or just baby holding) while new mom gets to eat.
• Big Brother or Sister. Deliver gift card to ice cream shop and offer to take older siblings out for a treat while mom is with the little one.
• Gardening. Gift card to garden store and offer to help pull weeds.
• Teacher Thank You. Gift card to Bookstore and offer to volunteer time helping out in the classroom.

Is the Gift Card Necessary?

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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Buy a Different Gift Card with a Target Gift Card

I took my son to Target so he could redeem one of his birthday gift cards. But with ALL the choices (games, toys, clothes), he couldn’t decide what to buy. That’s when we discovered Target is now selling gift cards to other stores. (Thank you for finally getting on board with that Target!!!)

Imagine Michael’s delight when he discovered he could buy a Club Penguin Membership gift card with his Target gift card. This turned out to be the perfect choice because he loves playing Club Penguin but I won’t pay for his membership. (I save my money for the Wii and other games that encourage movement.)

How to Buy a Gift Card with a Gift Card

There are several website services that enable you to swap your gift card. But with those sites you would have to sell them your gift card (for less than face value) and buy a new one at a discount. Or cash in your gift card and buy whatever you want with cash. But it’s much easier to swap a gift card by purchasing a new gift card with the one you already have.

• The bad news: It only works if your gift card is to a store that sells other gift cards.
• The good news: There are many stores that sell other store gift cards–including Target, Babies R Us, Toys R Us, Michaels, Safeway, Vons, CVS, Lucky, and hundreds of others. The key is to look for a kiosk. If you find the kiosk–you have options!

As gift card kiosks increasingly show up (and stores realize they can make money and drive customers to their store by offering this convenience), it should also be increasingly easy to pull off the Gift Card Switcheroo!!! Works for me!

Target Gift Card makes the Perfect Cupcake Topper!

Ally was so excited to taste the cupcakes that she didn’t even notice the Target gift card on top!

Hands Off!

When Ally helped my friend Kelly sell cupcakes at a fundraiser, she came home with a box of cupcakes as payment. She was thrilled, bragging to her brothers that she’d earned the tasty treats, telling all of us to keep our hands off them. She got even more excited (and a little bossier) when Kelly dropped off a second set of cupcakes for her to taste test. Only after she’d stuck a fork in nearly each one did Ally notice that the “Thank You” note on top was actually a gift card to Target.

Target Does it Right

Target does a great job of offering gift cards in a variety of styles, with a wide range of expressions–making it easy to turn their gift cards into fun vignettes of affection.

For Joy!

Ally honestly would have been thrilled with just the cupcakes or just the gift card. But the combo made her squeal with delight–and I’m pretty sure that’s what Kelly was going for. Thanks Kelly!