Giving the Gift of Shopping: Creative Ideas for Giving Gift Cards and Cash

Gift cards are a great gift idea that allows the recipient to buy exactly what they want rather than forcing you to take a chance yourself and wind up getting it wrong. You want each gift you give to be perfect, so what better way than letting the person choose what they want for themselves?

The best part is that there are gift cards that fit nearly every taste to cover hobbies, foods, favorite shops and online stores so that they will definitely find something they want. Americans spend nearly 100 billion dollars on gift cards each year, too, so you know that they are a popular way to say thanks for a job well done or as a present for birthdays and holidays.

If giving a gift card sounds like the right move for you, here are some creative ideas.

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Find the Right Gift Card

The first thing you need to do is match the right gift card to the right person. What works for your best friends may not work for your grandmother, so you need to do a little shopping around before you purchase a gift card.

Fortunately, there are some great websites where you can find gift cards online without even leaving your house. If you already have a good idea as to what you want, a quick search can provide you with companies and resellers that will have what you need. If you’re having trouble figuring it out, think about what the person you’re buying the card for enjoys. Do they enjoy the outdoors? Are they big sports fans? Do they have a niche hobby like woodworking or painting? You will be able to find a gift card to match any of these things and more, so do a little research and you should be able to find a card that works.

Also, think about the amount of money you want to give. If they have an expensive hobby, you may need to spend a little more than if you are giving them a gift card for dinner.

Decorate a Gift Bag

Once you find the right card, you want to make the gift memorable. Sure, you can stick the card in an envelope, but then it wouldn’t be a very personal gift. You can make it more meaningful by making something to hold the card in yourself.

You might want to make a gift basket. This way, you can give them the main present of the gift card, but you can also give them small bits of candy or other things they may enjoy. You can add ribbons and bows or even confetti to give the gift basket a little color and fun. Or, instead of a basket, you can find a bag you like and decorate that yourself.

Anything you can add to the gift creatively will make it more memorable.

Homemade Paper Sleeves

A more simple idea to give a gift card is to make your own decorative paper sleeve that the card rests in. This is more personal than using the sleeve the card comes in and will show the recipient you were thinking about them.

To make your own paper sleeve, you can purchase a small amount of decorative paper at your local arts and craft store. They will offer many different types of paper in varying colors and patterns. Once you find the paper you want to use, then all you have to do is fold it.

Even if you are not particularly artistic, you should be able to make the perfect paper sleeve after a few tries. You can find some folding instructions here. Try adding various small decorations as well, like stickers, to give it an even more personal touch.

Get in the Holiday Spirit

With Christmas coming up, you can bet that there will be millions of gift cards sold, so why not stand out and stick with the holiday spirit and make a creative tree ornament to hold your gift card in?

With just a few supplies, you can make a quick and fun ornament that hangs right on the tree.

This idea doesn’t have to be limited to Christmas, though. With a little practice, you could make gift holders for any occasion, like a turkey for Thanksgiving or a cake for a birthday. The only limitations are your creativity, so you can make each one as intricate or as simple as you want to.

When you give a gift card, make it stand out. Try some of these creative ways to give your loved ones their gift cards.

Lara Pickering writes lifestyle articles. Whether she’s giving some tips for handling tired toddlers or ideas for 30th birthday parties, you’ll find her offering up some great ideas online.