18 Gift Card Ideas That Are Better Than Actual Gifts

Somewhere along the line, gift certificates earned a reputation—one they absolutely do not deserve, IMHO—for being lame gifts. I mean, think about it! If you had a choice between getting a weird present that you'll inevitably regift or a money voucher to all your favorite places, you'd choose the money every time, right? Sure, shopping for a gift card takes minimal effort or creativity, but I argue that's not a bad thing. Shopping for gift certificates takes all of two seconds, and you know the recipient is definitely gonna like it (what's not to like about getting money?!). No time or money wasted.

But before you go off and buy a bunch of the same gift cards to give every person in your life, consider giving it a slightly more personal touch. Your dad most definitely shops at different places than your teenage sister, know what I mean? To help you out, we've created a gift guide to the best gift card ideas, based on what the person's likes or interests are. Scroll until you find something that sounds like them, then get to shopping.