Guilt over gifting gift cards be gone! A recent study by Bank of America found 96% of consumers were happier, or equally satisfied, with a gift card compared to a physical gift. That’s because a gift card all but guarantees your giftee can get exactly what he or she wants this holiday.
What’s more, a separate study found that when compared to gifting other items, people spend 21.6% less when they purchase a gift card as a gift.
So let that gift-card guilt go once and for all, and enjoy the ease and affordability that is gifting a gift card.
The Best Gift Cards for Christmas 2024
Amazon Gift Cards
An obvious choice, sure, but a great one nonetheless. That’s because practically everything is on Amazon, so your giftee will likely have no problem finding something they want with an Amazon gift card. It’s the perfect choice for someone who has everything or is otherwise hard to shop for to begin with!
Spotify Gift Cards
Gifting a Spotify gift card isn’t just a good idea for a music lover, it’ll also make a great gift for those who enjoy listening to podcasts or audio books. Options include cards in one-, three-, six-, and 12-month values, which your giftee can use to redeem on an individual Premium plan.
Ulta/Sephora Gift Cards
For the beauty obsessed, there is no better choice than a gift card to Ulta or Sephora – or even both! Especially given how one retailer carries products the other doesn’t, and vice-versa.
GameStop Gift Cards
If there’s anyone with an uber-specific wish list, it’s the gamer in your life. A gift card to GameStop ensures they can get the exact video game, console or collectible they want.
Target Gift Cards
You can’t go wrong with a gift card to Target. Much like Amazon, a gift card to this mega retailer allows the giftee to get almost anything they want, from clothing and diapers to electronics and groceries.
Audible Gift Cards
Sure, you could give a gift card for an Audible membership, but you can also gift a single audiobook – perfect for the reader eagerly awaiting the next Colleen Hoover or Rebecca Yarros release.
The Sill Gift Cards
A perfect gift idea for a plant parent, a gift card to The Sill can let them pick out the exact plant they’ve been coveting, be it a Monstera Deliciosa, Ficus Tineke, or some other plant with a name that’s as hard to remember as it is to pronounce.
Just note that a gift card to The Sill is only available digitally. You can choose to have it sent directly to your giftee’s inbox (you can schedule when it arrives) or share a link when you are ready.
Chewy Gift Cards
Speaking of parents, pet parents will likely receive a gift card to Chewy with glee. Sure, they can use it to buy more toys for Fido or Fluffy, but they can also use it to help pay for that expensive gourmet food they insist on feeding their beloved fur baby.
TJ Maxx/Marshalls/HomeGoods/Sierra Gift Cards
There isn’t a person alive – man, woman, or child – who wouldn’t love a gift card to this quadfecta of discount stores, which sell clothing, accessories, home decor, toys and outdoor gear. Because these four retailers’ prices are already quite affordable, a gift card here could go a long way.
GlobalGiving Gift Cards
GlobalGiving is a nonprofit that supports other nonprofits, helping people make safe and tax-deductible donations to legit organizations both local and global. Your gift recipient can choose which organization to donate the gift card to, or GlobalGiving can help them find a project. Either way, it’s a win for everyone involved.
Costco Gift Cards
Costco members will seriously appreciate the discount on their weekly groceries with this Costco gift card. You can purchase $25, $50, $100, $250 and $500 amounts. If purchased online, it’ll be sent to your giftee between two hours and two days after purchase (in some instances, according to Costco).
Apple Gift Cards
Treat your loved one to some cool new tech with an Apple gift card. They can use this to upgrade their laptop, splurge on new AirPods, get some AirTags for an upcoming trip and so much more. You can choose amount amount of money you want to gift and have it delivered via email.
Starbucks Gift Cards
Give the gift of your friend or family member’s morning brew this Christmas. What we love about the Starbuck’s gift cards is the wide selection of fun and festive seasonal designs, including a gingerbread delivering gifts, a penguin going fishing in the Arctic and pets wearing antlers (pictured above). These gift cards, cute images included, can be emailed with a personal note.
Visa Gift Cards
Visa gift cards are always a sure-fire winner, gift-wise. Like the credit card, the Visa gift card is pretty much accepted anywhere, which means your giftee truly has free reign on how and where they can use their gift money. The only drawback with a Visa gift card is that you have to pay a small fee for the card.
Best Buy Gift Cards
Get the latest electronics at a discount by gifting a Best Buy gift card to your tech-loving friend or family member. Best Buy allows you to send gift cards electronically, however, you may not get the festive designs, such as the cute reindeer featured above, featured on their physical gift cards. To get this, you can always order a gift card online and pick it up at the store for a short, hassle-free shopping experience.
Movie gift cards
A movie gift card is a great alternative if you prefer to gift an experience rather than “stuff.” With so many great movies out right now (think: “Wicked” and “Moana 2”), this will be a welcome gift for so many people, not just movie fanatics. Plus, since so many gift cards to movie theaters can be found on Amazon, you don’t have to actually go to the movies to purchase one.
Disney gift cards
Whether you’re gifting to kids or adults, the Disney store has something for fans of all ages. Kids will enjoy all the toys while adults can don Disney-themed apparel from retail partners such as Lululemon, Crocs, Baublebar and more. You can order an e-gift card, which could take up to 24 hours for your giftee to receive.
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