| Gift cards are a fairly recent invention of the | | | | is accepted. The difference between these and actual |
| commercial world, only coming into widespread use | | | | credit cards is that there is no need to fill out a credit |
| over the past decade or so. Also called prepaid cards, | | | | application or open a checking account to qualify for |
| they are a great alternative to either buying the person | | | | one. Once the balance is depleted or used up, the card |
| you care about a particular product or just giving them | | | | can be thrown away or, in some cases, reloaded with |
| cash. | | | | more value. |
| These cards can be given for just about any occasion, | | | | 2. The recipient can use the card for its full face value: |
| including birthdays, Bar or Bat Mitzvahs, Christenings | | | | If you purchases a card for $100, then the recipient |
| & baptisms, graduations, promotions, employee | | | | can use it to purchase goods and services for that full |
| rewards, and partner appreciation programs. | | | | amount. In other words, there are no hidden fees that |
| If you are not sure about whether to purchase a gift | | | | the recipient has to pay in order to use them. |
| card in a store or to buy the person something else | | | | 3. They are more fun to receive as a gift than cash or |
| entirely, here are 3 advantages to getting prepaid gift | | | | other products: |
| cards as gifts: | | | | Let's face it: it is always fun to receive a gift. However, |
| 1. Dedicated prepaid gift cards can be purchased for a | | | | receiving specific products that the gift-giver chose is |
| large variety of brands: | | | | sometimes less-than-satisfying. That's because if you |
| Most cards are issued by the purveyors of dedicated | | | | do not like what you got, you are stuck with it or have |
| brands, restaurants, stores, or websites. For example, | | | | to go to the store to exchange it. By contrast, |
| you may have seen Target, iTunes, or T.G.I. Fridays | | | | receiving cash as a gift is much more versatile, but |
| gift cards. These cards can only be used to buy | | | | giving cash can give the impression that the gift-giver |
| goods and services represented by that brand. They | | | | was a bit lacking in creativity. |
| can be redeemed in-store or online, in most cases. | | | | That is why gift cards are so much fun: the recipient |
| However, another type of these cards are also known | | | | can use them for whatever they want, but it still feels |
| as prepaid debit cards. In this case, they carry major | | | | like the giver had actually put some thought into it. |
| credit card symbols such as MasterCard, Visa, and | | | | Consider these 3 advantages to purchasing a gift card |
| American Express. And, these cards can be used | | | | in a store or online for someone you care about. |
| wherever the particular major credit card on the label | | | | |