Here are five great ideas for no-fail, sure-to-please gift cards that are politically correct, will be appreciated, will not end up as "regifts" -- and best of all, will not cost you your entire pay check.
1. Gifts for Coffee and Tea Lovers: Spend $10 to $25 Total
Amazon.com
Coffee lovers are easy to please with a gift card to Star Bucks or local coffee shop. Picking custom flavored coffees can be a hit or miss, so your best bet is a gift card tucked inside a new coffee mug.
Another option is a desk-top mug warmer. These work well for everything from tea to coffee to hot chocolate.
2. Best Buy Gift Card: Spend $10 to $15 Total
Best Buy
Gift cards to electronic stores are a great gift because major stores like Best Buy and Fry's offer a wide variety of items to purchase. A $15 gift card can buy a game, new CD, cover for a cell phone, or even magazines. Fry's also offers a toy department now as well as "As Seen on TV" items -- many of which can be picked up for about $10.
The reason electronic stores are superior to places like bath and body shops, is because they are gender neutral stores -- men and women can both find something they want without having to look too hard.
3. iTunes Gift Card: Spend $10 to $15 Total
Apple
If your boss or co-worker has an iPhone, iTouch, iPod, or iPad you probably know that they can download iTunes to their mobile devices. But an iTunes gift card also allows the card holder to watch videos, TV, read books, and get apps.
4. Amazon.com Gift Card: Spend $15 to $25
Amazon.com
Amazon.com is best-known as an online book seller. But Amazon sellers offer everything from food to dolls to cosmetics and clothing. Amazon also offers books that can be downloaded to a Kindle device.
Amazon gift cards can be purchased online and sent via Facebook, email, postal service, or printed out to be tucked into a greeting card.
Because Amazon.com offers free or low-cost shipping on many items, you don't have to worry about $15 not going very far. Plus, $15 will purchase up to 15 Kindle books!
5. The Great Courses: Minimum Gift Certificate $25
The Great Courses
Have an intellectual boss? Or someone with a curious mind? If your giftee likes learning or their passion is art, history, math, music, travel, science, or just about any other academic interest you can name (including quantum physics) why not try a gift certificate to The Great Courses online store?
Gift certificates can be redeemed for lectures from top professors and authorities on DVD or CD, or downloaded. Regular prices are steep and will not buy much, but the company runs monthly sales offering courses at 50 to 80% off.
