Comments on: Card Swapping

By: Emily

Emily — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:40:51 +0000

In Alberta it is illegal to sell a gift card with an expiry

By: Jasmin

Jasmin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:00:05 +0000

^Anne^,
If your on Facebook there is a Til Debt Do Us Part group, people join that and talk about different money things and about past and present episodes.
Just thought I would let you know if your interested Have a nice day

By: Anne

Anne — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 02:26:10 +0000

Catherine I saw it too. I wish we had a place to talk about the shows that air. I couldn’t believe this man’s attitude – I would have kicked him to the curb a long time ago – and I hope his wife does for the kids sake and her sanity. Gail and even his wife wanted to help but he was so selfish he didn’t care about even his own children, he prefered to go deeper into debt to get whatever he wanted which included gambling. I was shocked. Gail was her usual stern self but he deserved a swift kick in the as* to try and wake him up for his family’s sake. Gambling like any other addition changes a person and this episode really showed that. Until he admits to this addiction, unfortunately nothing will change.

By: Catherine

Catherine — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 01:43:40 +0000

Off Topic…..
Saw TDDUP Friday night. Two teachers – Guy and Julia. I was shocked at his attitude.
She was trying so hard. So sweet of you Gail to give $2,000. towards the education of their little girl.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 13:41:27 +0000

I like gift cards, for both giving and receiving. With teens or young adults, you are never sure what they like. My niece and nephews do the boxing day sales, so with gift cards, they have a ball! I also like to make or buy something to go with the gift card to personalize it more. For me, if I ask for a sweater, instead of getting one the wrong size or the wrong colour (I hate yellow, yet my MIL loves it, so she buys it for me – yuck!), I’d rather get a gift card to purchase it myself. If I got cash…well, it would be used for something other than a gift for myself – I rarely buy myself stuff. As above, kids are easier – they seem to know what they want, but I know my girls love to read, so eventually I will get them gc so they can pick out their own books.
For anyone who wants to raise money for their schools or groups, check out http://www.fundscrip.ca. They are a company that people can buy gift cards from for the same face value, yet, your group/club can get a percentage back from them for various amounts. We have it at at our school, and it is an easy way to fundraise.

Also, I agree with those that think Maureen should do a blog. I’d love to read her musings everyday! Love your sense of humour, and your way of writing, Maureen!

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:48:39 +0000

I like getting gift cards and I like giving them. I see them to be as good as cash. Here in MB they no longer have expiry dates. I don’t normally buy the visa gift cards as they have fees attached to them. The gas gift cards are always well received. I put lots of thought into the gift cards I give. We have way too many people to buy for at the holidays and I’d love to see it cut back but I don’t have a say in the matter. Hubby’s family goes for quantity, not quality. There are 16 people in his family and they all exchange gifts\stuff. Makes me crazy but I digress. If I do have a gc that I know I won’t use, I pass it along to someone I think will use it. I end up doing that with a lot of things. I have been buying gc and small items for the holidays for the last two months so as not to blow our budget.

Congrats To Anne on paying off the debt. It probably feels FANTASTIC. Enjoy.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:49:16 +0000

I love getting gift cards/certificates. I will always use mine. I give them when I know I wouldn’t be able to buy something that the person likes or does already has and they will actually use the; never for my brother. This yr I purchased my friend a Pashmina scarf (Fundraiser at work) and a gift card to a restaurant that I know they go to and will appreciate. For my friend’s son’s birthday, he turned 5. Loves going to the movies, so instead of a toy, I bought him a gc. He loved it! Now he can “pay” his own way at the movies.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:36:02 +0000

Hey Anne, yay for you!

I always like hearing about people making it out the other side of this debt game. It gives me hope that I too can get there.

By: Girl Makes Cents

Girl Makes Cents — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:46:46 +0000

I’m a 20something and I love gift cards. I like picking out what I want, and will let the person who gave me the gift card know what I bought with it. It helps when they know what type of stores I like too, or things that are useful to me. Hairdresser, favourite clothing store, teaching store, restaurant, etc.

By: KG

KG — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 23:40:29 +0000

I have mixed feelings on gift cards. The kids usually ask for them now so they can go get what they want (20 somethings) and I do get them as asked but it just feels like I put no effort into it, and I enjoy giving a nice gift. But truly they will get something to their taste with their gift card than me trying to find the perfect gift. I don’t much like receiving them because truth be told I don’t like to shop and this forces me to go shopping. I would rather tell someone what I want and let them do the shopping )

By: Sandy

Sandy — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:52:10 +0000

Nothing is better than gift cards. You pick what you want, it’s paid for and saves the environment by you not receiving useless gifts you don’t need.
There’s a rule in Canada that they can’t expire too.
How many times have I gotten a gift from someone who thought they knew what I wanted and it ended up being something I didn’t want anyway?
If you find gift cards impersonal, send them with a card and a personal message.

By: Kat

Kat — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 21:23:13 +0000

Hi Everyone,
I just wanted to clarify the rules in Ontario. As far as I am aware, gift cards do not have an expiry date here. Granted, if it is a coupon or a voucher, they could have one, but I have had expired gift certificates that I was able to use after the expiration date as stores tend to be helpful (if you are polite). Stores are also not allowed to charge a fee for carrying a balance – however, some malls can and do charge if the card has a balance outstanding after 16 months. In order for that to happen (the fee to be subtracted), the card must have been activated, used and then not used for at least 16 months). You can also call to have the fee waived for a period of time following the 16 months (it just has to be done prior to the first fee being taken off).
That said, I personally love gift cards! Even if I ask for something specific, I rarely get it and have to return it anyway for what I really want. Since my birthday is close to Christmas, it is really challenging to think of things for my birthday/Christmas (people ask for these lists – I don’t believe in the consumerism of the holiday to begin with, but that is neither here nor there). I have gotten really good deals with my gift cards following the holidays. $1200 pots, reduced to $250 and I had $200 in gift cards. Not too bad. I do believe in gift cards for bigger institutions like box stores or a mall since they are least likely to go under.
As for my gift giving, I love giving what the other person wants. If it’s homemade, I try. If it’s time together, I try. If it’s a gift, I get the exact thing. And if it’s a gift card, so be it.
Happy holidays to all…
Kat

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:59:03 +0000

Freckles I’m with you!!! Maureen you rock girl!!

I too look forward to your posts and your advice for me which is always spot on. Thanks.

By: Freckles

Freckles — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:39:52 +0000

Some of my favourite gifts to receive are …. Maureen’s posts on this blog!

I love them. Maureen – how about a Xmas gift to us all if you tell us you have started your own blog!!! “Maureen’s Musings on Life” for a suggestion …. but I know you would come up with a much better title for it.

By: Heather

Heather — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:24:56 +0000

I also love finding that perfect gift for someone. Once though, I knew my mom wanted a plant encyclopedia, but I didn’t know which one to get her, so I put enough money for a substantial one onto a Chapters gift card. Then to personalize it and show that some thought went into it, I bought inexpensive fake flowers and a plastic pot, cut off the stem and put the card sticking out of the flowers with a wire holder. I wrapped it in dark celophane, and the whole thing cost me about $2 more than the gift card, just to show some thought went into it. Gift cards can be great, when you know what someone wants, just not the exact product…