It does slowly wither away due to inflation.

This is why I started gifting various debts, they actually increase in value over time!

You're not alone. My family went no gifts this year and we just went out to eat and stayed home with some decent whiskey and beer.

Fine. Pack of socks instead.

I... what? This is so incredibly far from where I stand on the matter that I can't relate at all. Give me the gift card, please. I've never received a gift card that I didn't use within a week.

You are getting a 40# case of oranges apples or onions from me, solely based on how much each cost at the time.

I actually think gift cards can be just fine.

Someone just moved and need to get furniture? I don't want to decide what lamp you get yourself. Giftcard!

Or by using my self as an example; I never buy my self fancy chocolates, incense, scented candles or such, but I like having them. If I got a gift card for a store of that kind I would be forced to spend it there and thereby forced to make my self happy.

Of course a gift card at Amazon or whatever would not be very fun. There is zero thought behind that.

Gift cards are a raw cash bump for stores perpetrated by idiots upon society. I’m rarely preachy irl, but gift cards always set me off. You’re just giving stores money for no reason. Why are you donating to Amazon? Bestbuy doesn’t need your money. I don’t even like massages.

You know what’s better than a gift card? Cash or making plans to just veg out for a couple of hours together. I will gut you like a fucking fish if you hand me a gift card. I will end your bloodline if you force me to call a phone line and register an account to access fucking money as a gift. You’ve inconvenienced us both. Just place the bills in an envelope and draw a smiley face on the front before I have to invent a hate crime

The compromise is to do cash that's earmarked for something. My family will give me an envelope and say "this is for bitcoins" or "reddit gold". And then I tell them "okay..." And then just buy whatever I want.

but then you could invest it and it'll become a gift that keeps on giving.

Ang paoooooooooo It's been years I've gotten one, I miss it.

I imagine that this works out to give typically younger people more money, so the point is in pretending that this isn't what the scheme is.

A gift card can definitely be thoughtful, especially if it's to a place that aligns with their hobby.

Like, I'm into hiking and backpacking, and I'm very particular about my gear. I don't really want someone to waste their money getting me something for my hobby that's A) junk gear because they don't know it's junk (happens a lot with knives), B) something I already have, or C) something that I have no use for. I don't expect anyone to actually keep up with what gear I already have, even my wife.

With an REI gift card I can pick out something I might be hesitant to splurge on which will actually benefit me. Plus, I don't have to pretend to be excited about a present that will sit on a shelf for a year before going to Goodwill.

With cash, the money is going to go towards paying bills, which definitely isn't the intention of the gift.

The person getting the gift card has to put thought into where to get it from; cash is way more thoughtless.

You could totally hit somebody with a money bag too.