Firstly, happy thanksgiving everyone.
Tomorrow is the biggest shopping day of the year, and all I ask is that you consider not giving gift cards. Over $8 billion per year in gift cards are given, and not used. If cards offered some kind of built-in discount ($45 for a $50 card) then they might be excusable, but they are essentially a crippled form of cash. Think about it, would you give someone stamps?
To me, gift cards say the following to your recipient:
“I’d like to give you money but I’m afraid you’ll spend it on drugs”
“I don’t know you well enough to even attempt to pick something out, but I’m absolutely sure what store you’d like to go to”
“I’m too lazy to go through the store and actually find something for you”
“I forgot about getting you a gift, so just be glad I had to stop for gas”
“You have bad taste and shop a crappy stores, so I’m forcing you to shop at a good one”
If you’re happy saying those things (sometimes I am), then gift cards are perfect. Otherwise, take a moment to try and think of something original, or just go with good old-fashioned cash.