Best Gift Card Values For Christmas 2017

If you have no idea what gift to give as a Secret Santa gifts, or maybe have a teenager typically glued to their cell phone to buy for at the last minute, a gift card can be a great present that lets the recipient spend the card's value on what they prefer. But gift cards come in a variety of options including restaurant chains, department stores, or Visa cards loaded with money to movie tickets and more.

And while some folks say buying a gift card isn't the same as shopping for carefully selecting a gift, 41 percent of Americans say they want a gift card this holiday season.

The top five most valuable gift cards given by American shoppers are: iTunes, Starbucks, Walmart, Victoria's Secret and Target, according to the personal finance website WalletHub. But those aren't always the best cards in terms of average discount offered, resale value, the retailer appeal and shipping fees.

The website's editors compared the 50 most popular options across five major categories to pick their most valuable list: 1) how popular the cards are; 2) how much of a discount you can buy them for; 3) how much you can sell them for; 4) how much people like the retailer; and 5) shipping fees.

While some folks prefer an actual present, gift cards are easier and cheaper send across the country. Most consumers purchase two gift cards during the holidays, according to CardCash.com. And an gift card from the past five years is most likely still good, if you come across cards months after the holiday.

Gift cards are most popular with younger consumers, growing at an annual rate of 6 percent, but the real boom in the market is digital gift cards, which are being purchased at an increase of 200 percent this year, the website says.

Of course, if the recipient doesn't use the gift card, it's money down the drain. So how do you choose the best gift card? WalletHub has these tips:

Look For A Discount. The best gift cards can be purchased for less than face value. Look for deals from our article on the best gift card exchanges, or stores like Costco offer discounted prices on the cards it sells.

Avoid Card-Network Gift Cards. Gift cards from Visa, MasterCard and Discover seem like a good deal since they can be used anywhere, but they're inferior to cash because the cards earn money on fees. There's generally a fee of at least $3.95 when you buy such a gift card, followed by a $2.50 monthly inactivity fee if the card isn't used for 12 consecutive months. So if you want the versatility of cash, give cash instead.

Don't Confuse Gift Cards & Prepaid Cards. Despite often being displayed next to each other in stores, gift cards and prepaid cards are very different animals. Gift cards are designed to be used only until the original balance is gone, while prepaid cards are reloadable and serve the same purpose as a checking account with a debit card. Prepaid cards also have multiple fees associated with them; the average prepaid card has nine separate fees, according to the Prepaid Card Report. The wrong prepaid card could cost someone up to $311 per year if used incorrectly, the website says.

Resale Is An Option. If you don't use or like a particular gift card, you can sell it on a gift card exchange or simply swap gift cards with a friend or family member.

And don't forget about gift cards you may have received in the past. Check your drawers and wallet to find out. Any gift card from the past five years is most likely still good.

And, Offers.com compiled a list of over 100 gift card deals to serve consumers with a variety of discounted gift cards from favorite restaurants and retailers for a last-minute and affordable Christmas gift. Restaurants and retailers are adding bonuses and freebies for gift-card buyers and last-minute shoppers this holiday season.

SEE ALSO: Holiday Gift Return Policies For Apple, Target, Macy's, Kohl's And More

Exchanging gifts, return policies

If you have actual gifts you want to exchange, there are ways to change out gifts at the store even if you don't have a receipt, although a receipt makes the gift-return process much easier. A warning: Don't open the packaging for music, movies, video games or computer software if there's a chance you will return it. Once it's out of the packaging, the best you can hope for is an exchange for a similar item in the store.

Patch has checked the return policies of some of the country's biggest retailers in case you find a present from Santa you'd rather swap out. Here's hoping you can avoid the long lines at customer service on Dec. 26. Return policies vary widely among national retailers, from practically no limits at Nordstrom and Kohl's, to stringent rules that allow only unopened DVDs and computer software to be returned at Best Buy, Toys R Us and other businesses.

Many shopping outlines extend their deadline for returns for the holiday season, including Amazon's holiday policy, which gives you until Jan. 31 to return gifts that were purchased between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31. Among the stores known for their generous return policies are L.L. Bean, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Zappos, the online shoe and clothing seller, says Time.

Photo by Deb Belt