Christmas 2017: Gift Cards Can Be A Life Saver

HOUSTON, TX — If you are stumped about what to get that hard to shop for friend, relative or significant other, you can hardly ever go wrong with gift cards.

The best part is that many of these are geared to specific passions, and WalletHub.com has a handy list of some of the best gift cards out there.

Got a gamer in the family? Gamestop, Amazon and Best Buy will bring Christmas cheer to those serious gamer faces.

How about the handyman? Lowes, and Home Depot are popular gift cards, just in case they forgot their screwdriver.

Here are the top 20 gift cards according to WalletHub.com:

• iTunes
• Starbucks
• Walmart
• Victoria’s Secret
• Target
• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Chipotle
• Fandango
• Sephora
• Disney
• Netflix
• Google Play
• H&M
• Costco
• Lowes
• eBay
• Dunkin Donuts
• Home Depot
• Macy's

Other to gift cards were geared to the sporting enthusiasts, such as REI, Nike and Cabela’s, while food was also high on the list, with gift cards for Olive Garden, Applebee’s and Chick-Fil-A.

So all is not lost.

Despite the myth that gift cards are considered impersonal, they are the perfect gift and ensures it’s always the right size, the perfect game or the thing that person couldn’t live without.

Of course, there are tips to finding the right one, and WalletHub recommends a few such as,

Avoiding Card-Network Gift Cards: These gift cards from Visa, Mastercard and Discover might seem like they’re as good as cash, since they can be used anywhere, but they’re actually quite inferior. While retailers make money immediately when one of their gift cards gets purchased, these card-network gift cards make money from fees. There’s generally a fee of at least $3.95 when you purchase such a gift card, followed by a $2.50 monthly inactivity fee if the card isn’t used for 12 consecutive months.

Don’t Confuse Gift Cards and 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. Prepaid cards, on the other hand, are reloadable and designed to serve the same purpose as a checking account with a debit card.

When In Doubt, Just Give Cash. Cold, hard cash might seem a bit less personal than a gift card, but it completely eliminates guesswork from the equation and is the most versatile gift anyone can give. Plus, you might be able to give your recipient more value without shipping fees or shopping trips to worry about.

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Image: Christmas shoppers pass retailers on the main shopping street. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Image