Buying Gift Certificates for Christmas

[SandraDumas]

Since we are now well on our way to being debt free other than our house...

We are going to start saving for things (what a concept) and have found the best way to do it is gift certificates.

I would like to know, if you could buy gift certificates to ONE store throughout the year, what would it be?

We tend to like building toys, and useful things. My son needs a lot more boyish toys, but my dd has just about anything she could possibly need. I thought of Vision Forum so we could get some unusual things and some outdoor things for my son but then we wouldn't be able to buy the Mars Mission lego set my son will want. But I'm still leaning in that direction.

Any other ideas?

[Amy in NH]

Have you considered setting up a savings account just for a Christmas fund? That way you could get something your kids really want at any store.

I'm thinking shop around for sales!

[Stirsmommy]

If you really do better with gift certificates why not get the generic Visa gift cards so that you don't have to shop at a specific store? You could use those on what you want and could go to the place with the best deal.
Melissa

[cin]

Target. They have some decent 'toys' (including Kapla blocks!) cute clothes, nice housewares....It's my favorite store :D

[JenneinAZ]

Amazon. They are our one stop shopping store for gifts.

Jenne in AZ
(dd9, ds7, ds3, newbie in September)
(Sprog and Mouse)

[WTMindy]

either a separate bank account (you are earning a little interest that way) or of a Visa giftcard so you are not limited when it comes time to give the gifts. But, Amazon would be good too.

[SandraDumas]

Hmmm I do love Target too...but I'm afraid when things get tight I would spend them on food.

I love the gift card idea but you know...I wonder if I'll be tempted to spend them on tires for the car or other such thing like extra food, or presents for other people that I feel pressured to buy...

I hadn't thought of that before either.

We don't save. That's our problem. Right now all of our savings is untouchable, and forced, taken out before we even see it. When we finally put that in something a little more touchable it's going to be CD's which are hard enough to cash....

So I'm thinking Amazon...

[*anj*]

We've started budgeting for Christmas as well, but we keep the money in a special savings account. It earns a bit of interest, and we have total flexibility when it's time to buy gifts. I'd hate to pay more for something at Store A, when the item is on sale at Store B. And you just never know...

You can buy Visa check cards without an activation fee at Commerce Bank, if that's the route you'd rather take.