gift vouchers

According to this article, what seems like the best answer when you’ve run out of inspiration for Christmas present ideas – get a gift voucher – is a risky and potentially wasteful option. I may be the exception in that I love getting vouchers, for research has shown that at least £84 million spent on gift cards this Christmas will go unspent. This is compounded by collapsing retailers and time limits which can make some cards all but worthless. One of the ‘worst’ gift cards identified by the press was a metal, “rose-gold” coloured Starbucks gift card – each card had £250 credit on it and was sold for £280. Yet all the cards sold out six seconds! The advice is, buy from a retailer you trust and if you are the lucky recipient of a gift card spend it in the January and February sales. For readers who haven’t finished (or started) Christmas shopping yet, there is plenty of inspiration – while internet shopping has hit an all time high; other articles are going offline to find festive cheer on the High Street, and provide a fashionable guide to last minute presents. One site, I Promise I Will invites people to make pledges that can cost nothing but are confirmed by donations to participating charities. Pick a recipient, come up with an idea, a donation size, a charity – and the pledge is yours to keep.