this post was submitted on 20 Oct 2024
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Gift cards are intentionally earmarked for a specific purpose. If you give me a gift card for a restaurant, I'll go to that restaurant, and not feel guilty about "this is too expensive". You've given me an experience I won't choose for myself, but may enjoy. It's memorable, and the experience is inherently connected to you even if you don't go with me. I won't buy myself a massage. But if you encourage me to do so with a gift card to a massage place you enjoy, I will enjoy the experience.
That's the intent of gift giving. It's a way to strengthen a relationship by sharing items or experiences you think someone will enjoy. Cash can theoretically do that, but rarely does.
I feel like at that point you just invite them to dinner/massage/etc. Much better way to bond anyway. Plus if someone is rare to prioritize fun, a bunch of gift cards to random ass places like rpg quests is stressful for those on an already tight schedule.
Having a bunch of gift cards you know you HAVE to use is stressful!
No one gives someone "a bunch" of gift cards - it seems like you're racing to validate your dislike of them. And I'm going to feel weird if my sister invites me to get a massage with her, though I appreciated it when she gave me a prepaid one years ago.
Here's another example. My brother barely makes ends meet, but he loves Starbucks. Of I give him $100 cash, is not going to move the needle for his cost of living, but it's going to go to bills. Of I give him $100 on a Starbucks card, he's going to treat himself a bunch of times to something he loves but can't really afford.
The other thing about it is that cash usually gets interpreted as "I put no thought into what to get you," while a gift card at least says you had something in mind.