To ask if gift vouchers are a cop out?

[lavalampoon]

Would be really nice to hear some opinions on whether you think gift vouchers are a cop out gift for close family like partner/spouse and parents.

I love a gift voucher. Especially as I don't have loads of disposable income just for me. Guilt free spending in my favourite clothes shop. But then people close to me know that so it's a lovely present to get.

I like some vouchers- TK Maxx is my favourite followed by Nandos/ Cinema.
I’ve had a Zizzi voucher for 6 months now, must try and spend it.

I LOVE getting gift vouchers. I think you absolutely can put effort into them as you can pick a shop the recipient likes. Love them!

I would like a gift voucher for something that is easy to spend. I was once bought some cinema vouchers and you could only book the tickets in person and not online. Nor could you use them for snacks. It was for a chain that sold out almost very weekend. After a few tries we gave up and gave the voucher to a friends teenager who was more flexible with time.

I've asked my mum to get me H&M vouchers for Xmas

I always give gift vouchers and like getting them myself. I don’t see the point in wasting money on a gift for someone that they don’t really want and will just take up space in their house. Far better to let people choose for themselves.

I love a gift voucher, you can buy what you want, unless it’s for diyrus?

I love a gift voucher!

I’d much rather vouchers than cash. Cash goes in my purse and ends up paying for the weekly shop or a McDonald’s or something like that. A voucher for a favourite shop can be spent on something just for me.

Likewise when I buy for others. This year there’s literally nothing I want. I have everything I could possibly want.

I'd suggest Amazon gift vouchers or cash. Any other voucher gift generally ties the person to a specific store/chain which might be inconvenient. x

I keep asking for vouchers as there are loads of ebooks I want to buy but never get any. If I get cash it just ends up going into savings.

Depends. I don't mind having them for a shop like John Lewis. If I'm lucky enough to get a £50 JL voucher I'll enjoy deciding what to buy.

I have one uncle who sends M&S vouchers which is nice, if nothing else I will buy some posh food.

I have one uncle however who insists on getting WHSmith vouchers which are almost useless IMO.

I think vouchers/cash is a bit of a cop out.

However, my DB wears VERY expensive clothes, I've given him cash and written in the card for him to buy a button for one of his shirts

Better a gift voucher with no thought put into it than a present with no thought put into it. But yeah, for a close relative, it does say that you just can't be bothered. Even worse when you have to later explain how you spent it on thoughtful, exciting things and repeat the thank you (mil expects this).

Not at all. I love gift vouchers!

I'd rather have a voucher than cash because cash tends to get lost amongst household money and I end up spending it on necessities where the recipient has intended it for something I want.

I love to receive and am happy to give vouchers!

But then I am thankful and aware that even handing me a fiver for me is a thoughtful thing to do.