Gift vouchers/cards as presents for children is generally a shit idea

[Fatasbuggery]

Am I the only parent who ends up swapping gift cards for cash and then ends up with a load of cards that are pointless and more difficult to spend than is necessary?
I have a few and every time I remember they are in my purse and I try and spend them it either takes ages because the cashier has no idea how ro process them or I have to know exactly how much money is on them for them to even be looked at. These tend to be the ones you can use in various shops so not even a card for a place they know my children love.
You know what else you can use in various shops ? Actual cash !!

I know I am the luckiest human to have people in my life who want to give my children a present but it is a pain if it just causes me a load of admin.

Unless it's something that they specifically want, like Ro

Unless it's something that they specifically want, like Roblox or cinema/food vouchers, I agree. People need to get over giving money, or stop doing gifts. Our lifestyles have changed so much, even since my adult children were children.

@emeraldcity2000 I was happy with book vouchers as we have an independent book shop in town and they will happily order stuff in if they don't have it.

Around her, parents tend to give gifts when children were little and cash now. Gift cards are a pain unless for someone, who loves the particular shop. Much better for an adult to push them to treat themselves instead of spending it on a supermarket shop.

Oh, I used to LOVE a gift voucher when I was a child. Going out to spend them and choosing what I wanted was an absolute joy. I still like getting them now!

However, I think some of the Love2Shop type ones where they're meant to be valid in loads of places can be a bit fiddly to use; we used to get them at work in a reward scheme and they were quite tricky to spend on things you actually wanted. Now we have a different scheme where you can choose what gift card you get which is much better.

I tend to check the balances on line and scribble it on the back of hte card with a Sharpie!

I always prefer gift cards than actual physical items which take up space. I like the Google Play ones so I can fund my Dragon City addiction. But we're all different I know.