To think a £10 gift card is pointless

[AcornConker]

I’ve been given a £10 gift card for my birthday by my sibling. It’s a bit upsetting as I took her on a day out to York for her birthday and spent quite a bit treating her but she’s not got much money so I can’t expect much.

But I’m finding it impossible to use. It’s a One4All gift card and none of the online retailers that accept it interest me. I live rurally and to go into a city or town centre where I could use it would cost me a lot in public transport costs. If it was £20+ it may have been worth it but £10 seems a comical amount and I almost wish she hadn’t bothered. It’s become a chore and a bit of an eyesore sat on my coffee table.

I’ve also recently come into financial difficulty myself and the pressure to use the gift card before it expires is putting pressure on me as to buy anything these days for £10 is impossible and I’ll have to put in my own money as well which I can’t do. I can’t even buy a bloody book with it.

AIBU to think that voucher gifts for an adult should be £20 minimum. If giving less then just give cash! Also for the value of £10 I’d have much rather have had a nice bath bomb or something like that, I feel I’ve been given a chore instead

If your that hard up to spend a tenner that isn’t even yours then spend your time doing overtime or budgeting or something. You can’t miss what you haven’t got.

Why not agree to just stop buying each other gifts? Have you got a teenager in the family you can gift it to, they’d love it!

or give it to your local food bank

Don’t take gift cards or vouchers

Not unreasonable to be disappointed, unreasonable to be ungrateful and say it’s an eye sore on your coffee table.

as I’ve said more than once now, unless she’s never leaving the house in 18 months there’s no need to spend a bus fare to use it specifically - that would be silly.

if her sister gave her £10 in cash and she never left the house, she also wouldn’t be able to spend that without bus fare…

You can't find something in M and S, Primark or TKMax or the numerous other places?

Those ones can be a pain to spend. Last time I was given one I bought an Amazon voucher with it.

How ungrateful.

Did you read the OP? She lives rurally and can't afford to travel to places with those stores.

I asked first 🤣

And as has been said eleventy billion times now, if she’s not going to leave the house I’m the next 18 months, then yes it’s likely not that useful to her. But she could still just buy something v small online and yes she’ll have to pay postage so even if it’s £5+postage it’s £5 on something she didn’t have before.

Delivery? 3.95 eg from Boots . Fine one with free delivery ?

Bless her. Ffs just add £10 to it and stop being so ungrateful. Remember the saying "it's the thought that counts".

Given, as you say, that your sister is up against it, budget-wise, then I'd just gracefully accept the gift with your thanks.

Perhaps suggest to her that maybe another time popping a tenner inside a birthday card would be easier for all concerned? Cash is good, still.

This.

It may have already been mentioned but you can use it online to buy a m and s gift card that will then last over 3 years. This is what I did with DD as they can be difficult to spend. @AcornConker

How can a gift card be an eyesore? 🤣🤣🤣

Just spend it when you’re planning on going shopping anyway. There’s loads of shops that accept them.

I’m sure she’ll need some supplies within the year and will have to leave her area.
I think it’s an excuse to be disappointed, have a moan.

Considering your sibling is struggling financially you seem very grabby expecting more from them.
Can you not use the voucher online? I'd buy some nice skin cream or something I wouldn't usually buy for myself that's not expensive but not practical to buy for myself often.

That’s a really good tip! I wouldn’t have guessed you could do that.