Gift Cards No Longer A Safe Bet
I have always thought gift cads were great as Christmas gifts. For local friends and family, I could give them a card to spend at a certain store. For those living abroad, Amazon.com has such a wide selection that it works well.
Gift cards seem a little more personal than giving cash, but they are no longer the safe bet they used to be. You see, when you purchase a gift card, you become a creditor. That means of a company files for bankruptcy, it gains protection from all its creditors including everyone holding a gift card.
Best bet is to gone someone cash. While it may seem impersonal, your friend or loved one will be able to spend it even if the company goes out of business. There are things you can do to make it personal such as make a short rhyme, or take a picture of the store & put with it, or the section of the store they should spend it in. All you really need to do is write a short note.
Have a great holiday season!