Read the terms on the packaging to know for sure. Don't send a U.S.-based gift card to an international recipient.If the value seems low, don’t add to it if it means compromising your own budget. A $5 gift card may be all that you can afford.

Don't exceed your own financial limits.“Ask the salesperson for a card that hasn’t been put out yet,” Woroch says. It's possible for a scammer to take a photo of the bar code and then have access to the funds you load up. Cards that are in a public rack at a store can be compromised. It’s important to check for signs of tampering. For example, a pack of four $25 Domino’s gift cards will cost you $79.99 instead of $100. When looking for sales, check out what you can get at a wholesale store like Costco, Woroch says. “The gift cards will be free to you, and valuable for the people you’re giving them to,” Woroch says. If you've accumulated cash back or points with your credit card, Andrea Woroch, a money saving expert based in Bakersfield, California, says it's a great opportunity to redeem them for gift cards, especially when your budget is tight. Redeem credit card rewards for gift cards.If that will result in a hardship for them, it’s not much of a gift. In fact, the Bank of America survey found that 42% of consumers spend more than the amount of the card’s value. If $15 won’t cover the cost of a meal at a particular restaurant, you'll be forcing the person to spend money to make up the difference. If they’re of a generation that tends not to be tech savvy, the physical card may be preferred, while a younger person may value the online version more. Some people prefer physical cards while others prefer the digital version. Therefore if you feel certain the recipient will enjoy a place or thing they haven't tried before, it's a risk you may want to take. According to the Bank of America survey, 68% of gift card recipients said a gift card prompted them to try someplace new. Choose a brand that can expand their world.If you know that your cousin is obsessed with Apple products, an Apple gift card will be most appreciated. 'People love gift cards but you need to make sure you’re buying one for the type of brand the person likes,” Weaver says.

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