| There's little doubt gift cards make good
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| | retailers to issue gift cards with
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| gifts. In fact, they may be the "perfect"
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| | expiration dates, but it does still
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| gift. Why? Because, by giving a gift
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| | happen. If possible, avoid buying cards
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| card, you allow someone to choose
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| | that must be used within a certain amount
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| something that they actually want. No
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| | of time. And if you DO buy one be sure
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| guessing. No mistakes. No bad gifts that
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| | the person you give it to is well aware
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| get buried in the closet, never to be
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| | of that time limit!
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| seen again. In the past several year gift
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| | 2. Watch out for fees -- Be aware that a
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| cards have become a very acceptable and
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| | few companies sell gift cards that have
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| desired gift option.
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| | "dormancy fees" that kick in after 6
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| However, not all gift cards are created
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| | months or so. These fees can reduce the
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| equal. Some are actually much better than
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| | value of a card by up to $5 per month.
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| others. Because of their popularity (they
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| | Make sure anyone you give these types of
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| are now one of the most-purchased gifts
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| | cards to is aware of this fee. There's
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| in the United States) gift cards are
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| | nothing worse than going to a store and
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| offered by hundreds of different
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| | finding out your gift card is worth half
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| retailers as well as credit card
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| | of the face value due to dormancy fees.
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| companies. It's very important that you
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| | 2. Stick with established retailers -- It
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| take your time, read the fine print, and
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| | seems just about every little store and
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| find out exactly what type of cards
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| | restaurant now offers some type of gift
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| you're buying. Remember, several types of
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| | card or gift certificate. However, little
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| gift cards can actually "go bad" within
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| | stores and restaurants go out of
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| just few months of purchase, so it's
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| | business, have computer problems, get new
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| important to do your research and be
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| | ownership, and have all types of other
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| careful.
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| | problems that may keep them from honoring
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| Here are a few tips for buying gift cards
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| | a gift card or certificate in the future.
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| will make everyone happy:
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| | It's best to stick with the big,
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| 1. Watch out for expiration dates -- Some
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| | well-known, and well-established
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| gift cards expire in as little as 6
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| | retailers. When you buy a gift card from
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| months after purchase. Almost all cards
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| | your local "Best Buy" store, you can be
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| issued by credit card companies have
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| | certain it will be honored in the future
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| expiration dates. So no, they're not "as
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| | -- not just in that store but in any of
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| good as cash" like many people believe.
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| | the hundreds of stores around the
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| It's becoming less and less common for
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| | country.
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