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10.2 DON'T GIVE GIFT CERTIFICATES!

For a host of reasons, gift certificates are not good. Instead give a check with a card which reads, "To my daughter: I would like you to buy that dress you've always wanted."

All you are doing with a gift certificate, is giving the store the use of your money and control over that money. Bad idea!

Why I don't like them:

==Gift certificates reduce flexibility. The money is now tied to that store and what it has to offer.

==The store has use of your money until the recipient redeems the gift (which could be months).

==The store could go bankrupt.

==Your daughter might not be able to find anything at the store for some reason. Nevertheless, the store can require that most (or all) of the money be spent at their store instead of giving a refund.

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