Plan on giving gift cards in lieu of an actual gift to your "loved" ones? Be aware the biggest winner in gift cards are the stores selling the cards. Several companies are showing huge increases in revenue (30 million or more) because of unused gift cards. Furthermore, many of the cards have "maintainance" fees attached that will rapidly eat up the card if they are not used in a very short time.

Besides, how much do you really care about someone if the only thing you can think of for them is a gift card, telling them you don't want to take the time to actually purchase something for them