Can't decide what to get someone on your Christmas gift list? Gift cards have become a popular choice. But Consumer Reports says there's a lot to be wary of. For example, if you lose a card you'll either have to pay a fee to replace it or you're out of luck. Maintenance fees are common among bank-issued cards. And some cards carry expiration dates, although more and more states are outlawing that practice. Here's a list
of states with gift card-related laws.
Matt's View
Instead of giving a gift card, how about giving cash? Gift card marketers want us to believe that giving cash is tacky. At least one writer agrees, calling gift cards "a graceful proxy for cash." But cash is accepted everywhere; it never expires; and here's an added bonus: it's less likely to be spent. Study after study confirms that people spend more when using plastic. So, give the gift of cash and some of that money might just end up in a savings account. There's nothing tacky about that.
A new web site is redefining the fight against hunger--literally. Part word game, part poverty awareness builder, FreeRice.com
is all about getting food to those who need it most. Go to the site and you'll be greeted with a word quiz. Choose the word's correct definition and you just helped send 10 grains of rice to people who don't have enough to eat. As reported on CBSnews.com, it works like this: sponsors, whose ads appear on the site, pay for the rice; all you have to do is visit the site, play the game, and with each correct answer the cost of 10 grains of rice is given to the United Nations World Food Program (WFP). How much good can be done 10 grains of rice at a time? The site's first check to the WFP was for $100,000. That's enough to feed 500,000 people for a day.
Matt's View
A natural audience for this site is schools. While it's right to be cautious about allowing marketers into the classroom, FreeRice.com has much more upside than downside. It's a creative way to teach kids about vocabulary and poverty, while providing direct aid to the hungry.
Looks like we may need a new line item in our budgets. Let's see, groceries? Check. Clothing? Check. Carbon offsets? Huh? If you haven't heard of carbon offsets, here's how they work. You go to a web site to calculate your household's "carbon footprint." That's how much carbon dioxide or other pollutants you generate. Drive a Hummer? Big footprint. Drive a hybrid? Not so big. Then you can purchase "offsets," with your money going toward projects that remove the same amount of pollutants from the environment as you generate. Offset e-tailers include: Carbon Footprint
, TerraPass
, Carbonfund.org
, and e-BlueHorizons
. You can calculate your total footprint or the impact of specific activities like airline travel. For those about to marry, TerraPass will even help you estimate how much carbon dioxide your wedding will generate.
Matt's View
Critics of carbon offsets, according to the New York Times, say they're nothing more than a way for drivers of gas-guzzlers to ease their guilt. Others point out that calculating our carbon footprint is an imprecise science and standards for measuring the impact of the offsets are inconsistent. However, if nothing else, the growth of the carbon offset "industry" is raising awareness of our environmental impact. Maybe it'll change wedding registries as well, with couples adding carbon offsets to their lists of china, crystal, and the like.
Do you give a Christmas gift to any of the service providers in your life? According to a survey from Consumer Reports, those most likely to receive a gift are child-care providers and housekeepers. Those least likely to receive something are garbage/recycling collectors and fitness trainers. The magazine pointed out that it's good to know the rules of the road when giving to service providers. For example, postal carriers are not supposed to accept cash or gift cards that can be exchanged for cash. However, they can accept non-cash gifts valued at $20 or less. Before giving to your children's teachers, the magazine recommends touching base with your school district's office or PTA.
Matt's View
While acknowledging those who provide valuable services is a nice touch, no one should feel obligated to go overboard (or over budget) in doing so. A simple thank you card is appropriate. Or, consider organizing a group gift, such as a gift for your children's teachers. It'll likely cost less per person than buying individual gifts.
