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Wednesday, January 26
Gift Certificate Procrastination Disorder

I have the hardest time spending gift certificates. I feel the need to wait for exactly the right occasion to spend one. If I have one for merchandise at a store, it takes me forever to decide if I want to put it toward a large purchase or buy something for that amount. If my purchase doesn't feel "right", or I make my purchase in haste, I feel like I've wasted it for some reason. With grocery store gift certificates, I feel like I should save them for an emergency, i.e., when I have no money and with restaurant ones, I feel like I must wait for exactly the right occasion.

This (yes, somewhat warped) mindset has caused me problems more than once. I have totally missed using them before and they have expired or I have lost them. There must be some deeper meaning to this behavior, but I'll let the professionals handle that.

So, I have a $30.00 Amazon gift certificate, I don't want to screw it up, what should I get?

7:18 PM | Comments (27) |

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They burn a whole in mine and my husband's pockets! We usually spend them right away! LOL!

Books are a very personal thing, so I wouldn't dare to recommend something for you. But your $30 should be sufficient to buy a nice DVD -- something you haven't been able to see or an old favorite that makes you feel good...

Burn a "whole"! LOL! And you have the Live Preview too... I should be ashamed of my spelling! LOL!

I'd buy the Wifi seeker if you can find it. If not, treat yourself, I'm sure you deserve it! Good luck, JimboK

Sigh. I do the same exact thing. It makes no sense to me really!

You should buy a couple of books, because as a wise man once said, "Books are the keys to that can open the doors of entertainment AND education."

PS - Please don't ask me which wise man it was who said that, because I think I just made that line up.

What burns me is when they charge you for not using it within 90 days. I had a gift card to dillards and when I didn 't use it in time, it was worth about 1/2. They get you every time.

I do the exact same thing! I have $30 for the bookstore, $100 mall certificate, $20 at The Bon, and $60 at the local day spa, just sitting here. I day dream about using them, and ponder what I might use them on, but nothing seems "good enough".

I know you got a laptop recently. is there some kind of wonderful accessory you could use? Good luck, and have fun!

Thank you! I'm so happy that I'm not the only one! I was just telling TD about my $50 GC to amazon that I got today and how I spent HOURS adding things to my cart, starting the checkout process then deleting them out of my cart and finding other things...I'm so scared that I'm going to waste it, ya know? I'm TERRIBLE at spending gift cards/certificates! TERRIBLE!!!!

Well I have this cart...

haha

Get yourself something pretty... it's only money, get something spontaneous.

Gotta get something to *spoil* yourself with! I always procrastinate on using mine too. I look at it as a time to be nice to *me* for once, and can't ever bring myself to spend it on *me*. I usually end up buying something for the kids....sigh...lol

books and music are always nice! :)

Oooh, what fun! I agree with the suggestion to get something for thte laptop. Or just send it to me--I never have trouble spending gift certificates!

From one busy mom to another... order the audiobokk "The Secret Life of Bees." Make sure it is the audio version, because you are busy and the narration is unbelievable. It is also a really good story, the kind you wish didn't end. It is my personal favorite.

Something for the laptop sounds perfecto! Or, maybe a tv show on DVD. I always go for that. Since I don't have the chance to really sit still and watch it the first time, I get it that way and it's on my schedule.

Be careful hording the gift cards. Some charge a monthly fee (about $2) which is deducted from the value of the card. It's all in the super tiny print.

Can you donate it to the Broke Single Fund, of which I am the Founder, Director, Executive Officer, and Chief Financial Officer??

OMIGAWD! You are so like me!
I misplaced a couple of restaurant gift certificates a couple of years ago and was just sick about it. When I found them later you'd think I would use them right away, but I didn't.
Had to be a special occasion.
I've got an a Amazon g.c too and can't decide what I want. I was thinking a cd or dvd.
Hmmm...let us know what you end up getting!

Posted by: ella | January 27, 2005 9:33 AM

Amazon? Hmmmmm ... I'd think chocolate.

-G

lucky for you, amazon sells just bout everything!

Perhaps a pee pee?

I have a wish list. LOL j/k

Just get something like a favorite movie that you know you will watch a few times or a good book that will tantilize you for days.

I'm the same way. We're always waiting till the last minute. And I thought that I was probably the only one.

Does Amazon sell bags?
;)

Exactly! My cousin and I have discussed this at length and came to the conclusion that the problem is that the pressure of buying the really great gift gets transferred WITH the gift certificate. So the gift-giver gets out of it and the giftee gets stuck with it. And that's just plain mean. Good luck!

What I bought with my Amazon Gift Cards
By Sherry

Harry Connick, Jr's Only You Concert DVD

HoMedics BK-900 Back Rejuvenator 8-Motor Back Massager with Percussion Action

Oxo Measuring Cups

Dodgeball DVD

And I love them all!!!

We had a 40 dollar gift certificate for Amazon as well, and I'm like you, it took so much to figure out what we wanted. But we ordered The Karate Kid Collection (pre-ordered). We figured it would be better to order a collection, something we wouldn't normally want to spend the cash on, then just one dvd.

Get out that dusty wish list, go through it and find that ONE thing you have always wanted. Chocolates? Bath salts/oils? A good book? A journal you've always wanted to start writing in? How about a new kitchen appliance? The list is endless. Oh, and have fun.