Do gift cards make a good present for the holiday season?

SALT LAKE CITY — It seems that many people will be giving gift cards this holiday season. Is it OK to give gift cards instead of more personalized gifts? Many Utahns seem to think yes, that’s more than OK.

“I think it’s great, especially if you give the right one for the person,” said Christine, who did not provide her last name.

Additionally, she said gift cards for places like restaurants, clothing stores and grocery stores are great, as long as the gift card makes sense for the person receiving it.

“It has to have thought behind it,” another Utahn, Kaylee, who did not provide her last name, said. “It can’t just be a random gift card.”

But some people think gift cards aren’t good enough as a gift for the holidays.

“I think [for] family members, you should make it personal,” one woman said 

On the other hand, some people said they are great, especially for teens and young adults.

“Teenagers like gift cards where they can buy what they want … They’re hard to buy for,” another woman said.

Gary Gygi of Gygi Capital Management says there may be something else other than age at play when it comes to gifting gift cards.

“I’m not sure it’s generational as much as it is, maybe, engrained in certain family traditions,” he said. “Like, on my wife’s side, they’re all around my age. They all love to give gift cards. On my side of the family, they don’t like to give gift cards. They love to give presents. And, if someone wants to return it, that’s up to them.”

So what do people like about gift cards?

“Let’s say you get Starbucks gift cards; you have free coffee for months until you actually use it or remember,” Alyssa, who did not provide her last name said. “I just leave all of my gift cards in my car. And when I run out of money, there’s my gift card.”

Colton, who did not provide his last name, said it’s just nice to have a little extra money that you don’t always have.

Devin Oldroyd contributed to this story.

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