Money or a Gift?

[Fate]

Well, we were just talking about this recently in my house. It's near the end of the year, and that's where most of our birthdays are. So, for my birthday, I always get money or someone drives me to a gaming store where I pick out anything I like and they pay for it for me. However, the money is more common. Nobody in my family really knows what games I like, since I'm a little picky; all they know is that I like video games, but they don't want to risk getting me something I won't even touch, so they give me the gift of choice instead.

However, I suppose a surprise for a gift would be much more exciting. I won't know what I'm getting and it makes me anxious. But when I think about it, no one in my family really knows me that much that they can pick out a gift that I'd enjoy. So I don't know if that's what I'd want.

Still, they always say that a gift bought by someone is more thoughtful and meaningful than just giving them money to spend. But others say that if they don't like the gift, they either don't use it or ask for the receipt to get the money back since nobody wants it. Thankfully, this has never happened before in my family, because after a few times of getting lucky with gifts, we just give each other money instead. For some reason, though, gifts from friends are mostly spot-on. I guess we converse more with them than with family?

Anyway, my question is this: would you prefer to get an actual surprise gift for any occasion, or would you rather get money to spend on your own? Do you want the gift of thoughtfulness and surprise or the gift of choice?


Personally, I prefer the money. =D With it, I can then buy whatever I'd like to for my birthday. I mean, if they give me enough money, I can even buy more than one thing, more than I would have gotten in the first place, all of which would be something that I want. And if you think about it, I guess you could say money would also be a thoughtful gift, right?

[Che]

I never turn down a thoughtful gift and demand money, but I'd probably honestly rather have da cash.

[Rocky]

In short, this.

I like gifts, and I like to be suprised, but cash is a very effective gift for me. Sure, some may take it as a cop out type gift because you're not puting any effort into getting something nice, but I like money lol.

On the giving end, I try my damndest to get gifts that don't involve money/gift cards because of how I feel about them, but sometimes I'm at a loss and I give them some Mr. Washingtons instead.

[Cheesevixen]

I could make this complicated but I won't. I'ld prefer money. That way I can spend it on boring bill related things and not the fluff of life. :-) Unless it's cupcakes.....you can get me cupcakes :-)

[Walter Sobchak]

Gift cards are the way to say "I love you, but I don't know you". It is more sincere than cash, because you actually had to get up and leave the house to purchase something, but as long as you get the card from a general enough store, they will be happy.

I remember I went to a friend's house on Christmas Eve and he had a stack of twenty Best Buy gift cards. He told me to take my gift among them. It was cold, yes, but where I would likely spend any discretionary income.

[Dodie16]

When I was younger, I loved getting gifts rather than money. Reason being is that my family lived out in the country, so there really wasn't any stores around to splurge your gift money on. The only time we ever went to town to do anything was for errands. So, you could be holding on to that money for quite some time, and not doing much else with it.

Now that I'm older and have the freedom to go anywhere I choose, I totally go for cash. Presents are nice, but most of the time people don't really know what to get for me since I don't really open up to people all that quickly. So I get cash instead. I'll even take gift cards.

I do try to give people that I am giving a gift for actual presents, but sometimes it's just better to do cash.

Oh btw, I voted cash.

[Meigumi]

Personally I prefer a gift. *Aww, ain't that sweet of me, kupo*

Because, I believe money should be earned through the hard way- no pain, no gain! *laughter*
Plus, it's toughie to pick what you want to buy, even if you had the money, kupo. I'm a little picky, so tough luck for me, huh?
There's always room for gifts!

[Azuteor]

I'd rather have money so I can buy whatever I want, but a gift is fine by me. My friends and family don't have a lot of trouble on what to get me on my birthday or Christmas, but if they do they can always resort to money or just ask me and ruin the surprise, haha.

Over time, I developed my hate for opening presents in front of the person who gave the present because I wouldn't know how to react to the gift. If I don't like the gift then the person will know immediately by my facial expression and the tone of my voice.

[Elyon Seraphim]

As for me... I perfers gifts in packets... It is sure nice to wonder what in and open it when it's your birthday! However how about some ''Packet Money'' That is an good way to! But i still voted Birthday Presents!

[loaf]

I'll take both thanks. A gift is thoughtful and the cash is kindness both I'll accept.

[Maridia]

I prefer money overall. Surprises are nice but the truth is I'm a pain in the ass to shop for and most of the time people get me stuff I'm not big on. It's a really nice gesture but if it's gonna come in handy I usually have to request it since rarely do people think of something I've mentioned to shock me. Once in a while a surprise is nice but most of the time money is solid.

[Tallulah]

I would prefer money. It's more practical in my situation. :/

In fact, I've gotten money from my parents about three years running for Christmas, birthday, or both. I have a feeling I'm getting the same this year, and Nan is getting me Euros for my New Year's trip to Paris.

[Yesha]

Would you prefer to get an actual surprise gift for any occasion, or would you rather get money to spend on your own?
They usuaLLy give money.. even my friends prefer giving me money especiaLLy on my birthday, and cards for Christmas.. weLL.. I reaLLy Like receiving money instead of surprise gifts.. I don't know.. since I'm used to it.. and aLso.. money gives you the power to buy whatever you want atLeast.. and it makes you happy.. but personaLLy.. I haven't given money to anyone.. I Love making personaLized cards and gifts for them.. :-) LoL!

Do you want the gift of thoughtfulness and surprise or the gift of choice?
I prefer the gift of choice..

[DragonHeart]

One thing that always bothers me about holidays is the week after a major gift giving one, all the gifts people try to return to our store because they don't want them. Now that's both cold and selfish. I always feel like telling them if they don't want the damn gifts then ask the giver to just give them cash next time instead. I don't, of course. But I think it. Really loudly.

That is why for myself I prefer cash/gift cards from people who don't know me well enough to really know my tastes. It is a completely appropriate gesture that to me says they don't know me but still wish me well. I'd prefer that over a blind (and often wild) guess at something subjective. Especially since now as a bill-paying adult, receiving cash in some form is extremely helpful for either paying off all the bills I just generated buying holiday gifts for others or allowing me to gift myself with something I may have had my eye on for awhile.

Even people who do know me often don't have any idea of what I may want. I really hate the commercialization of all these holidays so I often purposely ask for nothing. My mom and I have managed to work out a system, though. We'll just tell each other honestly something we'd like to have, then there's no guessing about how wanted or useful any particular item will be. We often do this far enough in advance that by time the holiday rolls around we've forgotten what we asked each other for. XD

~DragonHeart~

[Clint]

I hate it how people are so picky about gifts. Just buy something and give it. If the person doesn't like it, or immediately takes it back to the store, than he or she is a jackass. That's why they think that it's alright to give cash, checks, or gift cards as gifts, but what those things really mean is, "I don't give a shit about you hence the reason why I'm too lazy to think of a gift to buy, so go buy it yourself." If you're buying somebody a gift, you buy them a gift. You don't give them money and force them to buy it themselves.

[Kilala]

I'm going to have to go for a gift!
Having cash seems like a payoff and maybe shows that the person doesn't really know you... plus I just don't like being given money XD I don't know why. It feels far more awkward for some reason.
Gifts can be really thoughtful and cute...
XD Just had a funny thought... It's an anniversary... and then you're given a wad of cash. That's not quite as romantic...
So anyway! Gift. It's way cuter, and when the time calls for it - very romantic <3

[Ryu-Kentoshii Hirokima]

I chose Money, But I am Open for Gifts as well, as long as I get a good amount of money, Like atleast $50-$60, I'm Happy I'm Really Low on cash so that would help out alot. Its much easier for them to just give me Money instead, but yeah, a nice Gift or two wouldn't bother me either. Good Luck Guys

[Xanatos]

I have voted for gifts because I don't remember the last time I received a crappy gift. Even tho I also get money for my birthday I prefer more gifts because they're more thoughtful and also there are always few that really surprise me. But because most of my friends know me really good I always get the perfect gifts although as I said there are always few surprises.

[Jeremy]

I'd rather get gifts. Cash is okay.. but i'd rather have the excitement of opening something.. I don't like Gift cards either. If i'm buying my own gifts i'd rather be able to spend it anywhere I want.

[Unknown Entity]

I prefer gifts, that has money hidden in them. Like that puzzle cube my step-dad got me for Christmas. That was cool - you had to solve the puzzle to get the money. Best thing about it was I got £20, and a pretty cool game to play when I need to get my brain in gear (or if I want to make it really hard for someone to get something.

My family/friends who live too far away to know what I'm like send some money and a card, which is nice - they've been known to write mini messages/poems in the cards, which I've kept because they're personal.

Closer family gives me gifts, which are usually something I've told them I would like - they always ask. Surpirse gifts are awesome though. As long as it's not clothes, it's awesome. Clothes are something I'd prefer to pick up myself.

All in all, I'd say I prefer a small mixture of both.

[Midnight Panda]

id rather get the money then you dont get bad gifts (no offence)

[Padraic]

I'd prefer a gift because the anxiety before opening it even if its something you think you might not like, try it out first, see if you like it, like I mean for my birthday this year I got a cool new wallet and a yo-yo, I was really suprised but I like it a lot, part of it was that I didn't see it coming... but if I do get money in a card, I'd prefer the card to be hand made or have a personal message because atleast you giving something from you, not just a "here some cash, I put it together last minute... like it??"

[Dean Winchester]

I don't really care if i get either, its the thought that counts.

Thats all i want really, i could care less for material things.

[winterborn86]

Love money, money, money
Im an akward person to but things for so money is more benifical for me, I can go out and find something I like for myself.

[Lavos]

I would take money, simply because my parents know just about close to nothing about my tastes. And for some reason it feels....akward... telling them what I want. I have had instances where I got a game and have not even opened the case because they were sooooo off: Shrek Racing, Fantastic Four, Marvel something or other. All picked by my parents. It was a weird "um....thank you?" moment.

Plus, with money I may find something totally new and love it, like I had with (go figure) FF9.

Maybe that is why I love the money though.....

[SacredAngel13]

hmmm...i prefer a gift, because gift reflect what people thinks of me. every people has their own opinion. for the example, if people thinks that i'm a very girlie girl, maybe they will give me a doll, a dress or something else..

but i think money is not bad too..

[gothdra]

I prefer gifts they are thoughtful and shows that the person cares and know me
money are just money. I mean, money are better earned through work

[Freya]

As usual, it depends on many thing. For example: My parents are likely to give me gifts that aren't of any use. For my birthday this year they decided to get me a camera of my own (I've always used theirs... and by always I mean those 2-5 situations in which I needed it .-."). It's standing right in front of me now, I don't know when to use it. I don't go away that often, and I don't shoot any photos. .-." Sometimes, when I'm bored, I randomly take a few pictures of my dog, of the cats or of people (or myself xP), but that's it. I'd rather have liked them to give me the money, so that I could buy myself something I'd use more often. <.<" (I wanted to have a few SingStar games, to be honest XD)

On the other hand, my friends shouldn't give me money. Mostly they think about what they could give me as birthday present. So I'm always happy about that. My best friend knows exactly what I want and she always finds things that I'm happy about. It's the same when I myself have to decide on a gift. x3

So it depends on the person... and I honestly don't know which option to choose in the poll. :/

[steven caban]

It all depends on what it is.
If its something sentemental, inside jokeish, and/or someone who knows you well then a gift.
but if its someone who knows nothing about you, or something then moneys nice.
I don't really care for gift cards, unless its an online only store.
its just money that you can only use one place.

[Locke4God]

Honestly I don't get that much, so there's probably not anything you're going to get me that I'll want. I keep most of my habits, games/comics, etc, in the dark to most, and I don't want a fruit basket. Also I like to play around with my stocks, so most of my money goes there, if not to my mortgage or car payment. Yeah just give me the money. I'll buy my wife and I a nice dinner at a place you couldn't have gotten me a gift certificate for anyway.