Merry Christmas and a happy new year!

Why to Get Prepaid Gift Cards for Christmas 2010 - And How to Save on Them

As Christmas 2010 approaches, most of us are just starting to get into holiday shopping mode and figuring out what Christmas gifts to buy for everyone on our lists. One increasingly popular option is to get Christmas gift cards, which are an easy, budget-friendly and ideal holiday gift idea for pretty much anybody. But if you're still wondering whether you should purchase one for the 2010 holidays, here are a couple of reasons to consider.

THE STATS ON GIFT CARDS FOR THE HOLIDAY 2010 SEASON

Christmas Gift

If you think gift cards are among the best gifting options, you're not alone - 69% of shoppers polled in the recent Holiday Spending Index conducted by Javelin Research said at least one of their gift purchases this year will be a gift card, with 74% of female shoppers saying they would be buying one for the holidays.

And it's a present that's favored by shoppers from across the board, with both high-income and lower-income survey respondents stating they planned to purchase at least one for the 2010 holidays. Specifically, 63% of shoppers whose household incomes were less than ,000, and 76% of those with annual household earnings 0,000 or more said they would get a holiday gift card.

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEA

There are lots of reasons why gift cards are so popular: convenience and budget friendliness to name a few. Check out this detailed list if you need more convincing:

Perfect for the pickiest person: Whether you're shopping for your Aunt Sadie or your fashionista girlfriend, you'll never have to worry about gift cards getting returned or being the wrong style or size! Just make sure you find out some general details about what your recipient likes, or pick a card for a store which sells a wide variety of products, like JCPenney. Wallet-wise: If you've only got 0 to spend on your brother's Christmas present, but he's into pricey electronics or is in the midst of a home improvement project, load that specific amount onto a card and you're good to go - no overspending! For extra savings, get an email gift card as you won't have to pay for shipping costs like with a physical card. And remember there are often lots of deals to help you get them for less during the holidays; look out for coupons, mail-in rebates and cash back rewards to maximize your savings. Get it for yourself: A prepaid gift card is perfect either to treat yourself or to help you stay on top of your own holiday spending. If you're worried you're going to blow your entire budget at that one store you love, just load a set amount onto a gift card, leave your credit cards at home, and stop once your card balance runs out.

Don't forget to make sure that your card doesn't have an expiry date or charge you an inactivity fee if you haven't used it in a while, as some retailers do put in hidden dormancy charges that may deplete your balance.

Have a merry Christmas and a happy holiday shopping season!

Why to Get Prepaid Gift Cards for Christmas 2010 - And How to Save on Them