The Money Is Only Half of What Gets Wasted
- 43% of U.S. adults have at least one unused gift card, voucher or store credit.
- $244 is the average amount sitting unused.
- 34% have lost money on one. It expired, it got lost, or the store closed first.
Source: Bankrate survey of 2,373 U.S. adults, 2024. The $27 billion is Bankrate’s estimate and includes vouchers and store credit.
The Other Half Is Harder to Count
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It gets tucked into a wallet.
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Months pass.
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It ends up in a drawer.
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Maybe it gets spent. Maybe it doesn’t.
And even when it does get used, how often does anyone remember who gave it to them?
The gift that seemed impossible to get wrong may be the easiest one to forget.
You Gave Gift Cards Because You Care
You wanted your friends to have something they’d actually want. You didn’t want to risk getting it wrong.
Most of us feel the same. Carnegie Mellon researchers found that fear of getting it wrong is why givers play it safe, even though people receive sentimental gifts less often than they’d like.
Source: Givi & Galak, Journal of Consumer Psychology, 2017
So what would you give if you stopped worrying about that? Maybe something small, with a detail only the two of you would understand.
Put that on something they’ll see every day, and you have a personalized gift.
They may not need another thing in their house. But they might love a little reminder of the two of you.
- an old photo
- a shared memory
- an inside joke
Why a Personalized Gift Beats a Gift Card
Gift cards are useful, and plenty of people like getting them. But if you want your gift to be remembered, here’s how the two compare.
| A gift card | A personalized gift | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it ends up | In a wallet or a drawer, until it’s spent or forgotten. | Out where they can see it. |
| Can it expire? | Yes. 20% of U.S. adults have let one expire. | No. There’s no balance to run out. |
| Who they think of | Once it’s spent, maybe no one. | You, every time they see it. |
| What it says | “Buy whatever you like.” | “I remember us.” |
| What it costs | $50 for the card in this story. | Under $40 for every gift below. |
And It Solves the Hard Part of Giving
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I don’t know what they’d like.
You don’t have to guess. Start with what you already know: a photo of the two of you, her name, her birth flower, a joke that still makes you laugh. -
They don’t need more stuff.
Then keep it small and useful. A little dish for rings and earrings isn’t clutter. It’s a reminder of you on the nightstand. -
What about the rest of my list?
It works for anyone you share a story with: your sister, your mom and dad, your partner, your grandparents. -
What if it comes out wrong?
You’ll see a preview before you order, and if an item arrives faulty, you get a full refund.
Four Small Gifts That Won’t End Up in a Drawer
All personal, and all under $40.
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For your best friend
Bestie Photo Jewelry Dish
Upload a photo of the two of you and it’s turned into watercolor art on a ceramic dish. Choose from five shapes.
$33.95
Personalize This Dish -
For your sister
Different Flowers, Same Garden Jewelry Dish
Glazed ceramic with a hand-painted gold edge, personalized with her name and birthday flowers.
$29.95
Personalize This Dish -
For the friend who has seen it all
Friendship Newspaper Photo Vase
A ceramic book vase that puts your photo and your friendship on the front page.
$39.95
Personalize This Vase -
For the one who’s always on the go
Birth Flower LED Compact Mirror
A light-up compact with her name and birth flower. A little reminder of you, every time she opens it.
$25.95
Personalize This Mirror
The Safest Gift Is the One That Reminds Them They’re Not Forgotten
Everyone on your list shares a story with you that no gift card can tell. Find a gift that tells it, with their name, an old photo or the joke only you two understand.
Make It Personal - 50% OFF NOWOr start with who you’re buying for: