Musing Mondays (May 25)

Today’s MUSING MONDAYS post is about gift certificates…

Do you give gift certificates to book stores as presents? If so, do you give for actual stores or online stores? Do you like to receive them yourself?

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Musing Mondays post, or share your opinion in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks.




I do like to give gift certificates for bookstores as presents, though I don't do it very often. I love the idea of giving a person a book as a gift, but unfortunately I don't have very many booky friends and so I try to restrain this impulse unless it's something I know they'll love.
As for the booky friends I DO have, I prefer to give certificates instead of actual books because then they'll get the book they want. I think it's the perfect gift. I mean, I know they'll use it and I know they'll get something they enjoy. It's usually a certificate for the local bookstore (as opposed to the online store) because browsing is all part of the birthday experience. Plus, for me, it's got the added bonus of being a bit of a game.
My cousin and I have been exchanging book certificates for our birthdays for the past couple of years. Every time her birthday comes around, I consider getting her something else, but at the end of the day she (as a mother of two) and I (as a student who really shouldn't be spending money) really look forward to our guilt-free birthday book. Every year we get our gift card and every year we hold onto it, hoarding it for as long as possible (my birthday is at the start of March... the card is still nestled away in my wallet) because, you see, there are rules for book certificate spending.
Firstly, it has to be something REALLY special. Something that you really want but wouldn't normally buy - it's too expensive, I'd have to order it in, it's hardcover, etc - and therefore worthy of book certificate-spendage. Consulting over said purchase is also necessary. My cousin and I usually send three or four emails ("Dear Book Consultant...") over the course of a book certificate-possession, discussing which book is worthy. This is good because we always have a laugh, but bad because it usually means we each add three or four books to the list before any decision is made.
I always love to have a book certificate - but that's just it, I love to HAVE it. I hate the actual spending of it (new book aside) because then the game is over. But of course, by the time I actually do spend it, it's usually pretty close to my birthday again :)

37 comments :

gautami tripathy said...

A very short answer:

Musing Mondays

Anonymous said...

Not sure if my previous comment went through. Had a bit of a computer malfunction.

My response can be found here:

http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/musing-monday-may-25th/

Anonymous said...

Oh bother. The link didn't work. Here it is again:

http://bibliophile23.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/musing-monday-may-25th/

Nan said...

Here's mine:

http://nanscorner.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/monday-musings-may25/

Melody said...

Here's mine.Happy Monday!

Brooke from The Bluestocking Guide said...

Here is Musing Monday 41 Happy Memorial Day!

Anonymous said...

Mine's a short one..Happy Monday!

http://judys424.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/musing-monday2-gcs/

Lynda said...

My answer is here:
http://lyndasbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/monday-musings-25509.html

Anonymous said...

First time playing. Great question!!
Here's Mine

Anonymous said...

My answer is http://debbiesworld.wordpress.com/2009/05/24/musing-monday-may-25/

Julia said...

Happy Mondays Everyone (Happy Memorial Day!)

Here Mine!

Mari - Escape In A Book said...

I don't have many bookish friends either, that's to bad really because I always want to tell(recommend) everyone when I've read a good book.

Here is my Monday MusingWishing everyone a great Monday!

Desert Rose said...

Here is mine

http://desertrosebooklogue.blogspot.com/2009/05/musing-mondays-may-25.html

the Author said...

Answer can be found on my blog

Elena said...

Coolsies! With Extra Pulpgift certificates are for people i don't know/like very well :P

Anonymous said...

Here's mine : http://anothercookiecrumbles.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/musing-mondays-gift-certs/

Don't think the previous one went through!

zetor said...

Love book tokens my answer is here, http://zetor-mogsblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/todays-discussion-is-following-do-you.html

Ambrosia @ The Purple Booker said...

Here is my Muse Fire & Ice Musing Monday

Cathy said...

Love those gift certificates!

Jodie Robson said...

Me too - my post is here:
http://geraniumcatsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2009/05/todays-musing-mondays-post-is-about.html

MizB said...

Here's mine! :D

~MizB

kayerj said...

loved this topic--my Monday musings

Lisa (Southern Girl Reads) said...

My answer is here

Marie Cloutier said...

http://www.bostonbibliophile.com/2009/05/todays-musing-mondays-post-is-about_25.html

Yvonne said...

My answer is up at
http://socratesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2009/05/musing-mondays-gift-certificates.html

Unknown said...

With the exception of my youngest daughter, I don't usually give gift certificates to book stores, because most of my family and friends aren't very big readers. I really don't even give my daughter many gift certificates, because she enjoys shopping in discount or used book stores.

But I do love to receive gift certificates for myself - especially from Amazon and Barnes & Nobel so I can order over the Internet. I'm looking forward to having grandchildren and I hope I can pass on the love of books to them. Maybe my grandchildren will love getting book gift certificates.

Kim said...

I love your answer today!
Mine is up.
http://pageafterpage-kim.blogspot.com/2009/05/monday-business.html

*smiles*
Kim

Becca said...

Here's my answer!
http://imlostinbooks.blogspot.com/2009/05/musing-mondays.html

Matt said...

Yes, yes, yes! Full answer is up.

The Book Resort said...

Oh, Rebecca, I really enjoyed reading your answer. It was so fun to get a peek @ your book certificate adventures w/ your cousin.

Thanks! Do share when you do $pend your gift :].

Jessica said...

Book buying is one of my favorite topics. :)

Here's my answer!

Anonymous said...

i won't have time to post on this, but it made me smile to imagine you with that gift card in your wallet.

Melissa Ward said...

I love gift cards! Giving and getting :)

http://balletbookworm.blogspot.com/2009/05/musing-mondays-gift-certificates.html

Valorie said...

Here's mine!
http://www.morbid-romantic.net/2009/05/25/musing-mondays-gift-certificates/

Emily said...

late because of the holiday here in the states, but up nonetheless!

http://worldinsidemyheadbookblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/teaser-tuesday-and-memorial-day-make-up.html

Susan said...

I'm soooooo late this week!

my answer

Karoline said...

first time playing this, it was the question that grabbed my attention :)

http://www.sensitivemuse.com/?p=255