There are gift certificates that suck and ones that don’t. Many of us are going to receive these no-thought-whatsoever gifts and give them ourselves, so if you’re going to do it, at least give one that people can actually use.

My recommendations:

Don’t give fast food certificates.

Don’t give give electronics store certificates (unless at least $200).

Do give Home Depot / Lowe’s certificates.

Do give Blockbuster certificates.

Listen in for why I feel this way about certain certificates.