Tis the season for unwanted presents, fa la la la la, la la la, where’s the receipt?

It may be the season of giving to most, and although it’s the thought that counts, the fact of the matter is that sometimes the thought could be more useful or less wasteful to the earth.

In the past, gift cards may have received a bad rap for being impersonal, but these days there are so many options for gift cards that they can be completely personal, thoughtful, and above all, useful! We have comprised a list of 12 gift card ideas that are sure to avoid the unwanted gift pile.

1. Gas gift card
I know, this might not sound exciting on paper, but for someone who travels or commutes regularly, has a vehicle that guzzles gas, or has a road trip planned, a gift card for fuel is more thoughtful and useful than you realize. With gas prices soaring, the gift of a free fill-up is the break that nearly everyone’s wallet needs.

2. Grocery gift card
Do you know anyone that isn’t buying groceries? Exactly, this gift card is useful to literally everyone. Take it a step further and make it more personal by choosing the gift recipient’s favorite grocery store or service, such as Instacart. This would be the perfect gift for the busy mom on your list who regularly orders her groceries online, or the bachelor or college kid on your list that keeps borrowing toilet paper and groceries from mom’s house.

3. Amazon gift card
We all know Amazon enthusiasts in our lives, and what better way to fuel their shopping obsession than to give them the gift of an Amazon gift card. Chances are they already have items sitting in their cart just waiting on that “order now” button.

4. Car detailing gift certificate
Do you know someone whose vehicle regularly looks like a junk yard, a crumb factory, a locker room or a cry for help? Do you see where I’m going with this?

5. Air BNB gift card
Chances are, there’s someone on your list that needs a vacation (hint: everyone), so why not send them packing and let them choose their destination. Bon Voyage!

6. Theme park gift card
Give someone you love the gift of an entire family experience at a theme park, such as a zoo, Great Wolf Lodge or Canada’s Wonderland. Not only are you helping to cover the costs of an excursion, but you’re contributing to priceless memory making.

7. House cleaning services gift card
With increasingly hectic lives, the last thing many people have time or energy for is maintaining a clean, tidy house. Giving someone the gift of a clean living space can also be the gift of creating some much needed time for themselves. Double whammy.

8. Takeout service gift card
Give someone the gift of not having to leave their couch or plan what’s for dinner (again!) with a Skip The Dishes, Door Dash or Uber Eats gift card.

9. Restaurant gift card
Depending on the recipient, you can go generic or personal with this gift, choosing a gift card to someone’s favorite local restaurant or opting for a gift card that can be used at a multitude of chain restaurants.

10. Self care gift card
Whether it’s a mani/pedi, a massage, or Botox, chances are there’s someone in your life who is in need of a little primping or pampering.

11. Roblox or Playstation gift card
Teens, preteens, and avid gamers agree: they won’t “yeet” this gift, bro.

12. Coffee shop gift card
Whether they’re a Starbucks fanatic or a Timmy’s lover, taking care of a few morning coffee runs with a gift card is an awesome way to make someone’s day.

Gift cards are more practical than ever and with so many options to choose from, you can’t go wrong in choosing one for those hard-to-buy people in your life.

PS: you can purchase Rose Cleaning Gift Certificates here.

Written by: Stacey Wood