Our friends over at Westchester.com offer some great tips on buying gift cards for Christmas.

Sometimes, in fact, cash is a better gift, according to Gary Brown, director of the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection. “Cash may not seem as ‘personal’ as a gift card, but cash doesn’t expire, there are no fees and people who receive a gift of cash tend to spend only that amount. Ten percent of gift cards end up going unused, which is why merchants love them.”

This post recommend you looking at the type of cards, fees, and expirations date.

Gift Cards Exposed Fool.com

If you give one:

Buy store-specific gift cards with a lengthy period before expiration.

Buy the cards from a bricks-and-mortar store and use a credit card or check for the purchase.

Purchase the cards as close to the gift-giving occasion as possible to allow the recipient more time. Look for cards that still allow the recipient to collect some benefit when the activation period has ended.

Read the fine print.

If you get one:

When you receive a gift card, use the card as quickly as possible.

Know your balance. Try to max out the card quickly, rather than leaving small balances. Gift card companies make a lot of money off of these small amounts left on gift cards past expiration. Better the money goes to your purchase.

These are great gift card tips.  I strongly recommend you read the print.  Gift Cards are hugely profitable for stores for one reason only.  Consumers don’t know they have and are often left with nothing.