For a restaurant. I feel like there’s two options:
-
Give your set amount that you budgeted or the occasion calls for
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Give enough to cover the meal
What camp are you in?
My vote goes for #2.
Should be 1=2,
Else if 1<2,
Then select a different restaurant
Else if 1>2,
Then 1.
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If the amount you budgeted for does not cover the meal, then don’t give a card to that restaurant. Give a generic visa card that can be used anywhere. Personally, I hate gift cards.
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I’m the exact opposite. I love getting gift cards. I feel like the generic cards could go either way: I want you to have the freedom to use it wherever you’d like OR I didn’t put any thought into this at all.
If going generic, why not just hand them an envelope full of cash like when you were a kid? When someone gives me a GC to a specific place I feel like they put some effort in. Even if they really didn’t lol.
Regarding my initial question I’m firmly in the camp where I think you should cover at least two meals for a date night. BUT…if your budget really doesn’t allow and your finances are tight I wouldn’t begrudge someone for giving what they feel is helpful for the friend to enjoy a meal so long as they know it’s a place they want to go and not some place they’re now obligated to go spend money bc your gift didn’t cover it all.
Over the weekend we went to a friend/colleagues 40th bday and I gave a bottle of bourbon from my stash and then a GC to a nice newer restaurant, my wife and I were talking about the amount. Eventually I asked the workers how much a typical meal for two costs and went with that.
If I were the recipient, I would rather have cash.
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It’s a gift. Amount doesn’t matter. I would love a GC to my favorite restaurant. If it doesn’t cover the whole thing, I wouldn’t care, because I’d have gone anyway. Maybe I get an appetizer this time that I normally wouldn’t because of the GC. Or a dessert. It’s the thought that counts. They gave what they could afford and wanted me to enjoy something that I enjoy.
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This.
I feel like I try to cover the meal if I give for a dinner, because it is often a close relationship or show of deep appreciation. So dinner out is what I am gifting.
I have never balked if it I got one and it was just a portion. Any amount is appreciated because it motivates/ensures a date night.
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if the amount doesn’t cover the entire meal, you could specify it’s for wine, dessert, extra appetizer, whatever.
but if the recipient perceives you could afford a whole meal and then some, then covering the entire meal would likely be more appreciated
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I am not a fan of giving gift cards because I may as well just give cash, and most of the people I give gifts to are also giving gifts to me. Handing each other cash kind of defeats the purpose of giving gifts.
When giving gifts cards to a restaurant, 1 can be less than 2 if it is somewhere the recipient would go to on their own. But if it is someplace they wouldn’t otherwise go to you need to cover the meal.
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While “cash is king”, as a gift, it only feels ok (to me) to do that as a gift to kids or younger relatives. Giving a cash gift to any other type of recipient feels a bit odd.
Interesting stat – 43% of Americans have an unused gift card. $244 per person on average.
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I bet we probably have 20 of them. Cracker Barrel, Outback, Longhorn Steakhouse, Chick-Fil-A make up the most of them. We just don’t like going out to eat unless we’re traveling. And then, we try to eat at local places.
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I am with others - not a fan of gift cards and we have a few floating around the house and have had some for >2 years. At least they don’t expire anymore.
What are thoughts on regifting them? I definitely do this…
I would much rather a nice card and if you really want to do something then cash with a note to “have an evening out” or similar.
I hate GC, and I hate Generic GG. Just give cash. (shows you took some time to get cash, LOL) I just have thrown out 5 or 10 yr old gift cards with anywhere from 20 - 50 on them cause we never used them store close, etc…
And what does 2 meals cost? You covering the 2 most expensive items and a few drinks? Wife and I have literally gone to the same restaurant and left with about a $25 bill, or over $100. Sat at table about the same length of time. Which could lead to the so is a $5 tip okay or $20 and for which meal as we got the same service. But for a different thread