• Next time you need a birthday gift, give a gift card.Gift Card image by chas53 from Fotolia.com
  
  Gift cards are a great birthday gift because they let the recipient choose her own gift, but are more decorative and thoughtful than just giving cash or a check. These show that you put thought into what the person likes, but wanted her to ultimately be able to pick out her own gift. They come in many different forms, so choose the one that is best for you. Before buying, check to be sure the gift card you are giving does not have an expiration date and that the recipient will not be charged fees off the card for not using it in the very near future.
  
  

Prepaid Credit Cards

• Prepaid credit cards can be used anywhere that accepts that specific type of credit card. For example, a $20 prepaid Visa card allows people to pay for things with the card where ever Visa is accepted. You can sometimes get points on your credit card by getting one of these so check with your provider.
  
  

Charity Gift Card

• A charity gift card is the perfect gift for someone who likes giving to charity and is a volunteer. With these cards, you give a designated amount of money on a gift card and then it goes to whichever charity the person designates. Some companies that sell these cards have a list of organizations they work with; make sure the list is extensive so the recipient has many options to choose from. It can also go to more than one organization.
  
  

Restaurant Gift Cards

• Most restaurants sell gift cards to their establishments, so if the person has a favorite place to eat, this is a good choice. If it is a restaurant that is not near you, call and see if they can mail the gift card to the recipient.
  
  

Phone Cards

• Phone cards are a good gift for people who don't have a cell phone or who travel a lot. They can be used in hotels, for example. Some people only have a limited amount of minutes available on their cell or home phone plans so these cards are a great gift if the person talks on the phone a lot. Also, for people who leave the country or have friends out of the country, phone cards are very useful.
  
  

Virtual Gift Cards

• Give virtual gift cards. These are delivered to a person's email and can be printed out and used many different places, depending on the gift card you decide to give. If you forgot to get a gift or do not have the time, this is the ultimate last-minute gift since it is ordered online and delivered to an email inbox; no wrapping required.