Plastic is the perfect one-size-fits-all gift

Be sure to read the fine print before giving a gift card.
HELEN MALANI
SCRIPPS HOWARD
Over Thanksgiving weekend, the official kick off to holiday shopping, 18 percent of shoppers bought gift cards, according to the National Retail Federation; that's almost one in five transactions at the register.
Believe me, impersonal as some think it is, you'd be surprised. In a recent survey, only 25 percent consider plastic to be impersonal. Even three-fifths of those surveyed who have purchased gift cards say they have given a gift card to a spouse or partner as a holiday gift. In fact, a resounding 92 percent of online shoppers say gift cards eliminate the risk involved with holiday gift giving.
Trust me, I'd rather receive a gift card than a holiday sweater that sparkles with a set of AAA batteries.
Well-hidden
There are, however, hidden fees. To ensure every dollar you spend goes to the recipient, here are a few tips:
Many bank-issued gift cards -- those that can be used at any retailer -- are appealing, but they tend to impose a fee for the purchase or activation. It's wiser to purchase from a retailer directly. Other fees can include inactivity, account maintenance and shockingly, balance inquiry fees. Read the fine print on cards or ask for the terms in writing at the point of purchase.
Upon purchasing the card, have the cashier scan it to ensure the correct amount is on there and enclose the register receipt with the gift card so the recipient has backup.
Be careful of buying an actual gift card online vs. an electronic gift card, the latter can usually only be spent at a retailer's online Web site, not in its stores.
Consider gift cards for something the recipient might love but rarely treat themselves to.
The study, conducted by BizRate.com, a division of Shopzilla Inc., was based on a point-of-sale survey of 1,166 online buyers from Oct. 12-13.