Watch Out for the Holiday Gift Card Grinch!

If you've ever received a holiday gift that left you wondering, "What was the giver thinking?" then I know that you understand the concept of gift cards. No trips to the mall to return unwanted items; no clutter gathering in the back of your closet.

As a result, gift cards have become a huge staple of the season over the years.

But this year, giving your friend or loved one a gift card could end up being the equivalent of giving a lump of coal if the retailer goes out of business before the card is redeemed.

When Sharper Image filed for bankruptcy this year, gift cards were not honored unless the user was willing to spend TWICE the value of the card on a single purchase. Unused gift cards totaled $20 million by the estimate of Consumers Union.

As a holder of the gift card to a store chain that files for bankruptcy protection, you are looked upon as an unsecured creditor by the bankruptcy court. So, if the retailer asks the court to allow acceptance of gift cards but the request is rejected by the judge, you'll have to get in line with all the other unsecured creditors.

If you're willing to file a claim (and most don't), you MAY receive only pennies on the dollar.

Circuit City, which recently filed for bankruptcy protection, has said it will continue accepting gift cards.

Unfortunately, the company is planning on closing 155 stores, which might make it more difficult and inconvenient for some gift recipients to find a location in which to use it.

A large liquidation firm is estimating that as many as 14,000 retailers will go out of business by next year, which makes the job of choosing a "good" gift card a much harder proposition this holiday season.

To avoid gifting someone you care about a Grinch, we urge you to bypass gift cards and do your shopping the old-fashioned way … BOX IT AND WRAP IT!

We want your holiday to be stress-free and money-savvy! Check out these links for more of our top seasonal tips:

• 5 Steps to Stress-Free Holiday Shopping
• Beware Holiday Charity Scams
• Holiday Tipping: How Much Should You Give?