it is definitely pretty dumb to carry these for travel, since if lost, there is no recourse, unlike a debit card or credit card.

this is really stupid advice. cards can be stolen/lost (anybody can use them), and they always have fees (I got a few as gifts and thought they were a rip off).


just get a piggy bank (my bank give them out for free) and put the cash inside if you do not have the discipline to put the money on a saving account

I don't think it's smart at all. Better off putting it in an account. "Safer" because your name isn't on it? That's exactly why anyone can steal and use them. Plus, as PP said, there are activation/ usage charges for those cards.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Poor Lee.

I don't understand this comment.

I think PP is referring to the fact that those generic gift cards usually have fees associated with them that diminish the face value of the card? (unlike store specific gift cards that do not have fees).

Or maybe just opining that people should have the discipline to save in more normal way.

Anonymous wrote:Poor Lee.

I don't understand this comment.

Poor Lee.

Heloise printed this reader tip in WaPo today. I thought it was really smart for all the reasons listed.

Dear Heloise: When I have a vacation coming up, here’s how I SAVE MONEY. Whenever I have a little extra money, I purchase a prepaid gift or credit card, one from a major company that can be used almost anywhere, and I stash it someplace safe.

When I am packing, I pull out all of the gift cards I have saved. Not only is it safer because it doesn’t have any of my information on it, it also helps me limit the amount of money I spend. (I do bring my actual credit card with me for emergencies.) -- Lee in San Antonio