I have to admit that I am not a good recipient. I don't want for much and get what I want for myself. I had an agreement with a good friend who does not live close that we wouldn't exchange any more. She is in the same position as me. Never fails, she sends me something for my birthday (this year a subscription to a quilting magazine I would never get for myself, not interesting to me). I go through every year, please let's stop. Okay. Then she doesn't. I try and be gracious, write a thank you, tell her thank you, then wait a while and say let's stop. Okay. Repeat. And, I don't understand exchanging gift cards. We give special things to the grandchildren, and nieces, but as the nieces have gotten older it has been $ but, a small amount and that will stop when they graduate college. They all send nice thank you notes. Anyway, I guess I am a curmudgeon on this count.