Gift Guide for Saying "Happy Holiday" with a Gift Card

You don't have to worry about a favorite color and one size really fits all.  Gift cards are great way to let a loved one pick a gift that they really want.  

One of the plusses of living right off Route 22, home of the big box stores, is that the range of local gift cards available is breath-taking. You can pretty much 'gift' anything you'd like from sporting goods to a bedroom set to a box of breakfast. 

Gift cards issued by retailers or restaurants usually have no fees or expiration dates, although they should be treated like cash and most likely will not be replaced if lost or stolen. Check around, some retailers allow you to fill and refill gift cards in whatever amount you'd like and others sell the cards in pre-set amounts.  It's also possible in some cases to check your card balance online.

Note: We've heard tales of gift card fraud associated with those attractive displays of assorted cards, so to be safe go merchant direct. All two dozen or so gift cards listed are for businesses located right here in Springfield.

• Price:  $1 to the sky's the limit
• Purpose: Give them the gift they really want 
• Place: All around town

Food:

Chipotle (route 22 center median): Cards sold in $10 and $25 denominations

Dunkin Donuts (Morris Ave and Mountain Ave.) Cards available in any amount up to $200

Olive Garden (route 22 eastbound): Cards can be filled in amounts ranging from $5 to $250

Outback Steakhouse (Echo Plaza, route 22 westbound): Cards sold in amounts $10 to $200

Panera (route 22 eastbound): Cards can be filled in amounts ranging from $2 to $200 

Starbucks (located in Barnes & Noble, route 22 westbound):  Cards are available in $15, $25, $50, $100 amounts

Subway (Morris Ave.) Cards available in amount from $5 to $100

Taco Bell (Morris Avenue): Cards sold in $10 or $20 amounts  

TGIFriday's (route 22 center median): Cards are available in $10, $25 and $50 amounts.

Groceries:

FoodKing (Morris Ave.) Cards available in $10, $25, $50, $100 amounts

ShopRite (Morris Ave.) Cards available in  $25, $50, $100 amounts

Clothes

Bob's Stores (route 22 westbound) Cards available in $10, $25, $50 amounts

Fun and Games

Barnes & Noble (route 22 westbound) Cards offered in amounts from $10 to $350. There's a special  $1000 card

Five Below (route 22 westbound) Cards available in $5 increments

GameStop (route 22 westbound) Cards available in $10, $25, $50, $75, $100 amounts

Guitar Center (route 22 center median) Cards available in $5 to $500 amounts

Sam Ash (route 22 eastbound) $30, $45 and $75 Clayton Custom Guitar Picks cards

6th Avenue Electronics  (route 22 westbound) Cards available in $25 to $1000 amounts

Sports Authority (route 22 eastbound) Cards available in even dollar amounts between $5 and $500

Home goods

Bed, Bath & Beyond (Morris Ave.) Cards available in $25, $50, $100, $200 amounts

Christmas Tree Shops (route 22 westbound)  $5, 10, $20, $25, $35, $50, $75, $100, $125

Macy's  (route 22 westbound) Cards available in amounts from $10, $1000

Pier 1 (route 22 eastbound) Cards available in any amount

Staples (route 22 eastbound) Cards  $10, $20, $25, $50, $100

Misc.

AAA, (route 22 eastbound) pick up American Express gift cards in any amount

CVS (Morris Ave.) Cards available in any denomination