Are Gift Cards still safe to buy and give ?

With the world business world collapsing more every day. Company closings are rampant. I read the companies that are in talks to merge, sell off a division, applied for Protection from creditors. Sadly it is happening to any company.
I have agreed with my family members to give CASH in a envelope with a card. My Son In Law has about $ 200 of car washing gift cards I have given him. He is out of work. His wife is on shaky home office job. Expects the Merry Christmas / Happy New Year lay off.
The job economy is terrible now and into next year.
Wish all of us boaters, for the best we will need, to enjoy our family lives.

You can buy credit card gift cards that can be used at any store or business, and is not specific to a company.

Big part of the problem is the amount of debt people and companies are carrying.

Gift cards are still ok but need to look closely at them before buying. Look at the film that should be covering part of the number and the pin. Compare the one you want to buy with other types in the rack, does the back look the same as others

The man in the office is solving all the issues I heard.

We’ve transition over to a mostly digital Christmas this year.

Use Venmo for cash transfers.
Since everyone in the family has Amazon accounts, we tried Amazon’s holiday gift list service this year.

Works like a bridal registry. Family members login in and make a wish list that is visible to all family members. Members can see who bought what for whom, but have no viability to their own list. Packages arrive wrapped or unwrapped at the location of your choosing.

My SIL redeems gift cards through his Amazon account as “points”. The point don’t expire and he can use for purchases at anytime.

Have had 2- $100k+ opening for a Service Engineer going on two years now. Advertising nationally, we’ve gotten probably 2 dozen resumes this year. The possibility of overnight travel is a deal breaker apparently.

Huge difference from back in my day when you took the job to see the world on someone else’s dime.

@cyclops222 . . . Get me an Amazom card please. I believe they are safe enough.

I am not a fan of gift cards … don’t like being told where I have to spend my gift. Much prefer cash. But people don’t like to give me cash … they say I am cheap and will not spend cash on a gift for myself, and they are probably correct.