It's Christmas time, a child's most beloved holiday, and a parent's greatest nightmare come true. For the parent, the Christmas season rolling around can be a nightmare for a number of reasons; it could be a plain old stressful reason, or it could be a more specific reason, such as a reason involving finances, or one where the parent has to show that, since last Christmas, they've been paying much attention to their child's wants for the next greatest toy. And that parent hasn't been paying any attention. What to do? There's a simple solution for the parent of any listed predicament, and that entails going out to the store and buying one thing: a gift card.

There was a time when people would read the solution I've listed above and would gasp with horrified melodrama. Thankfully, those times aren't today. Gift cards have been viewed as the quick solution to any gifting problem. Need a present fast for a birthday, a holiday, or simply any celebrated event (except anniversaries)? Then go out and buy a gift card! Gift card sales have gone up $14 million dollars from the year 2006 to 2007, which is all the proof you need to see the giving of gift cards is no longer as taboo as Indian giving. And if that doesn't work, then how about the majority of people saying gift cards aren't bad (a reported 86% on Angie's Poll)? And if that's still not enough, how about purchasing an Xbox 360, wrapping it up, handing it to your kid and finding out they wanted a Nintendo Wii? Will that be good enough?

Amidst this economic slump we're finding ourselves mingling with, where jobs are going down to the lowest the Nation's seen since the Great Depression, we no longer have the money to go out and buy gifts people don't want, if we have the money to buy them at all. Picking up a colorful plastic gift card once you've reached the check-out counter and putting $25 on it, thankfully, will suffice. Or buying a card in the card aisle with a cute little gift card taped down to it will be more than enough. What was once the most sought after gift people wanted to find in their stocking during the Christmas of 2007 has been trickling down and spreading to all celebrated events ever since. To buy a traditional present is a great gesture--but when time and money are against you, don't hesitate to pick up a gift card.

And for the business savvy reader, take notes. Gift cards are a hot item because, in one little plastic device, they're every item. Stocking up on gift cards will bring in more customers, more business, more money. The buying and distributing of gift cards brings on a domino effect like no other. It's really owner fair if you get your stipend during these gift card obsessed times where money is up for whoever is quick and smart enough to grab it. Not that buying gift card's will become taboo now or ever, but why waste time? Being a part of this gift card food chain assures that you'll be getting money today.