When you have an occasion to give someone a gift, one of the hardest things that you face is trying to decide on a gift for that person.  Unless the gift is for a bridal or baby shower, or it's for someone that you know really well, you may be at a loss as to what you should give them.  That is the time when you might find it easier to give them something that allows them to buy something that they want or need on their own.  You can do this by giving the person a gift certificate.

There are several reasons why gift certificates are a great option for a gift.

• Within Your Budget - The first reason that a gift certificate is a good idea is because they are within your budget. You decide how much the gift certificate will be, you know how much you can give the person, and that is what you spend on the gift certificate. There's no concern about getting a gift that is beyond your means when you buy someone a gift certificate.

• They Will Like It - The second reason that a gift certificate is a good idea is because there isn't any second guessing on whether or not the recipient is going to like your gift. You don't have to worry about whether or not the person has one, like you would have to with a movie, a CD, or a book, and you don't have to worry about whether it's the right color or the right size, like you would with a piece of clothing that you might buy them.

• They Have Fun Shopping - The third reason that a gift certificate is a good idea is because it gives the person a chance to go shopping after the party or holiday is over. Instead of the fun ending that night, the fun has just begun because now they get to take your gift and go look for something that they want to buy without worrying about the cost.

Here are some suggestions on how to choose the right gift certificate for someone.

• Likes - The first thing that you want to do is to think about what they like to do. Do they like to read? Do they like wine? Do they like the outdoors? Knowing what a person likes is going to help you to find the right gift certificate for them.

• Hobbies - The second thing to think about is their hobbies. What do they do in their spare time? Is there something that they collect? Again, knowing the hobbies of someone will help you know what store to get a gift certificate.

Gift certificates are a one size fits all gift and a good choice when you are unsure of what you should give someone. It helps you stay within your budget and lets the person go out and have some fun with your gift.