I like getting gift cards as long as they're to places I actually like to shop (like bookstores!) because they're permission to be self-indulgent. When people give me money, I feel like I really ought to put it toward our debt, but with a B&N gift card I have no choice but to buy books.
And I'll be getting gift cards for my older nieces and nephews. I have too many and am too broke to afford to get them anything elaborate, but at least I can pay for a few of their Starbucks runs or something and feel like I'm showing them I care, and they'll get more enjoyment out of that than out of some random knickknack I could get for the same price--living on the other side of the country, I don't necessarily have a good sense of what they read or listen to or how they're currently dressing.
From NYC, 3% sounds pretty low -- rent stabilized apartments are usually limited to increasing 3-6% a year, but that's a really defined group of apartments. And if you're not officially stabilized, the landlord can double the rent each year if they want.
Beej - a similar thing happened to friends whose landlord was about to sell his share in the property to someone else. This, followed by hijinks, chicanery, and outright scallawagery. If this turns out to be the case, in some states, longtime renters get the right of first refusal.
At least I can now officially feel defeated and get on with it, having done all I could.
you can always counteroffer. He sounds like a lazy sack, so he may work with you so that he doesn't have to find a new tenant.
I like getting gift cards as long as they're to places I actually like to shop (like bookstores!) because they're permission to be self-indulgent. When people give me money, I feel like I really ought to put it toward our debt, but with a B&N gift card I have no choice but to buy books.
ITA.
I'm getting my senior-in-h.s. nephew an iTunes gift card, since I don't know what music he's into these days and I know he doesn't do much reading. My mom's getting one from Lowe's (she wants to redo the plantings around her mailbox), sis is getting one from Macy's (her gastric-bypass means that she's in desperate need of clothes in her new smaller size), and my brother and SIL are getting ones from B&N. It makes sending things across country much cheaper, as well.
Gift card hater here, but I suspect the real root of the problem is that I seriously loathe shopping.
As much as I really do know that people who like to get gift cards think of them as great gifts, it always feels more like "if I don't use this, then I've just totally wasted your money and thoughtfulness, but OTOH Store XYZ gives me a screaming headache every time I set foot in the place, and I can't use the damned thing anywhere else, and really, isn't this just your way sticking me with the unpleasant task of shopping?"
I'd rather just get a cookie.
(eta: really unfortunate x-post timing with Kathy! So, adding disclaimer of -- so totally my issue, and didn't mean any implied cranky on your plans!)
I'd rather just get a cookie.
SEE the DeBeers Diamond/Cookie Coalition got to you.
I'm probably going to get gift cards for my team members, partially because I think it's appropriately impersonal -- I'm their boss, I don't want or need to know that much about their tastes and interests. I think I'm going to give my works-from-home person a Starbucks gift card, because I know she goes there, but I don't know about the other two. They are both readers, so maybe a Borders gift card.
OMG! I just realized that I haven't paid my rent yet. Talk about a shock to the system.
That means I have to go pay it during this evening's Snowpacalypse.
