Millions of people go to work in stores, factories and offices. They work hard at these jobs but many of these positions do not even pay poverty level wages. Gift cards are a way to discretely help friends and relatives to provide for their basic needs yet continue to have the dignity of being self-supporting.

Buy gift cards to major department stores (Sears cards are especially popular with guys). This will enable the recipient to buy everything from personal care items to a pair of shoes or a new tire for the car. These retailers have online specials that might offer additional savings.

Buy a gift card to the local pharmacy to discretely help offset the cost of medicine and medical supplies (such as syringes for insulin). Many companies do not offer health insurance to their employees. Retirees have large co-pays with Medicare. Families with children may have to buy medicine for more than one family member. All of these people will suffer sickness or injury from time to time and will have to pay the high cost of today's medical care. Pharmacy gift cards will be very much appreciated. Additionally, some pharmacies have a rebate program which, when combined with coupons, makes some merchandise completely free.

Get a gift card to the neighborhood grocery store where your friend or relative shops. They will not have to decide between paying a utility bill or buying food because you will have discretely solved that problem.

This one is not a gift card but a gift membership. Pay for AAA for those times when the car breaks down. Sometimes the towing expense can be as much as the repair bill when one does not have a AAA membership.

Provide gift cards to gas stations to defray vehicle maintenance expenses, especially if the gas station allows the card to be used toward car repairs. And surprisingly, many gas stations have better prices on milk, bread, and orange juice than the grocery store.

If your loved one is a college student or an avid reader, then consider a gift card to Amazon.com. Their prices are usually much lower than bookstores and they offer free shipping on many of their books. I think the minimum order is $25 for free shipping.

If your friend has pets, then a gift card to an area pet shop would be appreciated. Pets can be expensive to feed so this would be a way to discretely help the person to stretch his or her budget. Kitty and Fido will thank you.

Buying a gift card to help defray the cost of career clothes, and the accessories that go with them, can be a little trickier to choose. You will need to know where the recipient usually shops for clothes. If she wears plus sized clothing, then you are probably better off giving her a department store card rather than a specialty store gift card, so she won't feel embarrassed.

If your friend lives near a WaWa or 7-Eleven or some such convenience store, give a gift card for those times when just one item is needed on the way home from work. Some of these stores also sell gas so a gift card to one of these stores would be versatile.

Since everyone needs some entertainment in their lives, give your precious others gift cards to the movies, a bookstore, and maybe a favorite restaurant. Also, provide a general gift card such as a prepaid Visa so they can choose whatever activity they would enjoy.

Although this may not technically be a gift card, if there is someone you know who enjoys a particular activity such as bowling or going to the park or wandering through museums, find out if they have gift cards or affordable seasonal passes. Put a little joy in the life of a hard-working and deserving friend or relative.

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