Say it with plastic

Gift cards once seemed like such a Christmas cop-out. These days, they carry more weight than a sleighful of shopping-mall Santas.

Thanks to a few flashes of marketing magic -- and the increasingly difficult challenge of finding the right present -- gift cards have gained an unprecedented appeal.

Target stores grabbed the attention of the tech crowd this year with product-themed cards that light up and make sounds. Web sites are offering more cards that can be personalized with photos and names.

Starbucks is getting a serious revenue rush from its re-loadable coffee cards, and this year even Wendy's has decided to capitalize on our penchant for plastic and burgers.

Read more at: Say it with plastic