Sometimes when you want to give something on the expensive side but you can’t narrow down exactly what to give to the recipient, a $500 gift card may be the way to go. A Visa gift card or retail giftcard can range in value from 50 dollars to well over 500 dollars in value, or more.

Looking for a gift card for a graduate, or perhaps a “help gift”? A $50 gift card or a $500 gift card, or any amount in between, can go a long way towards books for school, living expenses or a piece of equipment such as a camera or DVD player. Other gift ideas include wedding gifts, new baby gifts or a special gift for your spouse on a birthday or anniversary.

With many cards, such as a Visa gift card, many retailers and other gift card sellers will sometimes charge a dormancy fee, meaning that the balance from the gift card is lost if the amount purchased on the card isn’t used within a certain period of time. Read the fine print before you make a large gift card balance, such as a $500 gift card, and make sure to let the recipient know that it has a set period of time in which it must be used.

At the end of the year, many corporations thank their largest customers for their continued business by giving lavish gifts such as Callaway golf club sets, memberships to exclusive spas and elaborate gift baskets including pricey wines and cheeses. Other ideas for corporate gifts is to give your best customers a $500 gift card and let your client shop and choose the item or items they want.

Keeping employees motivated to strive in their positions can be a challenge for any manager or business owner. You want your customer service staff to make sure that everyone who calls, emails or visits your firm to feel welcome, however, that doesn’t always happen. People get stressed, have bad days and sometimes don’t give one-hundred percent towards their jobs. You can improve attitudes and make employees aspire to do better by having a monthly contest for a job well done. Base the contest on customer feedback for your customer service department and offer a $500 gift card as the prize. Watch the good attitude spread.

And there you have it, a $500 gift card isn’t just a thoughtful gift for your spouse, newlyweds or new parents. It’s also a great way to keep your employees motivated. Additionally, you can use a giftcard to give your most loyal of customers a big “Thank you” for their continued business. Gift cards are a great way to show someone that they are important to you.