ATLANTA -- Having trouble figuring out what to get the kids or grandkids this holiday? Gift cards are always a popular option especially on a fixed budget.

But before you buy, experts say gift cards can be a big gamble this year.

Consumer Reporter Kim Fettig tells how you can give the gift cards without getting ripped off.

As many of us cut back on our holiday spending at the malls this year, a good “fixed price” gift may be the gift card.

"I get a lot of Starbucks, get a lot of Target," said consumer Kyle Gilbert.

But what seemed like an easy gift in the past may not be such a good idea in today’s economy.

"This is the year that there is a red flag for all of us," said Fred Elsberry with the Better Business Bureau.

The biggest red flag is that major retailers like Circuit City are closing their doors.

"When that happens, your gift card is worth virtually nothing," said Elsberry.

CBS 46 did the research to help you choose gift cards that are a sure bet, not a gamble.

Bad Bets

• Gift cards re-sold on auction sites like Ebay.
"Unfortunately many of these are stolen cards or cards that ultimately you may get and they have no value on them," said Elsberry.
• Bank gift cards like Visa, MasterCard and American express.
In the state of Georgia, banks are allowed to decrease the value every month the cards are not used.
But even then, we found bank gift cards charging up to 8 percent just to activate the card. You lose money and so does the gift recipient.
"A survey done by one of our BBB’s found that there are 27 different kinds of processing fees," said Elsberry.
Good Bets
• Gift cards with a premium.

Mainly those offered by restaurants. Websites www.halfoffdepot.com offer half price gift cards which means you pay $12 for a $24 gift card.

Have a coffee lover to buy for? We found a sure bet at Sams Club. $100 worth of Starbucks cards are on sale for $79.99.