Slipping your little nephew 50 bucks may seem like a cool gift, but don’t feel dissed if you get the fish eye once the bill changes hands. Cash can’t be used at online stores, where many people, especially younger folks, now keep lengthy wish lists.

A better alternative may be a gift card offered by retailers and banks. A retailer-issued card can be used only at its parent stores and website. Bank-issued cards are like debit cards and can be used anywhere—from stores and websites to restaurants and movie theaters. Bank-issued cards also can be customized with your little nephew’s name, a message and design.