If you received gift cards for Christmas (or Hanukkah or your birthday), you may want to use them during the next few weeks.

The current recession is likely to lead some retail operations to dcelare Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  These retailers may follow The Sharper Image’s lead and stop taking gift cards — leaving you with worthless pieces of plastic. 

Don’t spend blindly, but it may be a good plan to use these cards now, while they are good.