The caffeine wars have heated up with McDonalds offering free samples of its coffee to its customers every morning for the next month. McDonald’s has long had its eye on the business of coffee chains such as Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts. To help promote the McDonald’s McCafe franchise the company is sponsoring a “McCafe Your Day” contest. The grand prize is a $50,000 Visa gift card and a $500 McDonald’s gift card. That’s a lot of cash, not to mention hamburgers.

To enter head on over to the McCafe mini site and let McDonald’s know who you think would benefit the most from winning the competition. You can upload your story along with photos to the site anytime before June 21st, 2009. All finalists will receive a $1,000 Visa gift card and a $50 McDonald’s gift card. Winners will be determined by an online vote held between July 13th and July 26th.

There are also weekly gift card draws available for users of the site. McDonald’s will be giving away 130 $1,000 Visa gift cards and $450 McDonalds Arch Card gift cards. The massive amounts of gift cards and money being given away make this the largest current gift card promotion happening online. With thousands of gift cards being given away there is a good chance you may be able to get your hands on a card. If you end up with one of the McDonald’s gift cards but would prefer cash, sell you gift card online with Giftah the online gift card marketplace.

Its that time of year again, where the latest class of college students are finishing up exams and attending their convocations. Most of us know at least one student graduating this year, and we are aware that they are launching into one of the toughest economies in North American since the depression. Thats why graduation gifts this year are more likely to be cold hard cash or a gift card. Although many people frown upon giving cash and gift cards in this economy it is usually exactly what a graduating student needs.

Cash or a nice check makes the best gift, but if a graduating student lives far away and you are planning on mailing the gift a gift card is a better option. The best gift cards to give are the prepaid Visa’s or American Express gift cards, these can be used at any location the credit cards are excepted. If you still want something more personal electronics store gift cards, itunes gift cards or clothing gift cards are always popular with the college crown. Try to figure out what the students plans are for after gradation. If they are traveling then buy a travel gift gift card, if the student is moving into a new apartment an Ikea gift card may be in order.

Cash or gift cards in the best gift for grads in the uncertain economy. The last of their concerns right now is another College sweater or a special fram for their diploma, the current trend for students is survival.