If you need a really good example of how people think differently about their money nowadays, here's one for you. It used to be that when I'd get gift cards for Christmas, I thought of them as free money. It didn't count as cash in my pocket, so I could spend it however I darn well pleased.
Now, with gift cards at my disposal this post-Christmas, I'm thinking of them as part of the sheer number of dollars I have at my disposal for the purchases I need to make. Every "dollar" counts.
So instead of getting a new pair of pants at work cuz I haven't had a new pair in a while, I'm going to sew a rip in a pair hanging in the closet and keep that money (note: I'm not calling it a gift card) for when I positively need a pair of pants (think a hole I can't cover up no matter how hard a try).
So tell me, if you got a gift card for Christmas, how are you doing to spend it differently?
Be sure you check those gift cards for fees & expiration dates. I know someone who received a VISA gift card that charges a $2.00 monthly fee as long as it's active. Hold on to some of these gift cards long enough and they'll expire and/or run out of value before having a chance to be used as intended.