Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
Oh how we love that little piece of plastic that someone surprises us with at Christmas time. Whether it’s to use at your favorite restaurant, at a big box retailer, or a boutique, Christmas gift cards are a delight! But of course there are always ways to make a good gift great. Or if you received a gift card for a location you don’t frequent, that doesn’t mean your gift is a dead end. This year, if you received a gift card during the holiday season, you’ll want to check out the following tips to maximize your sweet little piece of plastic.
Maximize Them
You know having a gift card is a good gift, but you can make it a great gift by stretching those pennies until they scream. That means you need to scan the internet for a coupon to couple with your plastic. Be sure you check out any coupons available for retail locations and/or restaurants. This might mean you need to join an eClub or rewards program associated with your particular vendor. If there’s a rewards program, be sure to use your card, too! You’ll also maximize a gift card if you’re able to put it to good use for a need.
Swap Them
What’s that you say? You don’t eat/shop there? Like ever? Companies like Cardpool, Cardcash (formerly Plastic Jungle), Raise, and Giftcard Granny have been allowing you to do so for quite sometime. However, this year retailers have gotten in on the action, too. Target is offering an in store option this year and GameStop has a special online offering. Keep in mind that many of these programs give you only a fraction of your original gift card and then you can choose to accept or decline the offer. For a side by side analysis of different online gift card exchange programs, check out this Top 10.
Cash Them Out
Rather have cold, hard cash? Coinstar – the kiosks in retailers and grocery stores that count your change for you – also allow you to bring in gift cards to get in exchange for cash. Again, you’ll be charged a fee that reduces the total of your gift card. By the way, if you ever count your change at a Coinstar, you can get an eGiftcard for no fee in the same amount of your change.
Save Them
Oh how Christmas Cash and gift cards wear a hole in our collective pockets. As soon as we receive them, we want to dash out to spend them. However, you’d be wise to scan your calendar for upcoming expenses and events and squirrel those cards away. Valentine’s Day, birthdays, and more are on the horizon for 2016. You may want to “budget” your cards for a specific event or simply save them for a rainy day. Keep them in your wallet for a set date range rather than bunring through them.
Give Them Away
Did you know you can donated unwanted gift cards? My favorite organization making the most of unused gift card dollars is Gift Card Giver. They take even the odds and ends of your used gift cards – that $1.42 on one and $2.71 on another – and put them to good use. All you have to do is write the remaining amount on the outside of the card with a permanent marker and mail the card away. You could even have a party with your friends to collect sad, unused gift cards sitting lonely in desk drawers everywhere and mail all of them off together.
A gift card is a good gift and you can make it great with just a few simple steps!
Did you get a gift card this year? What are you planning on doing with it?
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
