Shopping With a Gift Card
Chances are you’ll receive at least one or two gift cards this holiday season. Whether you receive a $5 card for the local grocery store or a $500 card for a store at the mall, you need to keep in mind that gift cards should be treated just like cash. Sometimes it’s hard to remember that the cards are valuable, but if you were given a $5 bill or $500 in cash, would you simply toss it aside and never use it? Gift cards have value, and you should use them.
Here are some important things to remember when shopping with gift cards:
The cards have value. Protect the card just like you would protect cash. Merchants love when gift card recipients forget to use the cards because it’s sheer profit for them. Put the cards in your wallet and plan on using them, otherwise you’ve wasted money.
Know the terms of the card. The back of the card should list any expiration date, fees, and anything else you need to know about the card. Check to see if you can register the card online. Although this may seem like a hassle, it may allow you to request funds replacement if the card winds up lost or stolen.
Use the card until the balance is depleted. You wouldn’t throw away two dollars in cash, so why toss a gift card that has a two dollar balance on it?
Shop wisely. For one reason or another, shopping with a gift card makes some people forget to look for sales and low prices. You should still look for the best deal on an item when you purchase it, whether you’re paying with cash, credit card, or gift card.
What do you do if you receive a gift card for a store that you don’t frequent? You have a few different options:
Re-gift. As long as the card doesn’t have an expiration date or inactivity fee you can hold on to it and give it to someone else.
Give it away. You don’t shop at a certain store at the mall but you have a gift card. If there is absolutely nothing you want to buy within the store, consider donating the card to a charity or instead walking into the store and handing the card to a random shopper. It can be a really fun experience to give something to someone for no reason at all without asking for something in return. If you haven’t yet tried it, giving away an unwanted gift card is a great opportunity.
Sell the card. There are plenty of websites online that offer gift card swaps and sales. Just keep in mind that you won’t get 100% of the value of the card, but at least you can either get some cash or swap it for a card you will actually use.
November 24th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
[…] Read the rest of this great post here […]
November 24th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptReal Estate in Top Cities Atlanta real estate | Austin real estate | Chicago real estate | Denver real estate | Houston real estate | Las Vegas real estate | Myrtle Beach real estate | Orlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San … […]
November 24th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptReal Estate in Top Cities Atlanta real estate | Austin real estate | Chicago real estate | Denver real estate | Houston real estate | Las Vegas real estate | Myrtle Beach real estate | Orlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 12:27 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptOrlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San Antonio real estate | San Diego real estate | San Francisco real estate | Seattle real estate | Tucson real estate. Real Estate by State Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 12:34 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptOrlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San Antonio real estate | San Diego real estate | San Francisco real estate | Seattle real estate | Tucson real estate. Real Estate by State Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 12:36 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptAtlanta real estate | Austin real estate | Chicago real estate | Denver real estate | Houston real estate | Las Vegas real estate | Myrtle Beach real estate | Orlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San Antonio real estate | San … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 1:06 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptAtlanta real estate | Austin real estate | Chicago real estate | Denver real estate | Houston real estate | Las Vegas real estate | Myrtle Beach real estate | Orlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San Antonio real estate | San … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 1:14 am
[…] is the original post […]
November 25th, 2008 at 2:11 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptReal Estate in Top Cities Atlanta real estate | Austin real estate | Chicago real estate | Denver real estate | Houston real estate | Las Vegas real estate | Myrtle Beach real estate | Orlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 2:21 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptAtlanta real estate | Austin real estate | Chicago real estate | Denver real estate | Houston real estate | Las Vegas real estate | Myrtle Beach real estate | Orlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San Antonio real estate | San … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 3:11 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptReal Estate in Top Cities Atlanta real estate | Austin real estate | Chicago real estate | Denver real estate | Houston real estate | Las Vegas real estate | Myrtle Beach real estate | Orlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San … […]
November 25th, 2008 at 10:20 am
[…] unknown wrote an interesting post today onShopping With a Gift Card - Personal Finance AdviceHere’s a quick excerptOrlando real estate | Phoenix real estate | San Antonio real estate | San Diego real estate | San Francisco real estate | Seattle real estate | Tucson real estate. Real Estate by State Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California … […]
November 28th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
[…] do you make sure that your personal financial information stays safe while you’re shopping online? Cyber-fraud is a viable fear, and if you’re not careful you might find your accounts […]
December 1st, 2008 at 12:22 pm
[…] was your Black Friday? Did you find great deals and get all your holiday shopping done? If you’re like most people you probably ventured out on Friday and then again over the […]