There were a lot of gift cards flying around my Christmas tree this year. I'm grateful; it saves the trouble of storing an unwanted quesadilla maker or disposing of a hideous sweater. Now it's just a matter of deciding what to do with all that free cash.
Apparently it's the deciding that kills us. According to creditcards.com, an estimated $5 billion in gift card money will be lost this year. The extra $1 or $2 that everyone leaves on them adds up. I just found one with $4.15 left and it had been in my drawer for months. That's plenty of money for a cup of coffee, a burger, or even a charity. Giftcardgiver.com collects the spare change from your gift card and gives the money to people in need. That's doing a lot more good than letting my $4.15 line the pockets of some big corporation.
Places like plasticjungle.com or giftcardrescue.com buy and sell gift cards at a discount. Plastic Jungle will also donate gift card money to your favorite nonprofit organization. I think I'll be looking there next time I'm in the market for a gift card.
--Jennie
Post new comment