Gift Cards



     Can we talk about Gift Cards a minute?  Maybe I am the only one who has a pile of unused or partially used gift cards.  Did you know that 1/3 of all gift cards go unused?  Did you know that 1/2 of people using a gift card will spend at least 20% over the amount of the card.
     In my summer of saving this seems like an area of free stuff!  So what is the problem?  Why do I have all these cards in a rubber band in my desk drawer?  First of all, how much is on the card?  I don't want to go into Bed, Bath and Beyond and find out I have $.97.
     There are websites that will tell you the balance on the major retailers gift cards.  I went to getmybalance.com and found out the balances of most of the cards I have.  Anything under or close to $1.00 balance I threw away, why carry all those cards around?  The other cards I wrote directly on the card itself the available balance.  I am planning times and events around using the gift cards.
     Last night I offered to bring dinner to my guy using one of my local take-out gift cards.  I was unable to find out the balance until I got to the restaurant since it is a small local establishment.  The employee ran the card and told me I had $12 on it.  In order to get enough food for the two of us for dinner I had to spend $20.  It is a restaurant we probably wouldn't have gone to in the first place and we did not find the food all that great.  We will not be going back.  I wish I had just gotten the free $12 worth and supplemented with other food from my kitchen but live and learn.  
     Most of my cards are to places that I know I already like and use.  Starbucks I am able to load my gift cards into "wallet" on my iPhone and pay with my phone.  I love that, I always have my phone so the gift cards do get used when I go there!
    I am planning on using a couple of the gift cards when I get to have the grand girls for the week.  I want to use my McDonalds card on the drive from Grand Rapids to Detroit, we would be stopping anyway for a fast food lunch, why not a free McDonalds happy meal?
    I also have two Build a Bear workshop gift cards equaling $60 that I have had for years and years! I am guessing they were given to my 31 years old daughter?  That brings me to another point, check your children's rooms for unused gift cards!  Maybe its just my kids, but I found quite a stash and I have made myself the keeper of the gift cards in this house!  Back to Build a Bear, I went online to see how far $60 will go.  The girls will have to make some choices and won't be able to do everything but they are at nice ages (8&9) to make some good financial budgeting decisions.  They will be able to make something nice for $30 each.  Now I just have to make sure grandma goes in with that outlook and doesn't cave when those sweet little faces are begging!  My track record isn't great in this area BUT maybe if I put on my summer of savings glasses.....
    Here's to using those gift cards!

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