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Looking for some extra money? en start spending those gift cards that have
accumulated in your purse or junk drawer.
Each year, $3 billion worth of gift cards go unused, according to an article on
cnbc.com. Any unspent money goes back to the retailer or bank that issued it.
And that makes them very happy!
If you have been sitting on gift cards from restaurants or other retail shops, now
is the perfect time to use the cards to help those businesses weather the effects
of the pandemic shutdown.
By law, gift cards cannot expire for at least five years from the issuance date;
however, you can be charged inactivity fees if the card has not been used in a year.
Gift cards are such a part of the national gift-giving norm that they have their
own day; the third Saturday in January is known as "National Use Your Gift
Card Day."
Get the most value from your card by checking for sales or other deals when
you use it. It helps to check the balance before you shop online or stop by the
business. Each card should have a phone number or website where you can check
the balance.
If you don't want the card for whatever reason, consider donating it to charity,
regifting it, selling it for cash, or trading the card at online sites, such as Cardpool.com,
Raise.com, or GiftcardGranny.com. Don't expect to get the full value from these
resale sites, but some money is better than letting your cards expire.
Use Them or Lose Them
Gift Cards
