Three Things You Can Do with Old Gift Cards

Around 10 years ago, companies began to offer consumers the chance to buy a gift card that was just as good as cash, to use at another time.  Gift cards quickly became an easy way for someone to spend money at their favorite store without having to use their own money.  The gift card market has grown massively in the last decade or so and now you see them everywhere.  Some people even use them to manage a monthly budget.  There are many ways to use a gift card, but what do you do with old ones that are just sitting around?  We’ll discuss a few things you can do with those old gift cards.

Do Not Lose Them

One of the hardest things to control when you have a pile of gift cards is keeping them in a safe place.  The cards are small and once they are out of sight, you might forget where you put them and that is good cash being tossed away if you cannot find them again.  There is no reason to organize your cards, but having a box or an envelope to store them in should be good enough.

Trade Your Gift Card In

With the rise of the unused gift card economy, websites have popped up allowing you to trade your gift card for another.  Maybe you are getting gift cards for a place that is not easy to travel to in the city you live.  Or maybe you just do not shop there any longer.  Some websites will allow you to send your unused gift cards with hopes that you could trade it for another store or place where you like to spend money.  In many cases, you are not going to get the full value of the card you traded, but at least you are more likely to use it.

Sell Your Gift Card for Cash

Just like trading in your gift card, there are websites that allow you to sell the gift card outright.  If you are not going to use it, what do you have to lose?  Post your card online and in many cases, you can get up to 90 per cent of the remaining balance.  The small fees that are charged are a small price to pay: at least you are getting cash for the card, which you can use for something else.  Websites like ejgiftcards.com are just what you are looking for if you want to sell one.

Donate Your Gift Card

If selling your card for cash or trading it for another is not a process you want to deal with, you could always donate your gift card.  Contact local charities and see if they are willing to take a gift card as a donation. If you are not sure how many local charities are in the area where you live, you can search online to find out.  There are many approved, non-profit organizations that can help you and it is a great way to lower your tax bill at the end of the year.

This list is just a few of the things you can do with old gift cards.  Before you pile them up and lose them, consider using one of them.

*This is a collaborative post.