We’ve all acquired present playing cards we’ll by no means use for vacation present exchanges, birthdays and different celebrations.
Possibly your brother gave you a present card to a restaurant approach throughout city. Or your crafts-loving mother gave you a craft retailer present card however you didn’t inherit the artful gene.
Regardless of the case, when you’ve got a drawer full — or perhaps a handful — of unused or partially used present playing cards, you might be able to money in on these playing cards by a wide range of choices.
From money again to airline miles, you’ll discover loads of choices for getting worth from unused present playing cards.
Listed here are eight methods to money in on present playing cards you don’t need.
1. Promote present playing cards at Increase
It’s straightforward to promote undesirable present playing cards on-line at Raise.com, which is able to promote your present playing cards, together with these with solely a partial balance, to individuals who truly need them and pay you the rest after charges and reductions.
Use the positioning’s brand lookup software to search out out whether or not Increase accepts the manufacturers for the present playing cards you wish to offload and whether or not sure manufacturers impose limitations. Then enter the model title and quantity remaining on the present card, and Increase lets you understand how a lot money you’ll obtain after charges and reductions.
For instance, when you’ve got a Hole present card with a $50 steadiness to promote, you’d obtain again round $35 after charges and reductions. When the cardboard sells, Increase pays you through direct deposit to your checking account or PayPal.
2. Get an on the spot supply at GiftCash
You’ll get an on the spot supply on your present playing cards at GiftCash.com, which affords a excessive payout — typically as a lot as 90% of the cardboard’s worth, though it fluctuates — for a lot of retailers. For instance, in the event you promote a $100 Ikea present card to GiftCash, you’ll obtain a payout of $88 as of this writing. Not unhealthy for that present card that was solely gathering mud.
GiftCash accepts present playing cards with a minimal $25 value all the best way to a most of $2,000 — except for playing cards from Air Canada, Apple iTunes and Petco, which require a minimal $100 steadiness.
3. Stroll right into a Verify Into Money retailer
In case you want money straight away, Check Into Cash shops in lots of states purchase present playing cards from more than 500 retailers and eating places, together with Walmart, Greatest Purchase, Kohl’s, GameStop and Starbucks.
Simply deliver your present playing cards to one among greater than 300 Verify Into Money’s shops located in 19 states, present your I.D. and depart with money to spend on no matter you want.
You received’t obtain the total worth of the cardboard — Verify Into Money pays solely half of the cardboard’s worth — however in the event you want money quick, you’ll depart with more cash than you had if you walked by the door.
4. Use the Foreign money Alternate Affiliation of Illinois
In case you reside in Illinois and wish money quick, you may promote present playing cards for half of their worth at Currency Exchange examine cashing shops. Search the web site’s store locator tool for the closest retailer after which deliver your present playing cards and an I.D. to the shop to depart with money in hand.
5. Commerce for airline miles
In case you’re a member of United Airways’ MileagePlus program, you might be able to commerce your present playing cards in for airline miles. The MileagePlus gift card exchange permits members to commerce in present playing cards from greater than 100 retailers.
With few exceptions, you’ll obtain the total worth of the remaining steadiness on every card in United Airways award miles. For instance, change a $25 present card and obtain 670 in airline miles. You’ll obtain 1,330 miles for a $50 present card or 2,660 award miles for a $100 card.
You may even commerce in present playing cards for American Airways and Southwest Airways in the event you favor to fly the pleasant skies of United as an alternative.
6. Put the phrase out at work
If you wish to promote your present playing cards quick, announce at work that you just’re promoting present playing cards at a reduction. Chances are high, nobody desires to purchase your present playing cards a face worth, however most individuals love a discount — particularly in the course of the vacation season.
Decide a reduced worth that works for you and publish a flyer within the office break room or on an worker discussion board (if allowed) along with telling your coworkers face-to-face. Individuals who snatch up your $50 present playing cards for $25 or $30 will likely be completely satisfied — and also you’ll stroll away with chilly, arduous money in hand.
7. Regift
If present playing cards haven’t expired, repurpose them as presents for vacation, birthday, commencement and different celebrations. The recipient will likely be none the wiser, and also you’ll get monetary savings by not having to purchase presents.
8. Money in on good karma
Why not donate these present playing cards to nonprofits or different worthy organizations that may use them to purchase provides and companies? For instance, you may donate unwanted gift cards to St. Jude Youngsters’s Analysis Hospital at stjude.cardcash.com, which accepts present playing cards from greater than 200 retailers and supplies a receipt for tax functions.
In your individual group, you would possibly be capable to donate present playing cards to homeless shelters, battered girls’s shelters, pet rescues or some other organizations with missions you help.
