3 Good Uses for Unwanted Gift Cards

According to recent studies, people in the United States hold $21 billion in unused gift card balances. This boils down to a tremendous amount of money wasted and chances are high that you have an unused gift card laying around your house somewhere.

In many cases, people have gift cards with balances because the card was unwanted. So, how can you make sure that these gift card balances don’t go to waste?

Here’s what you can do with your unwanted gift cards.

1. Sell Your Unwanted Gift Cards

If you have a gift card that you don’t want to use but also don’t want to waste, consider selling it. Many people sell gift cards at a lower price than the value. It’s still all profit for you since the gift card was given to you for free.

You will get some cash for your troubles while also making sure that the gift doesn’t go to waste.

2. Gift it to Someone You Know

Your gift cards can always find a new home when you give them to someone else that you know would appreciate it. Consider the friends, family members, and co-workers you know that appreciate the store that the gift card is for.

Keeping this person in mind allows you to pay it forward and put a smile on someone else’s face. This is also an excellent opportunity for you to participate in a gift card exchange when the holidays roll around.

You will be able to contribute and give a gift to someone without having to pay for it. Check the balance of the gift card to make sure that you don’t end up giving someone an empty gift card by accident.

3. Donate the Gift Card

Finally, your unwanted gift can become an asset to another person or organization. Many people choose to donate gift cards to companies that buy items for charity. For instance, your local food bank, toy drive, or school supply drive might appreciate having the gift card.

It’s another way to offer a donation in support of a cause, and you can count on the money on the gift card being used for something positive. Make sure that you take a look at the balance and also donate the login information and pin so that the organization understands how much money they have to use.

These tips will help you when you need to use a prepaid gift card in a way that serves you. Many organizations openly solicit gift card donations, so check into their policies and make sure that the balance goes to the best possible cause.

What to Do With Unwanted Gift Cards

Unwanted gift cards don’t have to go to waste. Now that you have these three tips, you can rest assured that the gift card someone gave will find a good home. Explore any of these options so that you can pay it forward.

Check out our other tips to learn more about getting the most from your shopping experiences.