Remember those paper gift certificates merchants would offer.? Hand written by the sales clerk, non traceable, and good for only one year! Gift Cards seem to be here to stay. Gift cards can be found in most stores near the register, easy to purchase, easy to give and receive.
On Saturday we went to the mall. It was packed. Parking was crazy! Over 20 minutes to find a space. I won’t write about the tempers rising over parking spaces. Since it wasn’t the holiday shopping season I had to wonder why so many people are at the mall. Gift card shopping? Returns?
Good ideas on using gift cards:
Combine the gift card with a coupon.
Buy items you have your eye on when they go on sale.
Know the amount of the card before you shop. You may also have to inform the cashier of the balance of the card.
Treat gift cards like cash. Spend them like cash.
Try to spend the exact or close to the amount of the gift card. Don’t forfeit those last pennies left of the card.
Don’t overspend just because you have a gift card.
Don’t make a purchase just to redeem the gift card.
Read the back of the card or paper insert for expiration dates, limitations, and loss of card.
When you make a purchase with the gift card. Ask for it back and save it if you have to return your purchase.
When stores go out of business and you are holding a gift card from their store, chances are the gift card is no longer valid.
Expiration dates are just that, most likely the store will not honor the gift card.
Have you had a good experience with a gift card? A bad one?
