Resources for Discount Gift Cards

Gas Gift Cards

A gas gift card may seem impersonal, but for someone who spends time commuting, and money filling up the gas tank on a regular basis, it can help curb an unavoidable business and p… more »

Restaurant Gift Cards

Restaurant gift cards are a simple and exciting way to make the people on your holiday shopping list happy, and give you the chance to spend a little time with them too. more »

Holiday Cards

Makers and sellers of holiday greeting cards. more »

Newspaper Advertising

Companies that specialize in buying and selling newspaper advertisments. more »

Food and Beverage Advertising and Marketing

Offering advertising and marketing services for food and beverage businesses. more »

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Agriculture Advertising and Marketing

Offering advertising and marketing services for a griculture businesses. more »

A Guide to Discount Gift Cards


Finding discount gift cards is a great way of stretching your holiday budget while still getting your loved ones the things they want from the places they want.  Many retailers offer different kinds of discounts on the gift cards, and it’s possible to find other sources as well, but make sure you understand how to get the best bang for your buck – because discount gift cards can backfire on your budget if you’re not careful.  Let’s think about how they can work for you and against you, and let you know how to get started looking for the right kind.

Benefits

Gift cards offered at a reduced rate can be good for everyone: you get to buy something that’s slightly beyond your regular means, and retailers get to boost their business and spread their word-of-mouth.  Major retailers offer different kinds of promotions, and if you look for them at the store locations or online, you’ve got a good chance of finding something that appeals to you.

Pitfalls

Retailers often play the game so they can get you in the door to buy more than you were intending.  The market research has shown that people rarely spend less than the amount on their gift cards, so it’s a clever way for stores to boost their income over the holiday season.  You may be getting your sister a $50 card, but she’s likely to spend $75 getting what she wants.  By giving her the card, you might actually be costing her some money in the end.

How to Get the Most Out of Them

Retail promotions can still be very generous, so keep an eye on the ones that come up.  Some stores offer a free gift card with the purchase of many at the regular price.  You can buy these before you start your own shopping and use them yourself when you check out, which can save you a lot of money over the course of your holiday shopping.

Another back door way to save is to cash in your credit card reward points for gift cards.  Most major credit companies have ongoing deals with major retailers that allow you to make the most of your accumulated points, so consider using them towards your holiday gift-buying.

There are also online retailers where you can purchase unwanted gift cards at a discount, so consider buying them secondhand.  PlasticJungle.com, GiftCards.com and GiftCardsAgain.com buy back consumer gift cards that are still valid and sell them back for 30% less than they’re worth.  When you’re buying for a whole family, those kinds of savings can add up quickly.  Consult their catalogues and see if there’s something that fits for you.

Conclusion

Discounted gift cards that offer real utility can be hard to find and harder to use wisely, but there is a way to put them to use to get the most out of your holiday shopping.  Good luck – and here’s to some cheaper and happier holidays!