Comments on: How To Get The Most From Your Gift Cards http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/ Spending Wisely: Making Smart Personal Finance Decisions Mon, 21 May 2012 18:03:31 +0000 hourly 1 By: Staci @ teaching money to kids http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-389 Staci @ teaching money to kids Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:54:35 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-389 I tend to use gift cards to buy gifts for other people. Does that count as regifting? i just got a a $25 card for Kohls (which is a great store anyway, I used part of the money for me and then bought a birthday present that was in their post holiday clearance. Plus with their ten dollars off $20 coupon, it was like christmas all over again. I tend to use gift cards to buy gifts for other people. Does that count as regifting? i just got a a $25 card for Kohls (which is a great store anyway, I used part of the money for me and then bought a birthday present that was in their post holiday clearance. Plus with their ten dollars off $20 coupon, it was like christmas all over again.

]]> By: Daniel http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-390 Daniel Mon, 04 Jan 2010 21:25:23 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-390 That's a really great idea, I'm not sure where we draw the line, but you are using a gift to buy someone else a gift, so can throw it in the group. Definitely a great way to save when you don't need the card anyway! That’s a really great idea, I’m not sure where we draw the line, but you are using a gift to buy someone else a gift, so can throw it in the group. Definitely a great way to save when you don’t need the card anyway!

]]> By: Evolution Of Wealth http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-382 Evolution Of Wealth Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:57:34 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-382 You made the right choice Daniel. I got a gift card to BestBuy as well and I have no idea what to get or how to use it. It might fall to #4 on your list. We'll see. You made the right choice Daniel. I got a gift card to BestBuy as well and I have no idea what to get or how to use it. It might fall to #4 on your list. We’ll see.

]]> By: Daniel http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-378 Daniel Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:25:43 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-378 I had the choice at work to take a $20 gift card to Best Buy or one to the supermarket. I chose the supermarket because to me that was $20 in cash. I didn't need anything at Best Buy. What would you have done? I had the choice at work to take a $20 gift card to Best Buy or one to the supermarket. I chose the supermarket because to me that was $20 in cash. I didn’t need anything at Best Buy. What would you have done?

]]> By: Suzie http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-375 Suzie Tue, 29 Dec 2009 20:47:55 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-375 Happy Birtdhay Lauren! I agree with you, I think the gift card should be used for something special. If you use it for everyday purchases, you haven't really received a gift. On the other hand, it doesn't make sense to buy something you don't want just to use the card. Happy Birtdhay Lauren! I agree with you, I think the gift card should be used for something special. If you use it for everyday purchases, you haven’t really received a gift. On the other hand, it doesn’t make sense to buy something you don’t want just to use the card.

]]> By: Daniel http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-374 Daniel Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:22:45 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-374 Haha. I almost forgot: Happy Birthday! Haha. I almost forgot: Happy Birthday!

]]> By: Lauren http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-372 Lauren Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:25:44 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-372 I don't think that if you get a gift card you should use it on daily items that you need, its supposed to be a GIFT... get something you wouldn't necessarily buy yourself so it actually feels like a present, that's the whole point of a GIFT card! Speaking of gift cards... its my birthday! Anyone have any gift cards to send me so I can go grocery shopping? I don’t think that if you get a gift card you should use it on daily items that you need, its supposed to be a GIFT… get something you wouldn’t necessarily buy yourself so it actually feels like a present, that’s the whole point of a GIFT card!

Speaking of gift cards… its my birthday! Anyone have any gift cards to send me so I can go grocery shopping?

]]> By: Daniel http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-371 Daniel Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:05:20 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-371 It's definitely not easy, though. Make sure the person will actually go there. A card to a major store you don't have near you or don't shop at anyway is the easiest to regift, but avoid giving cards of stores that you dislike. The person you're regifting to might not like it either! It’s definitely not easy, though. Make sure the person will actually go there. A card to a major store you don’t have near you or don’t shop at anyway is the easiest to regift, but avoid giving cards of stores that you dislike. The person you’re regifting to might not like it either!

]]> By: Evolution Of Wealth http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-369 Evolution Of Wealth Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:33:33 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-369 Check out http://cjbowker.com/2009/12/yankee-swap/ There's a reference to my post about gift cards and then he goes on to talk about the 'double edged sword' of trying to spend all of the gift card without overspending. It's a tough balance. I know I went out and used a Barnes & Noble gift card. The gift card was for $25 but I bought two books at $15 a piece. I didn't find any books I wanted for closer to $25 so I didn't really have a choice I guess. Check out http://cjbowker.com/2009/12/yankee-swap/

There’s a reference to my post about gift cards and then he goes on to talk about the ‘double edged sword’ of trying to spend all of the gift card without overspending. It’s a tough balance. I know I went out and used a Barnes & Noble gift card. The gift card was for $25 but I bought two books at $15 a piece. I didn’t find any books I wanted for closer to $25 so I didn’t really have a choice I guess.

]]> By: Daniel http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-370 Daniel Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:18:49 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-370 A lot depends on how you think about it. If you think that you bought 2 great books you really wanted for $5, then you got the steal of the century. If you think, "great, now I have to spend money on my own gift" then you're getting screwed. As long as you're not overdoing it and using a bunch of money that you wouldn't have otherwise spent, I think you come out ahead. I really liked your post by the way, I had no idea that 10% of gift cards go to waste! For everyone else, check out Evan's post about <a href="http://evolutionofwealth.com/2009/12/no-gift-cards/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">why he hates gift cards</a>. It's a great article full of useful information. A lot depends on how you think about it. If you think that you bought 2 great books you really wanted for $5, then you got the steal of the century. If you think, “great, now I have to spend money on my own gift” then you’re getting screwed. As long as you’re not overdoing it and using a bunch of money that you wouldn’t have otherwise spent, I think you come out ahead.

I really liked your post by the way, I had no idea that 10% of gift cards go to waste!

For everyone else, check out Evan’s post about why he hates gift cards. It’s a great article full of useful information.

]]> By: Ken http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/how-to-get-the-most-from-your-gift-cards/comment-page-1/#comment-368 Ken Tue, 29 Dec 2009 13:42:12 +0000 http://sweatingthebigstuff.com/?p=987#comment-368 I like your 'regift' idea. If I know someone who would like that gift card, I've just bought for someone without paying a cent :-) I like your ‘regift’ idea. If I know someone who would like that gift card, I’ve just bought for someone without paying a cent :-)

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