Have you ever received a gift from a friend or family member and the gift was so awful and unsuitable for you that you had to force yourself to say thank you? If so, you are not alone. Many people have received gifts that they cannot use, will not use, or are embarrassed to make use of. That tacky-looking sweater that your aunt gave you last Christmas is taking up space in your closet, but the gift cards that you received are taking up space in your wallet. If you feel that now is the right time to use your gift cards, but you are not sure what would be the best way to use them, there are several options to consider.
Gift cards are usually highly appreciated because they provide more choice and control for the recipient to determine what they want to purchase. If you have received a gift card from a retailer that you don’t usually shop at, you could always give your gift card to someone else. Unless you want to announce it, no one will know that the gift card you are giving them was originally given to you by someone else. When you give someone else a gift card that you received from someone else, it saves you from having to spend your own money on purchasing a gift. This is especially beneficial if you are experiencing financial difficulty and you want to give a loved one a gift but you still want to save your money at the same time.
If you are a small business owner and you are looking for ways to bolster your company’s image, giving gift cards to charities is a great way to do that. Charitable events such as fund-raising dinners are great public platforms for you as a small business owner to donate gift cards as silent auction items or as door prizes. Donating gift cards is much more festive than donating cash. If you don’t have much money to spend on purchasing gift cards, consider utilizing loyalty program reward points that you may have and redeem the points to get free gift cards.
Gift cards can be used to purchase products that you have been saving up money to purchase. Merchandise like cellular phones, computers, and cameras can be expensive. Using gift cards to buy pricey items will help you to get things that you need for personal or for business use, while saving money at the same time. Any business purchases you get with a gift card can still be written off as a business expense when you do your taxes. Many companies that issue gift cards no longer attach an expiry date to the cards, meaning that consumers can now save the cards and use them for special purchases. Websites like CardSwap.ca and Swapopolis.com are great tools for people who want to buy or sell their gift cards to other people. Gift cards are the gifts that truly keep on giving. Gift cards can help you to save money, and they can also help you to give someone a gift that they could truly use and appreciate.