Save money with gift cards

[LizfromtheBronx]

Thanks for bumping this, Steve! My NutriBullet died last week, and I decided it was time to try the NutriNinja (which is unfortunately $200...) I drink 2 smoothies a day, so I need a good blender.

I returned the dead NB to Bed, Bath & Beyond for $78.02 store credit (which I count as savings because I spent the cash a long time ago and never intended to get it back), bought gift cards worth $96.04 from Cardpool for BBB for $88.35, used a 20% off coupon, and went through Ebates for 2% cashback. My net out of pocket was $85.28, for a $199.99 item....I'm gonna call that one a win!

Next step will be to return the cheapie blender I ordered from Amazon as a stop gap in between the NB and NN, for an additional $30 back. I wish the inexpensive one had fit my needs, but alas...

[disneysteve]

I'm just bumping this up again. It's been a while.

I learned a while ago not to head straight to Cardpool.com but rather to go to GiftCardGranny.com which is a shopping site for gift cards. Type in the store you want and they will show you various sites selling those cards and what the discounts are.

I just bought 3 JoAnn Fabric cards for my wife at 19.2% off face value. She gets 10% off from the quilting society she belongs to. And, of course, she always has a 40 or 50% off coupon for everything she buys that isn't already on sale. Plus I bought the gift cards with a rewards credit card.

Add it all up and it really lowers the price of the merchandise. Let's say something is $50. She uses a 50% coupon to lower it to $25. She gets 10% off of that, so $22.50. Then she pays with a gift card that only cost us $18.18. Not a bad deal at all - $18 for $50 worth of stuff.

[JustBill]

Speaking of this, have you seen the massive thread over at disboards on churning GCs, ebay bucks, etc., and the amount of earnings some are getting to use for their Disney trips? Here's the thread http://www.disboards.com/threads/dis...deals.2941964/

[dawnwes]

I have been using Carpool and Giftcard Granny and Raise.com for years. I also buy from Costco (typically 20-25% off retail prices)


However, the biggest savings I find are to buy gift cards during the holidays. Here are some I got this year:

Buy $25 in Cheesecake Factory gift cards, get TWO free slices of cheesecake (equalling $16-$18!)

Buy $25 in PF Chang/Pei Wei gift cards, get $5 bonus.

Buy $50 in Ruby Tuesdays and get a $15 bonus.

Buy $100 in Panera and get a $20 bonus

I have more, but you get the idea.

The other thing I HIGHLY recommend is for you to do your research and find out what gift cards can be used where. Many have affiliate restaurants.

II had an Macaroni Grill gift card given to me (and we don't particularly care for Macaroni Grill) and I found out that it can be used at On the Border, Chilis, and Maggianos!

My Outback Steakhouse restaurant gift card can be used at Carrabbas, Bonefish, and Fleming.

I buy the PF Chang gift cards at Costco.com and I can use them at PF Chang or Pei Wei.

[dawnwes]

Oh, the biggest score this year?

I bought $200 in Panera gift cards at Christmas. My group of friends seems to want to go there every week~! I got an additional $40 in bonus gift cards.

For some reason, Panera had a glitch and my cards froze for over a month. I was not happy. I called twice to complain (nicely) and they sent me an additional $55 freebie card!

So, I paid $200 and got an additional $95. Not too shabby.

[disneysteve]

the biggest savings I find are to buy gift cards during the holidays.

Those holiday deals are always generous. 20% is typical and sometimes it's even more.

The other day, Groupon actually had a deal to get a $50 Target card for 20% off. I grabbed that and saved $10. My wife used it yesterday. Too bad the limit was one card. I would have spent a ton on that deal if I could have.

[dawnwes]

Those holiday deals are always generous. 20% is typical and sometimes it's even more.

The other day, Groupon actually had a deal to get a $50 Target card for 20% off. I grabbed that and saved $10. My wife used it yesterday. Too bad the limit was one card. I would have spent a ton on that deal if I could have.

Awesome!

At Christmas, Target offers 10% off gift cards. I get them every year. You can get up to $300 in gift cards for $270. 10% isn't 20%, but we at least get something.

[disneysteve]

At Christmas, Target offers 10% off gift cards. I get them every year. You can get up to $300 in gift cards for $270. 10% isn't 20%, but we at least get something.

Yep. I do that one, too. It's the only thing that gets me into a retail store that time of year.

[Spiffster]

I use giftcardgranny.com and have found that February is the best time to buy the gift cards that I tend to pick up. Like Express (clothing) usually go for around 33% off! Express also send me coupons regularly for $75 off $200. The last Kohls gift card I snagged was 17% off! As a result, we spend very little on clothes... although Im starting to get too old for Express. :-/

[creditcardfree]

Yes, I'm going to be buying some Home Depot gift cards soon. We are buying an area rug from there that is about $250. I will calculate the price with our military discount (10% off) and sales tax and purchase a gift card or cards close to that amount.

[disneysteve]

If you are ever shopping for gift cards in a large amount, like for a major appliance purchase, check out the bulk buying mode on cardpool. You just enter the amount you need and the site automatically pulls cards to match that amount as close as possible.

A few months ago, we were doing a fundraiser at the synagogue and renting out a theater for a Star Wars screening. We needed about $1,200 in cards and it was a snap picking them up that way. The theater looked at us kind of funny when we paid with a thick stack of gift cards but it saved us a nice chunk of change and boosted our profit on the event.

[creditcardfree]

If you are ever shopping for gift cards in a large amount, like for a major appliance purchase, check out the bulk buying mode on cardpool. You just enter the amount you need and the site automatically pulls cards to match that amount as close as possible.

A few months ago, we were doing a fundraiser at the synagogue and renting out a theater for a Star Wars screening. We needed about $1,200 in cards and it was a snap picking them up that way. The theater looked at us kind of funny when we paid with a thick stack of gift cards but it saved us a nice chunk of change and boosted our profit on the event.

Good tip. I have used that feature before, too.

[dawnwes]

Yep. I do that one, too. It's the only thing that gets me into a retail store that time of year.

You mean the buying of the gift card or using the gift card? I buy it at Target.com.

[disneysteve]

You mean the buying of the gift card or using the gift card? I buy it at Target.com.

I meant going to the store to buy the cards. I didn't even think about buying them online.

[dawnwes]

I meant going to the store to buy the cards. I didn't even think about buying them online.

You can opt for email delivery for immediate delivery or you can opt for actual cards, which take about 5 days to be delivered.