Your Secret Stash - Use Your Gift Cards NOW!

Are you deep into Shop-Free February but craving a little treat? Good news—you might already have a way to indulge without spending a dime!

Chances are, over the holidays, you received a gift card—maybe to a favorite restaurant, a spa, or a store you’ve been meaning to visit. Now is the perfect time to use it!

According to Bankrate, 43% of U.S. adults have unused gift cards, with the average person leaving $244 unspent. Even worse, half of those gift cards lose value over time due to:

 ✔ Expiration dates

 ✔ Being misplaced or forgotten

 ✔ Retailers going out of business

 ✔ Fees that slowly drain their balance

A friend of mine learned this the hard way. In 2018 her coworkers gave her a $500 Red Door Spa gift certificate as a retirement gift. She wanted to “save it for the perfect time” but waited too long. When she finally decided to use it—the spa had shut down during the pandemic. That’s $500 and a nice day out for her down the drain!  Your friends and family want you to enjoy their gifts—not let them gather dust.

Here are some places to check for unused gift cards:

•  Your wallet or purse – Tucked into a pocket or hidden behind other cards.

•  Junk drawer – A classic spot where random things (like gift cards!) tend to pile up.

•  Your desk – Check inside organizers, folders, or even under papers.

•  Glove compartment or car console – You might have stashed one there after a shopping trip.

•  Old handbags, backpacks, or tote bags – If you switched bags, a card might still be inside.

•  Kitchen counter or command center – Wherever you keep daily mail and paperwork.

•  Nightstand or dresser – Sometimes we drop small items here and forget about them.

•  Inside greeting cards – Did someone give you a gift card inside a birthday or holiday card?

•  Your email inbox – Search for "gift card" or "e-gift" to find digital cards.

•  Store apps or rewards accounts – Some retailers store gift card balances in your account.

 If you’ve got a gift card for a place you never shop, don’t let it go to waste! Instead, US News suggests you sell or trade it through reputable sites like:

💰Raise

💰CardCASH

 X Gameflip

You can exchange it for a card you’ll actually use or get up to 70% of its value in cash!

Let me encourage you to go through the places above TODAY. How much “free money” do you have sitting around? Use it or cash it in before the month ends!