You probably have a couple hundred dollars lying around your house and don't even know it. No, I'm not talking about some secret stash the previous owners might have hidden under the floorboards or a buried treasure in the backyard. I'm talking about unused gift cards.
"The average household has about $300 in unspent gift cards in their house," says Gary Briggs, chief executive of Plastic Jungle, a Web site that lets you buy, sell, exchange or donate gift cards. With sites such as Plastic Jungle, SwapaGift.com and Gift Card Granny you can turn those cards into cash. "Consumers don't realize they have as much money in their sock drawers as they do," Briggs says.
You won't get the full value of your card (up to 92% at best). But if someone gave the gift card to you, it's like getting free money. And you don't have to pay for shipping if you sell your unwanted cards to Plastic Jungle, which will send you a prepaid postage label.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Money saving tip: Later this summer Plastic Jungle will be launching a service that will let you use a branded store gift card at a different retailer's site. Plastic Jungle is working with several top retailers (Briggs wouldn't say which ones) to offer this service. When consumers get to the check-out page of a retailer's site, they'll be given the opportunity to use another retailer's card. Plastic Jungle will buy that card at a discount, and the consumer gets the credit instantly on his or her purchase. The consumer will have to send the gift card to Plastic Jungle, which will require a secondary form of payment -- such as a credit card -- until it can verify that the gift card is legitimate.
-
What the Comcast Cable Spinoff Means for InvestorsComcast has announced plans to spin off select cable networks and digital assets into a separate publicly traded company. Here's what you need to know.
-
TJX Stock: Wall Street Stays Bullish After EarningsTJX stock is trading lower Wednesday despite the TJ Maxx owner's beat-and-raise quarter, but analysts aren't worried. Here's why.
-
Five Ways to Save on Vacation Rental PropertiesTravel Use these strategies to pay less for an apartment, condo or house when you travel.
-
How to Avoid Annoying Hotel Fees: Per Person, Parking and MoreTravel Here's how to avoid extra charges and make sure you don't get stuck paying for amenities that you don't use.
-
How to Appeal an Unexpected Medical Billhealth insurance You may receive a bill because your insurance company denied a claim—but that doesn’t mean you have to pay it.
-
Amazon Prime Fees Are Rising. Here’s How to Cancel Your Amazon Prime MembershipAmazon Prime Amazon Prime will soon cost $139 a year, $180 for those who pay monthly. If you’re a subscriber, maybe it’s time to rethink your relationship. Here’s a step-by-step guide to canceling Prime.
-
How to Haggle for Almost AnythingSmart Buying Learning how to haggle is an invaluable skill. These strategies will help you negotiate a better price for just about any product or service.
-
Disability Insurance Can Provide COVID CoverageCoronavirus and Your Money If you are concerned about long-term complications from COVID-19, consider disability insurance coverage.
-
21 Things You Can't Return to Amazon — Either Online or In-StoreDid you know there are things you can't return to Amazon? Before tossing these items into your shopping cart, be sure to read Amazon's return policy first.
-
How to Avoid a Charity Scampersonal finance Scammers never quit, even when you're trying to be altruistic. But you can avoid getting duped if you do your homework.
