'Tis the season...to save money using gift cards

Gift cards. Love 'em? Or hate 'em? I have mixed feelings. They sure do make gift giving easy. I mean, you don't really have to think about it. Just find a store you think the recipient would be able to find something they like, and purchase a gift card. That way you're sure it's always the right size or color. And it's something they really like. But are they really worth it?

Once upon a time, gift certificates were all the rage. You could get them for all your favorite stores. You could even make your own. You didn't even really have to be all that creative. But that was part of the problem. They were easy to counterfeit. So back in 1994 Blockbuster Entertainment created the gift card. Blockbuster? Yep. They were followed by Neiman Marcus. Now, you can get them for just about anything from grocery stores, restaurants and retail. But buyer beware.

Cards like Visa and American Express charge extra fees such as a purchase fee and/or maintenance/inactivity fee. That's what I'd get hit with because in the past I have received gift cards, placed them in a drawer or even my purse, and that's where they have lived out the rest of their lives. So it might be better to stick with store branded cards. My oldest son looks forward to his Cabela's card. My youngest son thinks they're too much of a hassle and prefers an actual gift.

There are deals to be had when purchasing cards. Keep an eye out on sites like Groupon that sometimes offer a $10 Starbucks gift card for $5. Then there are sites like www.giftcardgranny.com that not only buys your unused gift cards, they also sell them for a discount. You can get a $200 BestBuy gift card for $180 with free shipping. 

I have found a really great way to save money using Fry's gift cards. Starting November 19, 2014, Fry's will once again be offering 4X fuel points when you purchase gift cards from them. Now, most people know that Fry's offers fuel points. For each $1 you spend there you are rewarded 1 fuel point when you use your V.I.P. card. So after the 19th, for every $1 spent you will earn 4 fuel points. And that will save you a lot of money when you fill up your gas tank. 

I plan on purchasing a few gift cards for my friends and family. But I also purchase the store brand card and then use them to do my weekly grocery shopping. Using the cards also helps me stay within my budget. 

Happy shopping!