2nd
Save money with patience and planning
If you plan to make a purchase from any merchant that issues gift cards, you can save an additional 3-10% depending on the (un)popularity of store. Lots of people just received gift cards over the holiday, and not always to stores they want to purchase from. Unwanted gift cards are being sold off en mass, usually at a discount, on sites like Craigslist and auction sites like ebay. So a $25 gift card might only be $20 to purchase. Some brands are really useful (Wal-mart, Home Depot) so they won’t be cheaper, but other brands (Gap, PF Changs, Timbuktu) sell for a large percentage less than they cost. The variety of cards available now are the best it will be all year.
Its best to only purchase locally, so you can meet the seller at the store and verify the card balance before handing over your cash. Online transactions for gift cards are much risker, so stick to reputable sellers, pay with a credit card that covers fraud or stay with local purchases.
If you got stuck with a poor gift card this year, there are also trading sites, like plastic jungle and card avenue, which might be even easier than trying to sell your card.
The Mellow Mushroom is still good (I’ve been four times since they opened), but it was time for a new post.
