Do you misplace gift cards?

Put a reminder on your phone every couple of weeks.

I just bought $800 worth of costco gift cards the other day.

Have a card that keeps offering 12 month equal payment option with no fee/interest. Figured why not take advantage of this. These cards will probably be used up in 4-5 months or sooner.

It's a good idea to check for expiration dates. Some cards have them, some don't.

Federal law says they have to be good for 5 years from date of purchase, but some states have stricter laws.

It's estimated that 6% of all gift cards are never used, and around one billion in unredeemed balances.

It always seems like when I go to the store, I forget the gift card. At least they do not expire like they used to.

Always seem to forget them at home and don't remember until after I've already paid. Some of the cards have less than a dollar on them too. It would be a lot easier of they could all be loaded onto the phone and used that way. Only a few places I use gift cards allow that convenience.

I let my wife take care of them. She will always make sure that the gift cards are used. She keeps track of how much is left on each card. If it has .26 cents left on it, she will make sure that she gets that .26 cents the next time we go to that establishment.

I always carry in wallet, but often forget to use them.

In Canada, they're not allowed to have an expiry date or a service charge, that eventually takes away any value.

I have had cards with 56 cents left after 2 yrs.
Don't really like gift cards as gifts at Christmas and birthdays

Here in Canada, it's illegal for gift cards to expire, so I find myself not using them. I've got a ton at this point. Maybe I should start re-gifting them.

What does Canada do relative to a gift card issued by a restaurant that goes “belly up”?

The reason companies like gift cards is because people do lose them. I read something a while back that Starbucks is sitting on $1.77 Billion of undeemed gift cards. Even with that money just sitting in a regular low yield savings account, that is a lot of interest income.

Probably same reason many grocery stores have moved to 'digital' coupons one must clip ahead of time or use the app.

The latter invites more privacy invasion via tracking. Also, they know folks will likely still buy the product, even if they forget to clip the coupon.

In many locations, after a dormancy period, businesses must remit unclaimed gift card balances to the state under their unclaimed property laws.

These state laws vary greatly and it isn't clear how accrued interest on this money is treated.

Any profit a business sees from these unclaimed gift cards varies by state.

Use right away

Are words of wisdom. I tend to "save" them for something I really need.

My wife says these were gifted, i.e. no cost, use them up before they are misplaced.

Here's an example of my eccentricity. I know I have 2 Costco cards that my bro gave me. I do know where they are, they total $100. I go to Costco every week, if not 2X per week when we had the other car. Why not use them up? Why save them? The mind is often difficult to understand.

Home Depot is different. Haven't been back since I got the Brute garbage can. And interesting how I can remember--I had a $25, and a $50, and the remaining balance is $31.48 on the $50. This means the Brute garbage can costed $43.52 with tax, or $41.05 before tax. I sprayed our house number on it right away, I'd be made if it just blew away and a neighbor starts using it like last time.

hard to remember, need check

My son works next door to a Taco Bell. To help him from forgetting to use the plastic gift card, I load the card on to the Taco Bell app on his phone that he always uses to order lunch. That way it gets used!

If it's a credit card that could be used at any store, I buy Amazon gift cards with the entire amount, apply the card to my Amazon account, and it's automatically used up first for any purchases.

If it's a particular store card (which I really try not to get), I keep them in my wallet with my credit cards where I'd go to grab them to pay, so I'll see them to use them.

I really hated dealing with watching what's left, split the bill with $xx from the gift card and the balance on another card at check out... so the Amazon thing really works well for me to avoid that.

hello