Smart shoppers use discounted gift cards to save an extra 5-30% on purchases they're already planning to make. This guide shows you where to find deals, how to stack savings, and avoid gift card scams.
Gift Card Savings Potential
If you spend $500/month at stores offering discounted gift cards:
- Average 10% discount = $600 saved per year
- Stack with credit card rewards (2%) = +$120
- Stack with sales = Additional 20-50% on items
Best Places to Buy Discounted Gift Cards
| Platform | Typical Discount | Guarantee | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raise | 2-15% | 1 year | Wide selection |
| CardCash | 2-10% | 45 days | Restaurant cards |
| Gift Card Granny | 2-25% | Varies | Price comparison |
| CardPool | 2-10% | 1 year | Major retailers |
| Sam's Club | 5-20% | Sam's guarantee | Bulk restaurant cards |
| Costco | 10-20% | Costco guarantee | Entertainment, dining |
Best Gift Card Deals by Category
Restaurants (Highest Discounts)
10-30% OFF
Restaurant Gift Cards
- Costco: $100 restaurant cards for $79.99 (20% off)
- Sam's Club: Similar deals on chains like Subway, Domino's
- Raise: Ongoing discounts on most major chains
- Target Circle: Occasional 10% off restaurant cards
Retail Stores
- Home Depot/Lowe's: 5-10% off on resale sites
- Target: 2-5% off (rare, check Raise)
- Walmart: Rarely discounted, use cashback apps instead
- Best Buy: 3-8% off on CardCash
- Nordstrom: 5-10% off seasonally
Entertainment
- Movie theaters (AMC, Regal): 15-20% off at Costco
- Streaming (Netflix, Hulu): Occasionally discounted at Target
- Gaming (Xbox, PlayStation): 5-10% during sales
- Spotify/Apple Music: Costco bundles save 10%+
The Gift Card Stacking Strategy
Maximum Savings Stack
Example: Buying $100 item at Target
- Buy $100 Target gift card at 5% off = Pay $95
- Use 2% cashback credit card to buy = $1.90 back
- Wait for item to go on sale (20% off) = Pay $80 with card
- Use Target Circle offer (5% off) = Pay $76
- Total paid: $93.10 for $100 item with $20 leftover on card
Credit Card Bonuses for Gift Card Purchases
| Where to Buy | Card to Use | Rewards |
|---|---|---|
| Grocery stores | Amex Gold, Blue Cash Preferred | 4-6% back |
| Office supply stores | Chase Ink Business Cash | 5% back |
| Wholesale clubs | Citi Costco, Sam's Mastercard | 2-5% back |
| Online (Raise, CardCash) | Any 2% cashback card | 2% back |
Where to Find Free Gift Cards
Rewards Programs
- Swagbucks: Surveys, videos, shopping = gift cards
- Microsoft Rewards: Bing searches = Amazon, Xbox cards
- Fetch Rewards: Scan receipts = gift cards
- Ibotta: Cashback redeemable as gift cards
- Drop: Link cards, earn points for gift cards
Credit Card Rewards
Many credit cards let you redeem points for gift cards, sometimes at better rates:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards: 1.25-1.5x value at certain retailers
- Amex Membership Rewards: Occasional transfer bonuses
- Capital One: Can cover Amazon purchases at checkout
Gift Card Safety & Scam Avoidance
Protect Yourself
- Only buy from reputable sources: Raise, CardCash, major retailers
- Check card balance immediately: Verify full value is available
- Avoid cards with exposed PINs: In-store cards can be compromised
- Use cards quickly: Less time for fraud to occur
- Never pay bills with gift cards: Classic scam request
- Keep receipts: Proof of purchase for disputes
Red Flags to Watch For
- Discounts over 30% (likely fraud)
- Sellers on social media or Craigslist
- Cards with scratched PIN areas in stores
- Requests to pay with gift cards for anything
Best Times to Buy Gift Cards
- Black Friday/Cyber Monday: Retailers discount own gift cards
- Target Circle Week: 10% off all gift cards annually
- Holiday season: Bonus card promotions (buy $50, get $10 free)
- After holidays: People sell unwanted cards at discounts
- Prime Day: Amazon occasionally discounts partner cards
Managing Your Gift Card Collection
Gift Card Management Apps
- Stocard: Store all cards digitally, get balance alerts
- Google Pay/Apple Wallet: Add cards for easy access
- Gyft: Buy, store, and send gift cards
Pro tip: Set calendar reminders for expiration dates and check balances quarterly
Selling Unwanted Gift Cards
Have gift cards you won't use? Sell them for cash:
- Raise: List for sale, get up to 92% of face value
- CardCash: Instant offer, slightly lower rates
- Gift Card Exchange kiosks: In grocery stores, instant cash
- r/giftcardexchange: Reddit marketplace (use caution)