Comments on: Discounted Gift Cards: The New Coupon http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/ Common sense advice on money saving tips, how to get out of debt, high interest savings accounts, cd rates, money market accounts, mortgage rates, money management and more. Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Steve http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-2229952 Steve Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:29:50 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-2229952 If you buy a gift card on craigslist, make sure you go through switchon3.com. You don't have to pay anything until they have the gift card in hand and have verified the balance. If you buy a gift card on craigslist, make sure you go through switchon3.com. You don’t have to pay anything until they have the gift card in hand and have verified the balance.

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]]> By: eileen marie http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1661312 eileen marie Fri, 12 Aug 2011 01:30:14 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1661312 I don't think you can do this at Target -they have pretty strict policies. I don’t think you can do this at Target -they have pretty strict policies.

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1476492 Donna Freedman Thu, 09 Jun 2011 20:35:44 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1476492 People who bid higher than the face value may be counting on recouping their "losses" by way of eBay Bucks and cash-back shopping. (It sounds weird to me, too.) The odd-amount gift cards are either cards people used for a while but now want to sell, or merchandise credit for returning an item to a store. I wonder how many are from people returning unwanted wedding gifts? People who bid higher than the face value may be counting on recouping their “losses” by way of eBay Bucks and cash-back shopping.
(It sounds weird to me, too.)
The odd-amount gift cards are either cards people used for a while but now want to sell, or merchandise credit for returning an item to a store. I wonder how many are from people returning unwanted wedding gifts?

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]]> By: April http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1475222 April Thu, 09 Jun 2011 13:05:52 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1475222 So searching giftcard granny brought me to ebay and I saw mutiple cards selling for more then their face value, can anyone tell me why someone would pay 258 for a 200 card or why some cards are for odd amounts? Maybe i should just stay away from ebay. So searching giftcard granny brought me to ebay and I saw mutiple cards selling for more then their face value, can anyone tell me why someone would pay 258 for a 200 card or why some cards are for odd amounts? Maybe i should just stay away from ebay.

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]]> By: Amber http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1471912 Amber Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:12:11 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1471912 Just don't let them sit around gathering dust. Everyone knows when a store is going out of business, they don't just shut down overnight. Also it is not like Blockbuster is out of business, so your daughter may still be able to resell her card to someone who uses their online downloading or other outlets. Just don’t let them sit around gathering dust. Everyone knows when a store is going out of business, they don’t just shut down overnight. Also it is not like Blockbuster is out of business, so your daughter may still be able to resell her card to someone who uses their online downloading or other outlets.

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]]> By: Cheryl http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1469952 Cheryl Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:03:41 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1469952 I just want to point out that you should only buy a gift card for a company that is healthy financially. Once a company declares bankruptcy, the cards are often worthless. I'm thinking of Lines and Things and particu;arly Blockbuster, as my daughter received some of these cards as gifts, and they are now unusable. I just want to point out that you should only buy a gift card for a company that is healthy financially. Once a company declares bankruptcy, the cards are often worthless. I’m thinking of Lines and Things and particu;arly Blockbuster, as my daughter received some of these cards as gifts, and they are now unusable.

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1469852 Donna Freedman Tue, 07 Jun 2011 19:12:46 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1469852 @Fiona: I suppose it's possible that someone shoplifted, "returned" the item and then sold the card for cash. Anything is possible. To me it seems like an awful lot of work: go in the store, steal something successfully, wait a bit, "return" it, put the card up on the site and wait for someone to buy it. Maybe that's how a tiny minority of Americans make their money. I doubt it. It could be that some have uneven balances because the sellers got Anthropologie items as wedding gifts, returned them for store credit and eventually decided they needed the cash more than the card. Other cards (from various stores) might have odd balances because their owners experienced personal economic downturns and were forced to sell everything that could bring in some cash. Hey, just the other day I got a press release from a company touting this story idea: "Having trouble making ends meet because gas prices are going up? Sell your unwanted gift cards to us for cash on the barrelhead!" (This company was offering only about 72% across the board, incidentally, vs. the up-to-92% that most resellers seem to offer.) So the backstories of these cards are probably varied. Maybe there's some thieves in there. Maybe not. Retailers are already pretty focused on "loss prevention," i.e., shoplifting. If they perceive that they're losing more than usual because people are seeking store credit to sell online, then perhaps they'll come up with a way around that. @Fiona: I suppose it’s possible that someone shoplifted, “returned” the item and then sold the card for cash. Anything is possible. To me it seems like an awful lot of work: go in the store, steal something successfully, wait a bit, “return” it, put the card up on the site and wait for someone to buy it.
Maybe that’s how a tiny minority of Americans make their money. I doubt it.
It could be that some have uneven balances because the sellers got Anthropologie items as wedding gifts, returned them for store credit and eventually decided they needed the cash more than the card.
Other cards (from various stores) might have odd balances because their owners experienced personal economic downturns and were forced to sell everything that could bring in some cash.
Hey, just the other day I got a press release from a company touting this story idea: “Having trouble making ends meet because gas prices are going up? Sell your unwanted gift cards to us for cash on the barrelhead!” (This company was offering only about 72% across the board, incidentally, vs. the up-to-92% that most resellers seem to offer.)
So the backstories of these cards are probably varied. Maybe there’s some thieves in there. Maybe not. Retailers are already pretty focused on “loss prevention,” i.e., shoplifting. If they perceive that they’re losing more than usual because people are seeking store credit to sell online, then perhaps they’ll come up with a way around that.

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]]> By: Diane http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1469102 Diane Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:04:23 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1469102 Good save, Alex! Good save, Alex!

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]]> By: Alex http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1468512 Alex Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:31:14 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1468512 I did the "accidental buy" thing - I bought an $80 Apple Store gift card (for $70!) instead of an iTunes one. (Steeper discount, wasn't thinking). I then proceeded to buy 3 iTunes gift cards (2*$15, 1*$50) from the Apple Store. I did the “accidental buy” thing – I bought an $80 Apple Store gift card (for $70!) instead of an iTunes one. (Steeper discount, wasn’t thinking). I then proceeded to buy 3 iTunes gift cards (2*$15, 1*$50) from the Apple Store.

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]]> By: Amber http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1468472 Amber Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:23:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1468472 I suppose it is possible as you say, but if it were a common problem wouldn't the stores be taking more action against such resale markets? Or trying to validate the card by connecting the ID to a personal credit card? I haven't seen any kind of warnings aginst using these cards. I think if someone spends $307.12 at Anthropolgie, hopefully they go home to realize how foolish they've been and try to recoupe the rest of the cost of the card. I suppose it is possible as you say, but if it were a common problem wouldn’t the stores be taking more action against such resale markets? Or trying to validate the card by connecting the ID to a personal credit card? I haven’t seen any kind of warnings aginst using these cards. I think if someone spends $307.12 at Anthropolgie, hopefully they go home to realize how foolish they’ve been and try to recoupe the rest of the cost of the card.

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]]> By: Nicky at Not My Mother http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467842 Nicky at Not My Mother Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:03:53 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467842 JD, just letting you know that your Facebook "send" button isn't coming through on Google Reader, so you just get a bizarre "this article!" note in the middle of each article. JD, just letting you know that your Facebook “send” button isn’t coming through on Google Reader, so you just get a bizarre “this article!” note in the middle of each article.

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]]> By: SB(One Cent At A Time) http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467822 SB(One Cent At A Time) Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:22:22 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467822 I have a Citi platinum card, which offers 'extra cash' as reward points. I bought once a $50 target gift card for $45 worth of extra cash, accumulated in few months. They do offer various other gift cards. If you have a Citi card and are wondering how to spend your points, gift cards are the best thing for your points, and when you talk about gifting, a gift card, to me, is the best. I have a Citi platinum card, which offers ‘extra cash’ as reward points. I bought once a $50 target gift card for $45 worth of extra cash, accumulated in few months. They do offer various other gift cards.

If you have a Citi card and are wondering how to spend your points, gift cards are the best thing for your points, and when you talk about gifting, a gift card, to me, is the best.

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]]> By: Diane http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467732 Diane Tue, 07 Jun 2011 03:30:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467732 Oh, Nicole, your comment sure rings true with me! After 20+years as a vegetarian. I have learned that steak places usually have great vegetarian options. I think it's because they don't want one non-meat eater to prevent a whole group from choosing a steak place for a meal. In my experience, fish houses are the very worst! They ASSUME you're eating there because you WANT fish, so there's fish in every appetizer, all the salads, soups and entrees. BBQ joints run a close second. Why go there if you don't want Q? Funny, bacon and BBQ are the things I miss the most. even after all these years... Oh, Nicole, your comment sure rings true with me! After 20+years as a vegetarian. I have learned that steak places usually have great vegetarian options. I think it’s because they don’t want one non-meat eater to prevent a whole group from choosing a steak place for a meal. In my experience, fish houses are the very worst! They ASSUME you’re eating there because you WANT fish, so there’s fish in every appetizer, all the salads, soups and entrees. BBQ joints run a close second. Why go there if you don’t want Q? Funny, bacon and BBQ are the things I miss the most. even after all these years…

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]]> By: Pat http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467632 Pat Tue, 07 Jun 2011 01:49:41 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467632 I discovered this trick about 6 months ago, and it works great! I've had very good luck w/ebay and plasticjungle, I'll have to try the other sites as well. I buy the cards with my cashback credit card, earning an extra 1 - 2% off, and then I usually only buy the big ticket items when they are on sale, giving me a further discount. I have a very nice grill from Lowe's this way -- $230 grill on sale for $200, bought with a card that cost me only $185, which I earned ~ $2 cash back. So $183 for a $230 grill that I wanted to buy anyway... Of course you have to fight the tendency to spend extra just because you have the gift card -- but then, saving money is always about discipline, right? I discovered this trick about 6 months ago, and it works great! I’ve had very good luck w/ebay and plasticjungle, I’ll have to try the other sites as well.

I buy the cards with my cashback credit card, earning an extra 1 – 2% off, and then I usually only buy the big ticket items when they are on sale, giving me a further discount. I have a very nice grill from Lowe’s this way — $230 grill on sale for $200, bought with a card that cost me only $185, which I earned ~ $2 cash back. So $183 for a $230 grill that I wanted to buy anyway…

Of course you have to fight the tendency to spend extra just because you have the gift card — but then, saving money is always about discipline, right?

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]]> By: Fiona http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467502 Fiona Mon, 06 Jun 2011 23:36:06 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467502 It's possible that a lot of these resellers are actually thieves. On gift card reselling sites, you see a lot of gift cards with odd balances, like $63.72 instead of a round number as you would expect a gift card to have. I don't know about things like Home Depot or movie theaters, but it's really common for clothing retailers like Anthropologie. One possibility is that the person got the card as a gift, bought something for less than the value of the card, then decided to sell the rest--but chances are most people who find one thing the like at Anthro will figure there will be something they like there in the future, and hold on to the card. The other possibility is that they shoplifted, then "returned" the items for store credit, as Anthro allows you to do if you don't have a receipt, and tried to sell the gift card for cash. It’s possible that a lot of these resellers are actually thieves. On gift card reselling sites, you see a lot of gift cards with odd balances, like $63.72 instead of a round number as you would expect a gift card to have. I don’t know about things like Home Depot or movie theaters, but it’s really common for clothing retailers like Anthropologie.

One possibility is that the person got the card as a gift, bought something for less than the value of the card, then decided to sell the rest–but chances are most people who find one thing the like at Anthro will figure there will be something they like there in the future, and hold on to the card.

The other possibility is that they shoplifted, then “returned” the items for store credit, as Anthro allows you to do if you don’t have a receipt, and tried to sell the gift card for cash.

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]]> By: Paula @ AffordAnything.org http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467422 Paula @ AffordAnything.org Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:44:29 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467422 I didn't know about the secondary market / gift-card aggregater. I've looked through a few of the discount gift card sites, but I don't do it regularly because it's too cumbersome to look through ALL the discount sites. An aggregater really helps. I find these sites are best when you use them to buy cards for stores you regularly, consistently shop at -- Target and Home Depot, for me. I didn’t know about the secondary market / gift-card aggregater.

I’ve looked through a few of the discount gift card sites, but I don’t do it regularly because it’s too cumbersome to look through ALL the discount sites. An aggregater really helps.

I find these sites are best when you use them to buy cards for stores you regularly, consistently shop at — Target and Home Depot, for me.

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]]> By: Amber http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467412 Amber Mon, 06 Jun 2011 21:38:53 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467412 I pointed my newly fianced friend to check these out as she buys stuff preparing for her wedding. One thing I did notice at GCG was that the discount was much greater for specialty shops (e.g. REI or Mikasa 15-20%) than for someplace like Target (avg. discount around 2.9%). I pointed my newly fianced friend to check these out as she buys stuff preparing for her wedding. One thing I did notice at GCG was that the discount was much greater for specialty shops (e.g. REI or Mikasa 15-20%) than for someplace like Target (avg. discount around 2.9%).

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]]> By: Megan http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467132 Megan Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:24:53 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467132 Oooh - will you write on that topic? I'd love to hear more on how to earn gift cards! Oooh – will you write on that topic? I’d love to hear more on how to earn gift cards!

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]]> By: Justin @ MoneyIsTheRoot http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467102 Justin @ MoneyIsTheRoot Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:07:00 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467102 I wrote an article about this several months back on my blog. Discounted gift cards have been around from quite some time, and it still amazes me how so few people take advantage of them. Home Depot and Lowe's cards are great for home updates, and AMC cards for movies, and even discounted cards to gas stations... I wrote an article about this several months back on my blog. Discounted gift cards have been around from quite some time, and it still amazes me how so few people take advantage of them. Home Depot and Lowe’s cards are great for home updates, and AMC cards for movies, and even discounted cards to gas stations…

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467042 Donna Freedman Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:34:43 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467042 Once you find the deal you want on Gift Card Granny, click on it and the site doing the selling will tell you what to do next. It's pretty simple. You can even buy postal insurance if you're worried about the card going astray in the mail. (Hasn't happened to me yet.) Once you find the deal you want on Gift Card Granny, click on it and the site doing the selling will tell you what to do next.
It’s pretty simple. You can even buy postal insurance if you’re worried about the card going astray in the mail. (Hasn’t happened to me yet.)

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]]> By: rumorsofmydemise http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1467012 rumorsofmydemise Mon, 06 Jun 2011 18:11:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1467012 This is great! I hadn't thought of discounted gift cards before; but now I have another great way to save on the textbooks that I can't find at the library. This is great! I hadn’t thought of discounted gift cards before; but now I have another great way to save on the textbooks that I can’t find at the library.

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]]> By: Marsha http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466962 Marsha Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:48:34 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466962 But what if Sears (or whoever) has a much better deal when I'm ready to buy? But what if Sears (or whoever) has a much better deal when I’m ready to buy?

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]]> By: Marsha http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466942 Marsha Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:43:35 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466942 Anyone selling a gift card to a stranger has to expect that the card will be checked out. And the seller should make sure the money they receive for the card isn't counterfeit. If I was selling a card, I would insist that they check it out, so they couldn't come back to me later and complain that it wasn't valid. Anyone selling a gift card to a stranger has to expect that the card will be checked out. And the seller should make sure the money they receive for the card isn’t counterfeit.

If I was selling a card, I would insist that they check it out, so they couldn’t come back to me later and complain that it wasn’t valid.

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]]> By: Jenn http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466892 Jenn Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:23:10 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466892 Not post-related, but wanted to say Congratulations to JD for being on Time's list of 2011 Best Blogs. A well-deserved honor!!! Jenn Not post-related, but wanted to say Congratulations to JD for being on Time’s list of 2011 Best Blogs.

A well-deserved honor!!!

Jenn

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466882 Donna Freedman Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:21:58 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466882 The cards are indeed checked out before they're sold. When buying in person, from Craigslist or a friend at work, you could call the 800 number on the card. This could feel embarrassing, as though you were calling the seller a liar, but you should do it anyway. The cards are indeed checked out before they’re sold.
When buying in person, from Craigslist or a friend at work, you could call the 800 number on the card. This could feel embarrassing, as though you were calling the seller a liar, but you should do it anyway.

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]]> By: krantcents http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466872 krantcents Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:19:42 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466872 You've opened my eyes to a new way of saving money. I presume, you must do some planning to find out what is available and if it has to be mailed or not. You’ve opened my eyes to a new way of saving money. I presume, you must do some planning to find out what is available and if it has to be mailed or not.

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466862 Donna Freedman Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:18:23 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466862 Or how about the famous "Moons Over My Hammy," at Denny's? :-P Or how about the famous “Moons Over My Hammy,” at Denny’s? :-P

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466852 Donna Freedman Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:17:08 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466852 Just buy them as needed, then? Just buy them as needed, then?

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466842 Donna Freedman Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:15:59 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466842 You're welcome. (And congratulations on the pregnancy.) You’re welcome. (And congratulations on the pregnancy.)

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]]> By: Donna Freedman http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2011/06/06/discounted-gift-cards-the-new-coupon/comment-page-1/#comment-1466832 Donna Freedman Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:15:15 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/?p=86802#comment-1466832 "All the ways to earn gift cards" is an entirely separate column. “All the ways to earn gift cards” is an entirely separate column.

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