Gift Card

If the answer to the question "What's in your wallet?" includes gift cards with a useless balance -- say $2.34 -- you'll be pleased to hear about a bill passed May 25 by the Oregon legislature. Fed up with the serious amount of unused plastic in their wallets, house members voted to require businesses let customers exchange their gift cards for cash, if the balance is under $5.

According to The Oregonian, the state's citizens are presently encumbered with $100 million worth of unredeemed gift cards.

It may not be long before other states follow suit but, until then, here are five ways to deal with pesky balances on those glorified plastic coupons.

1. Know The Balance
This is easier than it sounds. Check your gift card balance to determine if your balance is $2.50 or $25. GiftcardGranny.com, which also allows you to buy and sell discount gift cards, offers a simple method of checking your balance for more than 300 merchants. You could also call the retailer's 1-800 number, but this method could mean a lot of time spent on hold. Some cards require you to register your card to check your balance, but this can be useful if that piece of plastic is lost or stolen. Read more

Holiday Sale Aids in an Affordable Wellness Lifestyle

November 2010: Spa Week Media Group, the industry leader for all things spa, travel, beauty and beyond, releases its brand new gift card, simply called: "Spa." In conjunction, they have kicked off Spa Week's highly anticipated Holiday Gift Card Sale. Give the gift of massages, facials, scrubs and wellness… and give it on sale! From November 1st through December 24th, consumers can purchase a $100 Spa. Gift Card for just $79.99 on SpaWeek.com.

The goal of this promotion is to further spread the healthy spa lifestyle, encouraging consumers to give the gift of wellness at a discounted cost this Holiday Season. "This time of year puts a lot of financial pressure on people, and Spa Week is glad to help alleviate some of that pressure by offering this discount when people really need it," says Cheryl Reid, CEO and Founder of Spa Week Media Group.Read more

February 2, 2009 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting today, Courtyard is giving customers an extra perk when they book a weekend stay. Participating Courtyard hotels in the United States are offering weekend guests a $20 Target GiftCard good at more than 1,600 stores nationwide and at Target.com.

To receive a Target GiftCard, guests must stay between February 5 and April 6, 2009. All stays must be booked between February 2 and February 23, 2009 and include a Friday or Saturday night. When booking, use the promotional code YB3.

"Target is a great fit with our brand and this is a win-win for both companies and the customer," said Brian King, vice president and global brand manager, Courtyard by Marriott. "We share many of the same customers who look for excellent service, great products and value with a sense of style." Read more