There's no question about it. Gift cards burn a hole in my pocket faster than actual cash does! 
This Christmas, I received gift cards from four different stores: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iTunes and Lands' End. Only two weeks after receiving these gift cards, I've spent them all.
I take that back. I still have some credit in the iTunes store. Unlike other gift cards, these are redeemed all at once and then credit is placed in an account. If I hadn't spent the whole gift card in the other stores, there would still be value left on it. So I'll just use that iTunes credit bit by bit as I discover fun new apps and great songs to add to my iPod Touch.
I think that the weather just before Christmas has something to do with my reason for spending my gift cards so quickly. That huge snowstorm that shut down the East Coast led me to take opportunities to shop that I might ordinarily not have rushed to bother with, fearing that bad weather might keep me in farther down the road.
Another thing that got me to use those cards so quickly was the great deals that could be found just after Christmas. Naturally, I spent most of my gift cards online. And naturally, I looked for free shipping deals or other sales so I could make the most of those gift-card dollars.
If you got a gift card, what's your strategy? Have you spent it yet--or are you saving it for something special?
2 Responses to “Gift Cards: Are You a Spender or a Saver?”
Made me laugh when you said burn a whole in your pocket. I received a Border's gift card before Christmas and spent it in within the hour. No slippage from me but I did wind up spending some of my own cash too.
I have a couple of gift cards and I am ready to use them! With so many good online deals, it is amazing how they can be stretched plus with free shipping no need to go outside in the bitter cold! I also just learned about plasticjungle.com where you can buy gift cards for up to 30% off and can also sell them, too.